Which has higher academic freedom index, Iceland or Japan?

Japan, at 0.76 against 0.756 in Iceland as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Iceland and Japan?

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.

Iceland vs Japan: Academic Freedom Index

Iceland

0.756

in 2025

Japan

0.76

in 2025

Iceland rank

64th

Japan rank

62nd

Academic Freedom Index over time

Iceland
Japan

How they compare

Japan currently reports 0.76 against 0.756 in Iceland, a difference of 0.004.

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

Iceland ranks 64th and Japan ranks 62nd of 174 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, Iceland averaged higher in 11 and Japan in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Iceland	Japan	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.509	0.351	0.158	Iceland
1910s	0.509	0.3516	0.1574	Iceland
1920s	0.509	0.3442	0.1648	Iceland
1930s	0.509	0.2659	0.2431	Iceland
1940s	0.509	0.343	0.166	Iceland
1950s	0.632	0.6412	0.0092	Japan
1960s	0.648	0.649	0.001	Japan
1970s	0.819	0.6672	0.1518	Iceland
1980s	0.85	0.675	0.175	Iceland
1990s	0.915	0.6822	0.2328	Iceland
2000s	0.912	0.664	0.248	Iceland
2010s	0.9131	0.6715	0.2416	Iceland
2020s	0.8677	0.668	0.1997	Iceland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher academic freedom index, Iceland or Japan?: Japan, at 0.76 against 0.756 in Iceland as of 2025.
What is the difference in academic freedom index between Iceland and Japan?: 0.004, with Japan ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Iceland and Japan?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Iceland and Japan rank globally for academic freedom index?: Iceland ranks 64th and Japan ranks 62nd 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.