What is academic freedom index in Estonia?

Academic freedom index in Estonia was 0.974 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Estonia?

The highest recorded value was 0.974 in 1992.

What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Estonia?

The lowest recorded value was 0.004 in 1940.

How does Estonia rank for academic freedom index?

Estonia ranks 2nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Estonia?

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

Where does this Estonia 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 Estonia

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

Estonia: Academic Freedom Index was 0.974 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.974

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

2nd

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.974

in 1992

All-time low

0.004

in 1940

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Academic Freedom Index in Estonia, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for academic freedom index in Estonia is 0.974, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 126 years on record.

That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Estonia peaked at 0.974 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0.004, in 1940.

Estonia ranks 2nd of 174 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Academic Freedom Index in Estonia, year by year

Annual values for Academic Freedom Index in Estonia, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.407	—
1901	0.407	+0.0%
1902	0.407	+0.0%
1903	0.407	+0.0%
1904	0.422	+3.7%
1905	0.451	+6.9%
1906	0.464	+2.9%
1907	0.473	+1.9%
1908	0.466	-1.5%
1909	0.462	-0.9%
1910	0.441	-4.5%
1911	0.441	+0.0%
1912	0.446	+1.1%
1913	0.446	+0.0%
1914	0.423	-5.2%
1915	0.404	-4.5%
1916	0.408	+1.0%
1917	0.316	-22.5%
1918	0.617	+95.3%
1919	0.616	-0.2%
1920	0.735	+19.3%
1921	0.762	+3.7%
1922	0.762	+0.0%
1923	0.762	+0.0%
1924	0.762	+0.0%
1925	0.762	+0.0%
1926	0.762	+0.0%
1927	0.762	+0.0%
1928	0.762	+0.0%
1929	0.762	+0.0%
1930	0.762	+0.0%
1931	0.762	+0.0%
1932	0.762	+0.0%
1933	0.745	-2.2%
1934	0.618	-17.0%
1935	0.581	-6.0%
1936	0.581	+0.0%
1937	0.55	-5.3%
1938	0.557	+1.3%
1939	0.557	+0.0%
1940	0.004	-99.3%
1941	0.004	+0.0%
1942	0.004	+0.0%
1943	0.004	+0.0%
1944	0.004	+0.0%
1945	0.005	+25.0%
1946	0.005	+0.0%
1947	0.005	+0.0%
1948	0.005	+0.0%
1949	0.005	+0.0%
1950	0.007	+40.0%
1951	0.007	+0.0%
1952	0.007	+0.0%
1953	0.008	+14.3%
1954	0.025	+212.5%
1955	0.025	+0.0%
1956	0.029	+16.0%
1957	0.026	-10.3%
1958	0.026	+0.0%
1959	0.026	+0.0%
1960	0.032	+23.1%
1961	0.032	+0.0%
1962	0.032	+0.0%
1963	0.029	-9.4%
1964	0.029	+0.0%
1965	0.027	-6.9%
1966	0.027	+0.0%
1967	0.027	+0.0%
1968	0.027	+0.0%
1969	0.025	-7.4%
1970	0.041	+64.0%
1971	0.041	+0.0%
1972	0.041	+0.0%
1973	0.041	+0.0%
1974	0.035	-14.6%
1975	0.037	+5.7%
1976	0.035	-5.4%
1977	0.035	+0.0%
1978	0.035	+0.0%
1979	0.035	+0.0%
1980	0.044	+25.7%
1981	0.049	+11.4%
1982	0.049	+0.0%
1983	0.049	+0.0%
1984	0.056	+14.3%
1985	0.055	-1.8%
1986	0.084	+52.7%
1987	0.162	+92.9%
1988	0.286	+76.5%
1989	0.349	+22.0%
1990	0.892	+155.6%
1991	0.915	+2.6%
1992	0.974	+6.4%
1993	0.974	+0.0%
1994	0.974	+0.0%
1995	0.974	+0.0%
1996	0.974	+0.0%
1997	0.974	+0.0%
1998	0.974	+0.0%
1999	0.974	+0.0%
2000	0.974	+0.0%
2001	0.974	+0.0%
2002	0.974	+0.0%
2003	0.974	+0.0%
2004	0.974	+0.0%
2005	0.974	+0.0%
2006	0.974	+0.0%
2007	0.974	+0.0%
2008	0.974	+0.0%
2009	0.974	+0.0%
2010	0.974	+0.0%
2011	0.974	+0.0%
2012	0.974	+0.0%
2013	0.974	+0.0%
2014	0.974	+0.0%
2015	0.974	+0.0%
2016	0.97	-0.4%
2017	0.97	+0.0%
2018	0.97	+0.0%
2019	0.969	-0.1%
2020	0.955	-1.4%
2021	0.961	+0.6%
2022	0.969	+0.8%
2023	0.969	+0.0%
2024	0.974	+0.5%
2025	0.974	+0.0%

Estonia compared with similar countries

Estonia's 0.974 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.847, 1.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Estonia's 0.974 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.7865, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.4366	0.407	0.473	10
1910s	0.4558	0.316	0.617	10
1920s	0.7593	0.735	0.762	10
1930s	0.6475	0.55	0.762	10
1940s	0.0045	0.004	0.005	10
1950s	0.0186	0.007	0.029	10
1960s	0.0287	0.025	0.032	10
1970s	0.0376	0.035	0.041	10
1980s	0.1183	0.044	0.349	10
1990s	0.9599	0.892	0.974	10
2000s	0.974	0.974	0.974	10
2010s	0.9723	0.969	0.974	10
2020s	0.967	0.955	0.974	6

Countries ranked near Estonia

1 Czechia 0.978 compare
3 Belgium 0.946 compare
4 Jamaica 0.939 compare
5 Slovenia 0.937 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for Estonia

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 41,299 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 86 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (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 86 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0302 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 Estonia →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in Estonia?: Academic freedom index in Estonia was 0.974 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Estonia?: The highest recorded value was 0.974 in 1992.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Estonia?: The lowest recorded value was 0.004 in 1940.
How does Estonia rank for academic freedom index?: Estonia ranks 2nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Estonia?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Estonia 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 Estonia. 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/estonia/

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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.