What is academic freedom index in Pakistan?

Academic freedom index in Pakistan was 0.268 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Pakistan?

The highest recorded value was 0.677 in 1947.

What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Pakistan?

The lowest recorded value was 0.158 in 1941.

How does Pakistan rank for academic freedom index?

Pakistan ranks 130th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Pakistan?

Over the last ten years it is down 52.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Pakistan 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 Pakistan

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

Pakistan: Academic Freedom Index was 0.268 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.268

Change on year

down 22.1%

World rank

130th

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.677

in 1947

All-time low

0.158

in 1941

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Academic Freedom Index in Pakistan, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

Pakistan recorded 0.268 for academic freedom index in 2025.

That represents a change of down 22.1% on the previous year and down 52.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Pakistan peaked at 0.677 in 1947 and was at its lowest, 0.158, in 1941.

Pakistan ranks 130th of 174 countries on this measure, 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 Pakistan, year by year

Annual values for Academic Freedom Index in Pakistan, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.164	—
1901	0.164	+0.0%
1902	0.164	+0.0%
1903	0.164	+0.0%
1904	0.164	+0.0%
1905	0.164	+0.0%
1906	0.164	+0.0%
1907	0.164	+0.0%
1908	0.164	+0.0%
1909	0.164	+0.0%
1910	0.164	+0.0%
1911	0.164	+0.0%
1912	0.164	+0.0%
1913	0.164	+0.0%
1914	0.164	+0.0%
1915	0.164	+0.0%
1916	0.164	+0.0%
1917	0.164	+0.0%
1918	0.164	+0.0%
1919	0.164	+0.0%
1920	0.164	+0.0%
1921	0.164	+0.0%
1922	0.164	+0.0%
1923	0.164	+0.0%
1924	0.164	+0.0%
1925	0.164	+0.0%
1926	0.164	+0.0%
1927	0.164	+0.0%
1928	0.164	+0.0%
1929	0.164	+0.0%
1930	0.164	+0.0%
1931	0.164	+0.0%
1932	0.164	+0.0%
1933	0.164	+0.0%
1934	0.164	+0.0%
1935	0.164	+0.0%
1936	0.164	+0.0%
1937	0.164	+0.0%
1938	0.164	+0.0%
1939	0.164	+0.0%
1940	0.164	+0.0%
1941	0.158	-3.7%
1942	0.158	+0.0%
1943	0.158	+0.0%
1944	0.166	+5.1%
1945	0.166	+0.0%
1946	0.166	+0.0%
1947	0.677	+307.8%
1948	0.677	+0.0%
1949	0.677	+0.0%
1950	0.677	+0.0%
1951	0.657	-3.0%
1952	0.657	+0.0%
1953	0.657	+0.0%
1954	0.657	+0.0%
1955	0.657	+0.0%
1956	0.632	-3.8%
1957	0.632	+0.0%
1958	0.539	-14.7%
1959	0.504	-6.5%
1960	0.488	-3.2%
1961	0.488	+0.0%
1962	0.488	+0.0%
1963	0.488	+0.0%
1964	0.488	+0.0%
1965	0.488	+0.0%
1966	0.488	+0.0%
1967	0.488	+0.0%
1968	0.499	+2.3%
1969	0.475	-4.8%
1970	0.503	+5.9%
1971	0.505	+0.4%
1972	0.56	+10.9%
1973	0.575	+2.7%
1974	0.575	+0.0%
1975	0.575	+0.0%
1976	0.575	+0.0%
1977	0.479	-16.7%
1978	0.374	-21.9%
1979	0.34	-9.1%
1980	0.312	-8.2%
1981	0.312	+0.0%
1982	0.312	+0.0%
1983	0.312	+0.0%
1984	0.312	+0.0%
1985	0.312	+0.0%
1986	0.312	+0.0%
1987	0.312	+0.0%
1988	0.394	+26.3%
1989	0.636	+61.4%
1990	0.636	+0.0%
1991	0.636	+0.0%
1992	0.636	+0.0%
1993	0.636	+0.0%
1994	0.636	+0.0%
1995	0.636	+0.0%
1996	0.636	+0.0%
1997	0.636	+0.0%
1998	0.636	+0.0%
1999	0.636	+0.0%
2000	0.651	+2.4%
2001	0.651	+0.0%
2002	0.643	-1.2%
2003	0.643	+0.0%
2004	0.643	+0.0%
2005	0.656	+2.0%
2006	0.66	+0.6%
2007	0.648	-1.8%
2008	0.652	+0.6%
2009	0.647	-0.8%
2010	0.617	-4.6%
2011	0.612	-0.8%
2012	0.612	+0.0%
2013	0.59	-3.6%
2014	0.591	+0.2%
2015	0.563	-4.7%
2016	0.568	+0.9%
2017	0.553	-2.6%
2018	0.542	-2.0%
2019	0.555	+2.4%
2020	0.563	+1.4%
2021	0.547	-2.8%
2022	0.551	+0.7%
2023	0.444	-19.4%
2024	0.344	-22.5%
2025	0.268	-22.1%

Pakistan compared with similar countries

Pakistan's 0.268 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.515, 52% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Pakistan's 0.268 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
1900s	0.164	0.164	0.164	10
1910s	0.164	0.164	0.164	10
1920s	0.164	0.164	0.164	10
1930s	0.164	0.164	0.164	10
1940s	0.3167	0.158	0.677	10
1950s	0.6269	0.504	0.677	10
1960s	0.4878	0.475	0.499	10
1970s	0.5061	0.34	0.575	10
1980s	0.3526	0.312	0.636	10
1990s	0.636	0.636	0.636	10
2000s	0.6494	0.643	0.66	10
2010s	0.5803	0.542	0.617	10
2020s	0.4528	0.268	0.563	6

Countries ranked near Pakistan

127 Libya 0.282 compare
128 Mali 0.281 compare
128 Ukraine 0.281 compare
131 Congo 0.255 compare
132 Mauritania 0.253 compare
133 Uzbekistan 0.248 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for Pakistan

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.16 million (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 90,497 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 5 (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 5 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0004 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 90,497 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0045 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)

All data for Pakistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in Pakistan?: Academic freedom index in Pakistan was 0.268 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Pakistan?: The highest recorded value was 0.677 in 1947.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Pakistan?: The lowest recorded value was 0.158 in 1941.
How does Pakistan rank for academic freedom index?: Pakistan ranks 130th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Pakistan?: Over the last ten years it is down 52.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Pakistan 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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Academic Freedom Index in Pakistan. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/academic-freedom-index/pakistan/

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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: 18 September 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.