Which has higher academic freedom index, Israel or South Africa?

Israel, at 0.84 against 0.831 in South Africa as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Israel and South Africa?

98 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.

Israel vs South Africa: Academic Freedom Index

Israel

0.84

in 2025

South Africa

0.831

in 2025

Israel rank

41st

South Africa rank

44th

Academic Freedom Index over time

Israel
South Africa

How they compare

Israel currently reports 0.84 against 0.831 in South Africa, a difference of 0.009.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 98 shared years of data; in 1900 it was South Africa ahead.

Israel ranks 41st and South Africa ranks 44th of 174 countries.

Across the 11 decades both report, Israel averaged higher in 9 and South Africa in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Israel	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.0582	0.424	0.3658	South Africa
1910s	0.0661	0.424	0.3579	South Africa
1940s	0.893	0.225	0.668	Israel
1950s	0.9008	0.1874	0.7134	Israel
1960s	0.9063	0.185	0.7213	Israel
1970s	0.9157	0.185	0.7307	Israel
1980s	0.945	0.1995	0.7455	Israel
1990s	0.945	0.6632	0.2818	Israel
2000s	0.945	0.9203	0.0247	Israel
2010s	0.9406	0.8461	0.0945	Israel
2020s	0.8845	0.8355	0.049	Israel

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher academic freedom index, Israel or South Africa?: Israel, at 0.84 against 0.831 in South Africa as of 2025.
What is the difference in academic freedom index between Israel and South Africa?: 0.009, with Israel ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Israel and South Africa?: 98 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Israel and South Africa rank globally for academic freedom index?: Israel ranks 41st and South Africa ranks 44th 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.

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Israel vs South Africa: Academic Freedom Index. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/academic-freedom-index/israel/south-africa/

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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: 30 October 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.