What is academic freedom index in South Korea?

Academic freedom index in South Korea was 0.85 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in South Korea?

The highest recorded value was 0.879 in 2020.

What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in South Korea?

The lowest recorded value was 0.017 in 1911.

How does South Korea rank for academic freedom index?

South Korea ranks 35th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in South Korea?

Over the last ten years it is up 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this South Korea 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 South Korea

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

South Korea: Academic Freedom Index was 0.85 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.85

Change on year

up 2.8%

World rank

35th

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.879

in 2020

All-time low

0.017

in 1911

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Academic Freedom Index in South Korea, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

South Korea recorded 0.85 for academic freedom index in 2025.

That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 8.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in South Korea peaked at 0.879 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.017, in 1911.

South Korea ranks 35th of 174 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.049	0.048	0.05	10
1910s	0.0173	0.017	0.019	10
1920s	0.018	0.018	0.018	10
1930s	0.018	0.018	0.018	10
1940s	0.0898	0.018	0.202	10
1950s	0.1892	0.185	0.191	10
1960s	0.1894	0.179	0.263	10
1970s	0.1615	0.149	0.202	10
1980s	0.3933	0.28	0.698	10
1990s	0.7659	0.717	0.845	10
2000s	0.8404	0.79	0.853	10
2010s	0.8079	0.782	0.865	10
2020s	0.8538	0.827	0.879	6

Countries ranked near South Korea

32 Sierra Leone 0.862 compare
33 Canada 0.854 compare
33 Norway 0.854 compare
35 Bulgaria 0.85 compare
37 Brazil 0.849 compare
37 Papua New Guinea 0.849 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for South Korea

Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 4,407 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 117 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.819 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.933 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.839 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.819 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.551 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.739 (2025)

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in South Korea?: Academic freedom index in South Korea was 0.85 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in South Korea?: The highest recorded value was 0.879 in 2020.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in South Korea?: The lowest recorded value was 0.017 in 1911.
How does South Korea rank for academic freedom index?: South Korea ranks 35th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in South Korea?: Over the last ten years it is up 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Korea 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.