Academic Freedom Index in Nepal
Nepal: Academic Freedom Index was 0.831 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Academic Freedom Index in Nepal, 1958–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, academic freedom index in Nepal stood at 0.831.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Nepal peaked at 0.859 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.224, in 1961.
Nepal ranks 44th 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.
Academic Freedom Index in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 0.355 | — |
| 1959 | 0.358 | +0.8% |
| 1960 | 0.272 | -24.0% |
| 1961 | 0.224 | -17.6% |
| 1962 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.228 | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 0.228 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.228 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.228 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.228 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.228 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.228 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.228 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.228 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.228 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.584 | +156.1% |
| 1991 | 0.789 | +35.1% |
| 1992 | 0.789 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.789 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.789 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.789 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.789 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.789 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.789 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.789 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.779 | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 0.753 | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 0.659 | -12.5% |
| 2003 | 0.659 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.659 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.675 | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 0.71 | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 0.82 | +15.5% |
| 2008 | 0.842 | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 0.839 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 0.842 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 0.842 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.84 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 0.835 | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 0.832 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 0.835 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 0.853 | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 0.848 | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 0.846 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 0.85 | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 0.852 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 0.859 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.843 | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 0.816 | -3.2% |
| 2024 | 0.817 | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 0.831 | +1.7% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 0.831 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.515, 1.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 0.831 is above the median for South Asia, which is 0.537, 1.5× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.3565 | 0.355 | 0.358 | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.2288 | 0.224 | 0.272 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.224 | 0.224 | 0.224 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.228 | 0.228 | 0.228 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7685 | 0.584 | 0.789 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7395 | 0.659 | 0.842 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8423 | 0.832 | 0.853 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8363 | 0.816 | 0.859 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More social development data for Nepal
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 19,613 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,019 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0003 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,019 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is academic freedom index in Nepal?
- Academic freedom index in Nepal was 0.831 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 0.859 in 2021.
- What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.224 in 1961.
- How does Nepal rank for academic freedom index?
- Nepal ranks 44th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.
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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.