What is academic freedom index in Afghanistan?

Academic freedom index in Afghanistan was 0.086 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Afghanistan?

The highest recorded value was 0.526 in 2008.

What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Afghanistan?

The lowest recorded value was 0.065 in 1996.

How does Afghanistan rank for academic freedom index?

Afghanistan ranks 161st out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Afghanistan?

Over the last ten years it is down 83.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Afghanistan data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Academic Freedom Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Academic Freedom Index in Afghanistan

Name: Academic Freedom Index in Afghanistan
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Afghanistan: Academic Freedom Index was 0.086 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.086

Change on year

down 13.1%

World rank

161st

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.526

in 2008

All-time low

0.065

in 1996

Years of data

1932–2025

Academic Freedom Index in Afghanistan, 1932–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for academic freedom index in Afghanistan is 0.086, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of down 13.1% on the previous year and down 83.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Afghanistan peaked at 0.526 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.065, in 1996.

Afghanistan ranks 161st of 174 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Academic Freedom Index in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Academic Freedom Index in Afghanistan, 1932 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1932	0.074	—
1933	0.074	+0.0%
1934	0.074	+0.0%
1935	0.074	+0.0%
1936	0.074	+0.0%
1937	0.074	+0.0%
1938	0.076	+2.7%
1939	0.076	+0.0%
1940	0.076	+0.0%
1941	0.076	+0.0%
1942	0.076	+0.0%
1943	0.076	+0.0%
1944	0.076	+0.0%
1945	0.076	+0.0%
1946	0.076	+0.0%
1947	0.076	+0.0%
1948	0.076	+0.0%
1949	0.076	+0.0%
1950	0.076	+0.0%
1951	0.076	+0.0%
1952	0.076	+0.0%
1953	0.076	+0.0%
1954	0.076	+0.0%
1955	0.076	+0.0%
1956	0.076	+0.0%
1957	0.076	+0.0%
1958	0.076	+0.0%
1959	0.076	+0.0%
1960	0.08	+5.3%
1961	0.08	+0.0%
1962	0.08	+0.0%
1963	0.382	+377.5%
1964	0.392	+2.6%
1965	0.38	-3.1%
1966	0.394	+3.7%
1967	0.394	+0.0%
1968	0.394	+0.0%
1969	0.394	+0.0%
1970	0.394	+0.0%
1971	0.394	+0.0%
1972	0.384	-2.5%
1973	0.384	+0.0%
1974	0.086	-77.6%
1975	0.086	+0.0%
1976	0.086	+0.0%
1977	0.086	+0.0%
1978	0.072	-16.3%
1979	0.077	+6.9%
1980	0.147	+90.9%
1981	0.147	+0.0%
1982	0.142	-3.4%
1983	0.149	+4.9%
1984	0.149	+0.0%
1985	0.149	+0.0%
1986	0.149	+0.0%
1987	0.149	+0.0%
1988	0.149	+0.0%
1989	0.149	+0.0%
1990	0.139	-6.7%
1991	0.139	+0.0%
1992	0.107	-23.0%
1993	0.107	+0.0%
1994	0.107	+0.0%
1995	0.107	+0.0%
1996	0.065	-39.3%
1997	0.065	+0.0%
1998	0.065	+0.0%
1999	0.065	+0.0%
2000	0.065	+0.0%
2001	0.333	+412.3%
2002	0.522	+56.8%
2003	0.522	+0.0%
2004	0.522	+0.0%
2005	0.522	+0.0%
2006	0.522	+0.0%
2007	0.522	+0.0%
2008	0.526	+0.8%
2009	0.526	+0.0%
2010	0.525	-0.2%
2011	0.525	+0.0%
2012	0.525	+0.0%
2013	0.518	-1.3%
2014	0.526	+1.5%
2015	0.513	-2.5%
2016	0.518	+1.0%
2017	0.518	+0.0%
2018	0.518	+0.0%
2019	0.518	+0.0%
2020	0.523	+1.0%
2021	0.261	-50.1%
2022	0.111	-57.5%
2023	0.099	-10.8%
2024	0.099	+0.0%
2025	0.086	-13.1%

Afghanistan compared with similar countries

Afghanistan's 0.086 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.326, 26% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Afghanistan's 0.086 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.2275, 38% of the median. (22 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1930s	0.0745	0.074	0.076	8
1940s	0.076	0.076	0.076	10
1950s	0.076	0.076	0.076	10
1960s	0.297	0.08	0.394	10
1970s	0.2049	0.072	0.394	10
1980s	0.1479	0.142	0.149	10
1990s	0.0966	0.065	0.139	10
2000s	0.4582	0.065	0.526	10
2010s	0.5204	0.513	0.526	10
2020s	0.1965	0.086	0.523	6

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

158 Rwanda 0.097 compare
159 Azerbaijan 0.092 compare
160 Turkey 0.088 compare
162 Cuba 0.084 compare
163 Tajikistan 0.082 compare
164 Egypt 0.075 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for Afghanistan

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 20,869 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.67 million (2025)
Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0609 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.67 million (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0005 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in Afghanistan?: Academic freedom index in Afghanistan was 0.086 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Afghanistan?: The highest recorded value was 0.526 in 2008.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Afghanistan?: The lowest recorded value was 0.065 in 1996.
How does Afghanistan rank for academic freedom index?: Afghanistan ranks 161st out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Afghanistan?: Over the last ten years it is down 83.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Academic Freedom Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Academic Freedom Index in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/academic-freedom-index/afghanistan/

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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.