What is academic freedom index in Belgium?

Academic freedom index in Belgium was 0.946 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Belgium?

The highest recorded value was 0.969 in 2022.

What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Belgium?

The lowest recorded value was 0.204 in 1941.

How does Belgium rank for academic freedom index?

Belgium ranks 3rd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Belgium?

Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Belgium 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 Belgium

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

Belgium: Academic Freedom Index was 0.946 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.946

Change on year

up 1.3%

World rank

3rd

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.969

in 2022

All-time low

0.204

in 1941

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Academic Freedom Index in Belgium, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

Belgium recorded 0.946 for academic freedom index in 2025.

The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Belgium peaked at 0.969 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.204, in 1941.

That places Belgium 3rd out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 126 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.767	0.767	0.767	10
1910s	0.5306	0.286	0.799	10
1920s	0.804	0.804	0.804	10
1930s	0.7965	0.729	0.804	10
1940s	0.4873	0.204	0.891	10
1950s	0.8947	0.891	0.916	10
1960s	0.8995	0.895	0.94	10
1970s	0.9578	0.954	0.959	10
1980s	0.9595	0.959	0.964	10
1990s	0.964	0.964	0.964	10
2000s	0.964	0.964	0.964	10
2010s	0.964	0.964	0.964	10
2020s	0.9553	0.934	0.969	6

Countries ranked near Belgium

1 Czechia 0.978 compare
2 Estonia 0.974 compare
4 Jamaica 0.939 compare
5 Slovenia 0.937 compare
6 Sweden 0.934 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for Belgium

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 186,393 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 113 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.889 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.969 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.896 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.889 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.633 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.794 (2025)

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in Belgium?: Academic freedom index in Belgium was 0.946 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Belgium?: The highest recorded value was 0.969 in 2022.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Belgium?: The lowest recorded value was 0.204 in 1941.
How does Belgium rank for academic freedom index?: Belgium ranks 3rd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Belgium?: Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Belgium 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 — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

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.