What is academic freedom index in Iceland?

Academic freedom index in Iceland was 0.756 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Iceland?

The highest recorded value was 0.919 in 2017.

What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Iceland?

The lowest recorded value was 0.509 in 1900.

How does Iceland rank for academic freedom index?

Iceland ranks 64th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Iceland?

Over the last ten years it is down 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Iceland 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 Iceland

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

Iceland: Academic Freedom Index was 0.756 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.756

Change on year

down 13.6%

World rank

64th

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.919

in 2017

All-time low

0.509

in 1900

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Academic Freedom Index in Iceland, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

Iceland recorded 0.756 for academic freedom index in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.6% on the previous year and down 17.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Iceland peaked at 0.919 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.509, in 1900.

That places Iceland 64th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.509	0.509	0.509	10
1910s	0.509	0.509	0.509	10
1920s	0.509	0.509	0.509	10
1930s	0.509	0.509	0.509	10
1940s	0.509	0.509	0.509	10
1950s	0.632	0.632	0.632	10
1960s	0.648	0.648	0.648	10
1970s	0.819	0.819	0.819	10
1980s	0.85	0.85	0.85	10
1990s	0.915	0.915	0.915	10
2000s	0.912	0.908	0.915	10
2010s	0.9131	0.907	0.919	10
2020s	0.8677	0.756	0.91	6

Countries ranked near Iceland

61 Guyana 0.761 compare
62 Albania 0.76 compare
62 Japan 0.76 compare
65 Senegal 0.755 compare
66 Romania 0.754 compare
67 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.75 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for Iceland

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 8,459 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 0 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.807 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.846 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.917 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.807 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.565 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.72 (2025)

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in Iceland?: Academic freedom index in Iceland was 0.756 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Iceland?: The highest recorded value was 0.919 in 2017.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Iceland?: The lowest recorded value was 0.509 in 1900.
How does Iceland rank for academic freedom index?: Iceland ranks 64th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Iceland?: Over the last ten years it is down 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Iceland 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.