What is academic freedom index in Bangladesh?

Academic freedom index in Bangladesh was 0.519 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Bangladesh?

The highest recorded value was 0.752 in 1973.

What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Bangladesh?

The lowest recorded value was 0.131 in 2023.

How does Bangladesh rank for academic freedom index?

Bangladesh ranks 103rd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Bangladesh?

Over the last ten years it is up 120.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Bangladesh 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 Bangladesh

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

Bangladesh: Academic Freedom Index was 0.519 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.519

Change on year

up 81.5%

World rank

103rd

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.752

in 1973

All-time low

0.131

in 2023

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Academic Freedom Index in Bangladesh, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, academic freedom index in Bangladesh stood at 0.519.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 81.5% on the previous year and up 120.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Bangladesh peaked at 0.752 in 1973 and was at its lowest, 0.131, in 2023.

Bangladesh ranks 103rd of 174 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Academic Freedom Index in Bangladesh, year by year

Annual values for Academic Freedom Index in Bangladesh, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.164	—
1901	0.164	+0.0%
1902	0.164	+0.0%
1903	0.164	+0.0%
1904	0.164	+0.0%
1905	0.164	+0.0%
1906	0.164	+0.0%
1907	0.164	+0.0%
1908	0.164	+0.0%
1909	0.164	+0.0%
1910	0.164	+0.0%
1911	0.164	+0.0%
1912	0.164	+0.0%
1913	0.164	+0.0%
1914	0.164	+0.0%
1915	0.164	+0.0%
1916	0.164	+0.0%
1917	0.164	+0.0%
1918	0.164	+0.0%
1919	0.164	+0.0%
1920	0.164	+0.0%
1921	0.164	+0.0%
1922	0.164	+0.0%
1923	0.164	+0.0%
1924	0.164	+0.0%
1925	0.164	+0.0%
1926	0.164	+0.0%
1927	0.164	+0.0%
1928	0.164	+0.0%
1929	0.164	+0.0%
1930	0.164	+0.0%
1931	0.164	+0.0%
1932	0.164	+0.0%
1933	0.164	+0.0%
1934	0.164	+0.0%
1935	0.164	+0.0%
1936	0.164	+0.0%
1937	0.164	+0.0%
1938	0.164	+0.0%
1939	0.164	+0.0%
1940	0.164	+0.0%
1941	0.158	-3.7%
1942	0.158	+0.0%
1943	0.158	+0.0%
1944	0.166	+5.1%
1945	0.166	+0.0%
1946	0.166	+0.0%
1947	0.677	+307.8%
1948	0.677	+0.0%
1949	0.677	+0.0%
1950	0.677	+0.0%
1951	0.657	-3.0%
1952	0.657	+0.0%
1953	0.657	+0.0%
1954	0.657	+0.0%
1955	0.657	+0.0%
1956	0.632	-3.8%
1957	0.632	+0.0%
1958	0.539	-14.7%
1959	0.504	-6.5%
1960	0.488	-3.2%
1961	0.488	+0.0%
1962	0.488	+0.0%
1963	0.488	+0.0%
1964	0.488	+0.0%
1965	0.488	+0.0%
1966	0.488	+0.0%
1967	0.488	+0.0%
1968	0.499	+2.3%
1969	0.475	-4.8%
1970	0.503	+5.9%
1971	0.335	-33.4%
1972	0.747	+123.0%
1973	0.752	+0.7%
1974	0.678	-9.8%
1975	0.366	-46.0%
1976	0.377	+3.0%
1977	0.377	+0.0%
1978	0.381	+1.1%
1979	0.381	+0.0%
1980	0.452	+18.6%
1981	0.434	-4.0%
1982	0.42	-3.2%
1983	0.377	-10.2%
1984	0.364	-3.4%
1985	0.364	+0.0%
1986	0.364	+0.0%
1987	0.384	+5.5%
1988	0.384	+0.0%
1989	0.384	+0.0%
1990	0.439	+14.3%
1991	0.632	+44.0%
1992	0.632	+0.0%
1993	0.632	+0.0%
1994	0.632	+0.0%
1995	0.622	-1.6%
1996	0.515	-17.2%
1997	0.515	+0.0%
1998	0.515	+0.0%
1999	0.515	+0.0%
2000	0.515	+0.0%
2001	0.491	-4.7%
2002	0.471	-4.1%
2003	0.471	+0.0%
2004	0.471	+0.0%
2005	0.471	+0.0%
2006	0.448	-4.9%
2007	0.423	-5.6%
2008	0.435	+2.8%
2009	0.519	+19.3%
2010	0.449	-13.5%
2011	0.436	-2.9%
2012	0.436	+0.0%
2013	0.314	-28.0%
2014	0.257	-18.2%
2015	0.235	-8.6%
2016	0.235	+0.0%
2017	0.236	+0.4%
2018	0.206	-12.7%
2019	0.205	-0.5%
2020	0.247	+20.5%
2021	0.164	-33.6%
2022	0.18	+9.8%
2023	0.131	-27.2%
2024	0.286	+118.3%
2025	0.519	+81.5%

Bangladesh compared with similar countries

Bangladesh's 0.519 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.515, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Bangladesh's 0.519 is below the median for South Asia, which is 0.537, 97% of the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.164	0.164	0.164	10
1910s	0.164	0.164	0.164	10
1920s	0.164	0.164	0.164	10
1930s	0.164	0.164	0.164	10
1940s	0.3167	0.158	0.677	10
1950s	0.6269	0.504	0.677	10
1960s	0.4878	0.475	0.499	10
1970s	0.4897	0.335	0.752	10
1980s	0.3927	0.364	0.452	10
1990s	0.5649	0.439	0.632	10
2000s	0.4715	0.423	0.519	10
2010s	0.3009	0.205	0.449	10
2020s	0.2545	0.131	0.519	6

Countries ranked near Bangladesh

100 Tunisia 0.558 compare
101 Maldives 0.555 compare
102 Guinea-Bissau 0.523 compare
104 Tanzania 0.515 compare
105 Democratic Republic of Congo 0.506 compare
106 Somalia 0.494 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for Bangladesh

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.18 million (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 31,862 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 5 (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 5 (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 31,862 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0067 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)

All data for Bangladesh →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in Bangladesh?: Academic freedom index in Bangladesh was 0.519 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Bangladesh?: The highest recorded value was 0.752 in 1973.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Bangladesh?: The lowest recorded value was 0.131 in 2023.
How does Bangladesh rank for academic freedom index?: Bangladesh ranks 103rd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Bangladesh?: Over the last ten years it is up 120.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Bangladesh 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 Bangladesh. 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/bangladesh/

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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.