Academic Freedom Index in Laos
Laos: Academic Freedom Index was 0.122 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.122
Change on year
down 14.1%
World rank
155th
of 174 countries
All-time high
0.46
in 1958
All-time low
0.005
in 1979
Years of data
68
1958–2025
Academic Freedom Index in Laos, 1958–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, academic freedom index in Laos stood at 0.122.
That represents a change of down 14.1% on the previous year and up 139.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Laos peaked at 0.46 in 1958 and was at its lowest, 0.005, in 1979.
Laos ranks 155th of 174 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Academic Freedom Index in Laos, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 0.46 | — |
| 1959 | 0.46 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.453 | -1.5% |
| 1961 | 0.396 | -12.6% |
| 1962 | 0.396 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.396 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.396 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.396 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.396 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.396 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.396 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.396 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.39 | -1.5% |
| 1971 | 0.39 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.39 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.39 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.39 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.026 | -93.3% |
| 1976 | 0.008 | -69.2% |
| 1977 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.005 | -37.5% |
| 1980 | 0.006 | +20.0% |
| 1981 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.018 | +200.0% |
| 1988 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.021 | +16.7% |
| 1991 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.028 | +33.3% |
| 1997 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.025 | -10.7% |
| 2000 | 0.037 | +48.0% |
| 2001 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.039 | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 0.039 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.039 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.039 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.036 | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 0.042 | +16.7% |
| 2011 | 0.042 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.042 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.051 | +21.4% |
| 2014 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.049 | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 0.054 | +10.2% |
| 2020 | 0.081 | +50.0% |
| 2021 | 0.077 | -4.9% |
| 2022 | 0.102 | +32.5% |
| 2023 | 0.118 | +15.7% |
| 2024 | 0.142 | +20.3% |
| 2025 | 0.122 | -14.1% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 0.122 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.515, 24% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Laos's 0.122 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.5275, 23% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.46 | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.4017 | 0.396 | 0.453 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2005 | 0.005 | 0.39 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0096 | 0.006 | 0.018 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0235 | 0.021 | 0.028 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0377 | 0.036 | 0.039 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0484 | 0.042 | 0.054 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.107 | 0.077 | 0.142 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More social development data for Laos
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 80 (1987)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 6,489 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0008 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 6,489 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (1987)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -4.76 % change on previous year (1984)
Frequently asked questions
- What is academic freedom index in Laos?
- Academic freedom index in Laos was 0.122 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 0.46 in 1958.
- What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.005 in 1979.
- How does Laos rank for academic freedom index?
- Laos ranks 155th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 139.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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 — 68 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.