Which has higher academic freedom index, South Africa or Sri Lanka?

South Africa, at 0.831 against 0.828 in Sri Lanka as of 2025.

What is the difference in academic freedom index between South Africa and Sri Lanka?

0.003, with South Africa ahead.

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

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.

South Africa vs Sri Lanka: Academic Freedom Index

South Africa

0.831

in 2025

Sri Lanka

0.828

in 2025

South Africa rank

44th

Sri Lanka rank

46th

Academic Freedom Index over time

South Africa
Sri Lanka

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 0.831 against 0.828 in Sri Lanka, a difference of 0.003.

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

South Africa ranks 44th and Sri Lanka ranks 46th of 174 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 3 and Sri Lanka in 10.

Head to head by decade

Decade	South Africa	Sri Lanka	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.424	0.582	0.158	Sri Lanka
1910s	0.424	0.582	0.158	Sri Lanka
1920s	0.424	0.582	0.158	Sri Lanka
1930s	0.424	0.582	0.158	Sri Lanka
1940s	0.3842	0.7381	0.3539	Sri Lanka
1950s	0.1874	0.8022	0.6148	Sri Lanka
1960s	0.185	0.7922	0.6072	Sri Lanka
1970s	0.185	0.724	0.539	Sri Lanka
1980s	0.1995	0.6914	0.4919	Sri Lanka
1990s	0.6632	0.744	0.0808	Sri Lanka
2000s	0.9203	0.6176	0.3027	South Africa
2010s	0.8461	0.6124	0.2337	South Africa
2020s	0.8355	0.6962	0.1393	South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher academic freedom index, South Africa or Sri Lanka?: South Africa, at 0.831 against 0.828 in Sri Lanka as of 2025.
What is the difference in academic freedom index between South Africa and Sri Lanka?: 0.003, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sri Lanka?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do South Africa and Sri Lanka rank globally for academic freedom index?: South Africa ranks 44th and Sri Lanka ranks 46th 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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South Africa vs Sri Lanka: 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/south-africa/sri-lanka/

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<a href="https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/academic-freedom-index/south-africa/sri-lanka/">South Africa vs Sri Lanka: Academic Freedom Index</a> — Statizoid

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.