Academic Freedom Index in Germany
Germany: Academic Freedom Index was 0.877 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.877
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
22nd
of 174 countries
All-time high
0.965
in 2018
All-time low
0.043
in 1939
Years of data
80
1900–2025
Academic Freedom Index in Germany, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for academic freedom index in Germany is 0.877, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Germany peaked at 0.965 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.043, in 1939.
That places Germany 22nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Academic Freedom Index in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0.402 | — |
| 1901 | 0.402 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.402 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.402 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.408 | +1.5% |
| 1905 | 0.408 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.406 | -0.5% |
| 1907 | 0.406 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.406 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.406 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.406 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.406 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.406 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.406 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.395 | -2.7% |
| 1915 | 0.394 | -0.3% |
| 1916 | 0.391 | -0.8% |
| 1917 | 0.391 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.477 | +22.0% |
| 1919 | 0.586 | +22.9% |
| 1920 | 0.594 | +1.4% |
| 1921 | 0.594 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.594 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.594 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.594 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.594 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.594 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.594 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.594 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.594 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.566 | -4.7% |
| 1931 | 0.55 | -2.8% |
| 1932 | 0.55 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.075 | -86.4% |
| 1934 | 0.059 | -21.3% |
| 1935 | 0.056 | -5.1% |
| 1936 | 0.056 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.056 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.056 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.043 | -23.2% |
| 1940 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.962 | +2137.2% |
| 1992 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.962 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.965 | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.963 | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 0.963 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.96 | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 0.936 | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 0.88 | -6.0% |
| 2025 | 0.877 | -0.3% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 0.877 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.847, 1.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Germany's 0.877 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.7865, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.4048 | 0.402 | 0.408 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.4258 | 0.391 | 0.586 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.594 | 0.594 | 0.594 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.2067 | 0.043 | 0.566 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.043 | 0.043 | 0.043 | 5 |
| 1990s | 0.962 | 0.962 | 0.962 | 9 |
| 2000s | 0.962 | 0.962 | 0.962 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9626 | 0.962 | 0.965 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9298 | 0.877 | 0.963 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More social development data for Germany
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.66 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 327 (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 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 327 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0318 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 Germany?
- Academic freedom index in Germany was 0.877 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 0.965 in 2018.
- What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.043 in 1939.
- How does Germany rank for academic freedom index?
- Germany ranks 22nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany 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 — 80 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.