Which has higher academic freedom index, Russia or Zimbabwe?

Russia, at 0.176 against 0.157 in Zimbabwe as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Russia and Zimbabwe?

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.

Russia vs Zimbabwe: Academic Freedom Index

Russia

0.176

in 2025

Zimbabwe

0.157

in 2025

Russia rank

147th

Zimbabwe rank

150th

Academic Freedom Index over time

Russia
Zimbabwe

How they compare

Russia currently reports 0.176 against 0.157 in Zimbabwe, a difference of 0.019.

That makes Russia's figure about 1.1 times Zimbabwe's.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was Russia ahead.

Russia ranks 147th and Zimbabwe ranks 150th of 174 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, Russia averaged higher in 5 and Zimbabwe in 8.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Russia	Zimbabwe	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.4366	0.37	0.0666	Russia
1910s	0.3475	0.37	0.0225	Zimbabwe
1920s	0.031	0.37	0.339	Zimbabwe
1930s	0.0048	0.373	0.3682	Zimbabwe
1940s	0.0045	0.373	0.3685	Zimbabwe
1950s	0.0186	0.2801	0.2615	Zimbabwe
1960s	0.0287	0.1958	0.1671	Zimbabwe
1970s	0.0376	0.176	0.1384	Zimbabwe
1980s	0.1183	0.2999	0.1816	Zimbabwe
1990s	0.7829	0.1932	0.5897	Russia
2000s	0.6867	0.1121	0.5746	Russia
2010s	0.4181	0.155	0.2631	Russia
2020s	0.2435	0.18	0.0635	Russia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher academic freedom index, Russia or Zimbabwe?: Russia, at 0.176 against 0.157 in Zimbabwe as of 2025.
What is the difference in academic freedom index between Russia and Zimbabwe?: 0.019, with Russia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Russia and Zimbabwe?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Russia and Zimbabwe rank globally for academic freedom index?: Russia ranks 147th and Zimbabwe ranks 150th 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.