Which has higher academic freedom index, Malawi or Switzerland?

Malawi, at 0.795 against 0.773 in Switzerland as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Malawi and Switzerland?

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.

Malawi vs Switzerland: Academic Freedom Index

Malawi

0.795

in 2025

Switzerland

0.773

in 2025

Malawi rank

58th

Switzerland rank

59th

Academic Freedom Index over time

Malawi
Switzerland

How they compare

Malawi currently reports 0.795 against 0.773 in Switzerland, a difference of 0.022.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was Switzerland ahead.

Malawi ranks 58th and Switzerland ranks 59th of 174 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade	Malawi	Switzerland	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.152	0.835	0.683	Switzerland
1910s	0.152	0.835	0.683	Switzerland
1920s	0.152	0.831	0.679	Switzerland
1930s	0.152	0.8159	0.6639	Switzerland
1940s	0.1796	0.8232	0.6436	Switzerland
1950s	0.2246	0.837	0.6124	Switzerland
1960s	0.1786	0.837	0.6584	Switzerland
1970s	0.1357	0.842	0.7063	Switzerland
1980s	0.141	0.8664	0.7254	Switzerland
1990s	0.4608	0.923	0.4622	Switzerland
2000s	0.6701	0.923	0.2529	Switzerland
2010s	0.7319	0.9255	0.1936	Switzerland
2020s	0.8118	0.868	0.0562	Switzerland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher academic freedom index, Malawi or Switzerland?: Malawi, at 0.795 against 0.773 in Switzerland as of 2025.
What is the difference in academic freedom index between Malawi and Switzerland?: 0.022, with Malawi ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malawi and Switzerland?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Malawi and Switzerland rank globally for academic freedom index?: Malawi ranks 58th and Switzerland ranks 59th 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.