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

Canada, at 0.854 against 0.85 in South Korea as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Canada 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.

Canada vs South Korea: Academic Freedom Index

Canada

0.854

in 2025

South Korea

0.85

in 2025

Canada rank

33rd

South Korea rank

35th

Academic Freedom Index over time

Canada
South Korea

How they compare

Canada currently reports 0.854 against 0.85 in South Korea, a difference of 0.004.

Across all 126 years both countries report, Canada has been ahead every year.

Canada ranks 33rd and South Korea ranks 35th of 174 countries.

Canada has averaged higher in every one of the 13 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Canada	South Korea	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.739	0.049	0.69	Canada
1910s	0.733	0.0173	0.7157	Canada
1920s	0.755	0.018	0.737	Canada
1930s	0.7529	0.018	0.7349	Canada
1940s	0.7818	0.0898	0.692	Canada
1950s	0.8588	0.1892	0.6696	Canada
1960s	0.922	0.1894	0.7326	Canada
1970s	0.9375	0.1615	0.776	Canada
1980s	0.938	0.3933	0.5447	Canada
1990s	0.9264	0.7659	0.1605	Canada
2000s	0.9185	0.8404	0.0781	Canada
2010s	0.913	0.8079	0.1051	Canada
2020s	0.87	0.8538	0.0162	Canada

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher academic freedom index, Canada or South Korea?: Canada, at 0.854 against 0.85 in South Korea as of 2025.
What is the difference in academic freedom index between Canada and South Korea?: 0.004, with Canada ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Canada and South Korea?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Canada and South Korea rank globally for academic freedom index?: Canada ranks 33rd 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.