Academic Freedom Index in Kuwait
Kuwait: Academic Freedom Index was 0.418 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
0.418
Change on year
down 10.9%
World rank
111th
of 174 countries
All-time high
0.511
in 1966
All-time low
0.352
in 1990
Years of data
60
1966–2025
Academic Freedom Index in Kuwait, 1966–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for academic freedom index in Kuwait is 0.418, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 10.9% on the previous year and down 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Kuwait peaked at 0.511 in 1966 and was at its lowest, 0.352, in 1990.
Kuwait ranks 111th of 174 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Academic Freedom Index in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 0.511 | — |
| 1967 | 0.511 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.511 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.511 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.511 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.511 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.511 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.511 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.511 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.511 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.503 | -1.6% |
| 1977 | 0.502 | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 0.502 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.502 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.458 | -8.8% |
| 1981 | 0.458 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.458 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.458 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.458 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.458 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.457 | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 0.457 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.457 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.457 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.352 | -23.0% |
| 1991 | 0.447 | +27.0% |
| 1992 | 0.481 | +7.6% |
| 1993 | 0.479 | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 0.479 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.479 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.479 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.479 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.479 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.479 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.488 | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 0.488 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.488 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.488 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.488 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.488 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.488 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.488 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.488 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.488 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.485 | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 0.485 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.479 | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 0.479 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.479 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.479 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.479 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.479 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.464 | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 0.478 | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 0.497 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 0.497 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.502 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 0.502 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.469 | -6.6% |
| 2025 | 0.418 | -10.9% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 0.418 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.847, 49% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 0.418 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.2275, 1.8× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.511 | 0.511 | 0.511 | 4 |
| 1970s | 0.5075 | 0.502 | 0.511 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4576 | 0.457 | 0.458 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4633 | 0.352 | 0.481 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.488 | 0.488 | 0.488 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4786 | 0.464 | 0.485 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4808 | 0.418 | 0.502 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More social development data for Kuwait
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 386 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,369 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0007 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,369 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is academic freedom index in Kuwait?
- Academic freedom index in Kuwait was 0.418 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 0.511 in 1966.
- What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.352 in 1990.
- How does Kuwait rank for academic freedom index?
- Kuwait ranks 111th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Kuwait 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 — 60 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.