Which has higher academic freedom index, Bulgaria or South Korea?

Bulgaria, at 0.85 against 0.85 in South Korea as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Bulgaria and South Korea?

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.

Bulgaria vs South Korea: Academic Freedom Index

Bulgaria

0.85

in 2025

South Korea

0.85

in 2025

Bulgaria rank

35th

South Korea rank

35th

Academic Freedom Index over time

Bulgaria
South Korea

How they compare

Bulgaria currently reports 0.85 against 0.85 in South Korea, a difference of 0.

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

Bulgaria ranks 35th and South Korea ranks 35th of 174 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, Bulgaria averaged higher in 8 and South Korea in 4.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Bulgaria	South Korea	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.5995	0.049	0.5505	Bulgaria
1910s	0.6208	0.0173	0.6035	Bulgaria
1920s	0.5508	0.018	0.5328	Bulgaria
1930s	0.5389	0.018	0.5209	Bulgaria
1940s	0.2741	0.0898	0.1843	Bulgaria
1950s	0.0827	0.1892	0.1065	South Korea
1960s	0.105	0.1894	0.0844	South Korea
1970s	0.113	0.1615	0.0485	South Korea
1980s	0.1427	0.3933	0.2506	South Korea
1990s	0.8843	0.7659	0.1184	Bulgaria
2000s	0.9362	0.8404	0.0958	Bulgaria
2010s	0.9123	0.8079	0.1044	Bulgaria
2020s	0.8538	0.8538	0	—

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher academic freedom index, Bulgaria or South Korea?: Bulgaria, at 0.85 against 0.85 in South Korea as of 2025.
What is the difference in academic freedom index between Bulgaria and South Korea?: 0, with Bulgaria ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Bulgaria and South Korea?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Bulgaria and South Korea rank globally for academic freedom index?: Bulgaria ranks 35th and South Korea ranks 35th 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.