Academic Freedom Index in Libya
Libya: Academic Freedom Index was 0.282 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Academic Freedom Index in Libya, 1955–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, academic freedom index in Libya stood at 0.282.
That represents a change of down 6.9% on the previous year and down 35.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Libya peaked at 0.48 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.081, in 1980.
That places Libya 127th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Academic Freedom Index in Libya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 0.352 | — |
| 1956 | 0.352 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.352 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.352 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.352 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.369 | +4.8% |
| 1961 | 0.369 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.369 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.369 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.369 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.369 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.369 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.369 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.369 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.191 | -48.2% |
| 1970 | 0.089 | -53.4% |
| 1971 | 0.089 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.089 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.089 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.089 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.089 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.089 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.089 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.089 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.089 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.081 | -9.0% |
| 1981 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.091 | +12.3% |
| 2001 | 0.091 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.091 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.091 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.106 | +16.5% |
| 2005 | 0.106 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.106 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.101 | -4.7% |
| 2008 | 0.099 | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 0.101 | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 0.109 | +7.9% |
| 2011 | 0.276 | +153.2% |
| 2012 | 0.48 | +73.9% |
| 2013 | 0.461 | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 0.458 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 0.436 | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 0.413 | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 0.396 | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 0.377 | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 0.368 | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 0.379 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 0.373 | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 0.37 | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 0.348 | -5.9% |
| 2024 | 0.303 | -12.9% |
| 2025 | 0.282 | -6.9% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 0.282 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5905, 48% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Libya's 0.282 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.2275, 1.2× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.352 | 0.352 | 0.352 | 5 |
| 1960s | 0.3512 | 0.191 | 0.369 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.089 | 0.089 | 0.089 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.081 | 0.081 | 0.081 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.081 | 0.081 | 0.081 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0983 | 0.091 | 0.106 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3774 | 0.109 | 0.48 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3425 | 0.282 | 0.379 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More social development data for Libya
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 552,523 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 17,161 (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 0.0023 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 17,161 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0741 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 Libya?
- Academic freedom index in Libya was 0.282 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 0.48 in 2012.
- What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.081 in 1980.
- How does Libya rank for academic freedom index?
- Libya ranks 127th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya 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 — 71 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.