Which has higher academic freedom index, Belgium or Estonia?

Estonia, at 0.974 against 0.946 in Belgium as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and Estonia?

126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.

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.

Belgium vs Estonia: Academic Freedom Index

Belgium

0.946

in 2025

Estonia

0.974

in 2025

Belgium rank

3rd

Estonia rank

2nd

Academic Freedom Index over time

Belgium
Estonia

How they compare

Estonia currently reports 0.974 against 0.946 in Belgium, a difference of 0.028.

The two have swapped places 5 times across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was Belgium ahead.

Belgium ranks 3rd and Estonia ranks 2nd of 174 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, Belgium averaged higher in 10 and Estonia in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Belgium	Estonia	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.767	0.4366	0.3304	Belgium
1910s	0.5306	0.4558	0.0748	Belgium
1920s	0.804	0.7593	0.0447	Belgium
1930s	0.7965	0.6475	0.149	Belgium
1940s	0.4873	0.0045	0.4828	Belgium
1950s	0.8947	0.0186	0.8761	Belgium
1960s	0.8995	0.0287	0.8708	Belgium
1970s	0.9578	0.0376	0.9202	Belgium
1980s	0.9595	0.1183	0.8412	Belgium
1990s	0.964	0.9599	0.0041	Belgium
2000s	0.964	0.974	0.01	Estonia
2010s	0.964	0.9723	0.0083	Estonia
2020s	0.9553	0.967	0.0117	Estonia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher academic freedom index, Belgium or Estonia?: Estonia, at 0.974 against 0.946 in Belgium as of 2025.
What is the difference in academic freedom index between Belgium and Estonia?: 0.028, with Estonia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and Estonia?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Belgium and Estonia rank globally for academic freedom index?: Belgium ranks 3rd and Estonia ranks 2nd 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

Indicator: Academic Freedom Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 174 places, 16,942 data points, 1900–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.