Austria vs Germany: Academic Freedom Index
Austria
0.881
in 2025
Germany
0.877
in 2025
Austria rank
21st
Germany rank
22nd
Academic Freedom Index over time
- Austria
- Germany
How they compare
Austria currently reports 0.881 against 0.877 in Germany, a difference of 0.004.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 55 shared years of data; in 1918 it was Germany ahead.
Austria ranks 21st and Germany ranks 22nd of 174 countries.
Across the 7 decades both report, Austria averaged higher in 4 and Germany in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Austria | Germany | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0.4775 | 0.5315 | 0.054 | Germany |
| 1920s | 0.5523 | 0.594 | 0.0417 | Germany |
| 1930s | 0.3859 | 0.246 | 0.1399 | Austria |
| 1990s | 0.9646 | 0.962 | 0.0026 | Austria |
| 2000s | 0.9698 | 0.962 | 0.0078 | Austria |
| 2010s | 0.9712 | 0.9626 | 0.0086 | Austria |
| 2020s | 0.9188 | 0.9298 | 0.011 | Germany |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher academic freedom index, Austria or Germany?
- Austria, at 0.881 against 0.877 in Germany as of 2025.
- What is the difference in academic freedom index between Austria and Germany?
- 0.004, with Austria ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Austria and Germany?
- 55 years are reported by both, from 1918 to 2025.
- How do Austria and Germany rank globally for academic freedom index?
- Austria ranks 21st and Germany ranks 22nd of 174 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Academic Freedom Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which academics can research, teach, publish, express opinions, and participate in academic bodies without interference, censorship, or institutional restrictions, and universities exercise institutional autonomy.