Academic Freedom Index in Bahrain
Bahrain: Academic Freedom Index was 0.199 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Academic Freedom Index in Bahrain, 1968–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for academic freedom index in Bahrain is 0.199, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 255.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Bahrain peaked at 0.211 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.044, in 2013.
That places Bahrain 143rd out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 58 years of available data.
Academic Freedom Index in Bahrain, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 0.156 | — |
| 1969 | 0.156 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.146 | -6.4% |
| 1971 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.143 | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.132 | -7.7% |
| 1996 | 0.132 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.132 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.132 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.132 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.176 | +33.3% |
| 2001 | 0.211 | +19.9% |
| 2002 | 0.208 | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 0.211 | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 0.211 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.211 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.207 | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 0.209 | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 0.209 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.208 | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 0.198 | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 0.049 | -75.3% |
| 2012 | 0.058 | +18.4% |
| 2013 | 0.044 | -24.1% |
| 2014 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.056 | +27.3% |
| 2016 | 0.055 | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.061 | +10.9% |
| 2019 | 0.061 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.061 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.061 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.061 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.194 | +218.0% |
| 2024 | 0.199 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 0.199 | +0.0% |
Bahrain compared with similar countries
- Bahrain's 0.199 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.847, 23% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Bahrain's 0.199 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.2275, 87% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.156 | 0.156 | 0.156 | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.1457 | 0.143 | 0.146 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.143 | 0.143 | 0.143 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1375 | 0.132 | 0.143 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2061 | 0.176 | 0.211 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0681 | 0.044 | 0.198 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1292 | 0.061 | 0.199 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bahrain
More social development data for Bahrain
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 240 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 267 (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 0.0002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 267 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is academic freedom index in Bahrain?
- Academic freedom index in Bahrain was 0.199 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Bahrain?
- The highest recorded value was 0.211 in 2001.
- What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Bahrain?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.044 in 2013.
- How does Bahrain rank for academic freedom index?
- Bahrain ranks 143rd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Bahrain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 255.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bahrain 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 58 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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.