What is academic freedom index in New Zealand?

Academic freedom index in New Zealand was 0.847 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in New Zealand?

The highest recorded value was 0.895 in 2018.

What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in New Zealand?

The lowest recorded value was 0.768 in 1900.

How does New Zealand rank for academic freedom index?

New Zealand ranks 39th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in New Zealand?

Over the last ten years it is down 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this New Zealand 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 New Zealand

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

New Zealand: Academic Freedom Index was 0.847 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.847

Change on year

up 4.7%

World rank

39th

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.895

in 2018

All-time low

0.768

in 1900

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Academic Freedom Index in New Zealand, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, academic freedom index in New Zealand stood at 0.847.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and down 5.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in New Zealand peaked at 0.895 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.768, in 1900.

New Zealand ranks 39th of 174 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 126 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.7995	0.768	0.803	10
1910s	0.8	0.798	0.803	10
1920s	0.7972	0.797	0.798	10
1930s	0.797	0.797	0.797	10
1940s	0.7914	0.787	0.798	10
1950s	0.8487	0.843	0.852	10
1960s	0.8415	0.835	0.848	10
1970s	0.8418	0.835	0.852	10
1980s	0.8768	0.869	0.882	10
1990s	0.8919	0.882	0.893	10
2000s	0.893	0.893	0.893	10
2010s	0.8923	0.884	0.895	10
2020s	0.8312	0.809	0.888	6

Countries ranked near New Zealand

37 Brazil 0.849 compare
37 Papua New Guinea 0.849 compare
40 Zambia 0.844 compare
41 Israel 0.84 compare
42 Peru 0.838 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for New Zealand

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 2,148 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 58 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.849 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.927 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.885 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.849 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.581 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.787 (2025)

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in New Zealand?: Academic freedom index in New Zealand was 0.847 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in New Zealand?: The highest recorded value was 0.895 in 2018.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in New Zealand?: The lowest recorded value was 0.768 in 1900.
How does New Zealand rank for academic freedom index?: New Zealand ranks 39th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in New Zealand?: Over the last ten years it is down 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this New Zealand 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.