What is academic freedom index in Italy?

Academic freedom index in Italy was 0.822 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Italy?

The highest recorded value was 0.967 in 1991.

What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Italy?

The lowest recorded value was 0.058 in 1940.

How does Italy rank for academic freedom index?

Italy ranks 52nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Italy?

Over the last ten years it is down 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Italy 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 Italy

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

Italy: Academic Freedom Index was 0.822 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.822

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

52nd

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.967

in 1991

All-time low

0.058

in 1940

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Academic Freedom Index in Italy, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, academic freedom index in Italy stood at 0.822.

That represents a change of down 13.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Italy peaked at 0.967 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 0.058, in 1940.

Italy ranks 52nd of 174 countries on this measure, 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	0.468	0.464	0.472	10
1910s	0.4518	0.43	0.472	10
1920s	0.2001	0.115	0.448	10
1930s	0.0735	0.061	0.111	10
1940s	0.3811	0.058	0.806	10
1950s	0.8284	0.824	0.835	10
1960s	0.909	0.904	0.929	10
1970s	0.943	0.941	0.949	10
1980s	0.9528	0.949	0.955	10
1990s	0.9664	0.961	0.967	10
2000s	0.9643	0.958	0.967	10
2010s	0.9575	0.949	0.964	10
2020s	0.9073	0.822	0.952	6

Countries ranked near Italy

49 Portugal 0.826 compare
50 Montenegro 0.824 compare
51 Lithuania 0.823 compare
53 Gambia 0.821 compare
54 Finland 0.818 compare
55 Croatia 0.811 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for Italy

Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 192,914 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 266 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.745 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.756 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.875 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.745 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.569 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.642 (2025)

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in Italy?: Academic freedom index in Italy was 0.822 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Italy?: The highest recorded value was 0.967 in 1991.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Italy?: The lowest recorded value was 0.058 in 1940.
How does Italy rank for academic freedom index?: Italy ranks 52nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Italy?: Over the last ten years it is down 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Italy 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.