Which has higher academic freedom index, Belgium or Sweden?

Belgium, at 0.946 against 0.934 in Sweden as of 2025.

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

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 Sweden: Academic Freedom Index

Belgium

0.946

in 2025

Sweden

0.934

in 2025

Belgium rank

3rd

Sweden rank

6th

Academic Freedom Index over time

Belgium
Sweden

How they compare

Belgium currently reports 0.946 against 0.934 in Sweden, a difference of 0.012.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was Sweden ahead.

Belgium ranks 3rd and Sweden ranks 6th of 174 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, Belgium averaged higher in 6 and Sweden in 7.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Belgium	Sweden	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.767	0.851	0.084	Sweden
1910s	0.5306	0.8518	0.3212	Sweden
1920s	0.804	0.9032	0.0992	Sweden
1930s	0.7965	0.9026	0.1061	Sweden
1940s	0.4873	0.9024	0.4151	Sweden
1950s	0.8947	0.943	0.0483	Sweden
1960s	0.8995	0.943	0.0435	Sweden
1970s	0.9578	0.9497	0.0081	Belgium
1980s	0.9595	0.951	0.0085	Belgium
1990s	0.964	0.951	0.013	Belgium
2000s	0.964	0.951	0.013	Belgium
2010s	0.964	0.951	0.013	Belgium
2020s	0.9553	0.9438	0.0115	Belgium

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher academic freedom index, Belgium or Sweden?: Belgium, at 0.946 against 0.934 in Sweden as of 2025.
What is the difference in academic freedom index between Belgium and Sweden?: 0.012, with Belgium ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and Sweden?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Belgium and Sweden rank globally for academic freedom index?: Belgium ranks 3rd and Sweden ranks 6th 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.