Which has higher academic freedom index, Malta or Spain?

Malta, at 0.874 against 0.869 in Spain as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Malta and Spain?

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.

Malta vs Spain: Academic Freedom Index

Malta

0.874

in 2025

Spain

0.869

in 2025

Malta rank

25th

Spain rank

26th

Academic Freedom Index over time

Malta
Spain

How they compare

Malta currently reports 0.874 against 0.869 in Spain, a difference of 0.005.

The two have swapped places 4 times across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was Malta ahead.

Malta ranks 25th and Spain ranks 26th of 174 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, Malta averaged higher in 8 and Spain in 5.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Malta	Spain	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.702	0.449	0.253	Malta
1910s	0.702	0.449	0.253	Malta
1920s	0.702	0.3203	0.3817	Malta
1930s	0.702	0.5107	0.1913	Malta
1940s	0.6941	0.023	0.6711	Malta
1950s	0.713	0.0304	0.6826	Malta
1960s	0.7289	0.0873	0.6416	Malta
1970s	0.7005	0.3434	0.3571	Malta
1980s	0.7286	0.951	0.2224	Spain
1990s	0.86	0.954	0.094	Spain
2000s	0.9007	0.9558	0.0551	Spain
2010s	0.9036	0.9512	0.0476	Spain
2020s	0.8882	0.9052	0.017	Spain

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher academic freedom index, Malta or Spain?: Malta, at 0.874 against 0.869 in Spain as of 2025.
What is the difference in academic freedom index between Malta and Spain?: 0.005, with Malta ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malta and Spain?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Malta and Spain rank globally for academic freedom index?: Malta ranks 25th and Spain ranks 26th 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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Malta vs Spain: Academic Freedom Index. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/academic-freedom-index/malta/spain/

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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: 18 September 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.