Academic Freedom Index in Russia
Russia: Academic Freedom Index was 0.176 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.176
Change on year
down 16.2%
World rank
147th
of 174 countries
All-time high
0.823
in 1993
All-time low
0.004
in 1938
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Academic Freedom Index in Russia, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, academic freedom index in Russia stood at 0.176.
The figure is down 16.2% on the previous year and down 53.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Russia peaked at 0.823 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 0.004, in 1938.
Russia ranks 147th 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 Russia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0.407 | — |
| 1901 | 0.407 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.407 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.407 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.422 | +3.7% |
| 1905 | 0.451 | +6.9% |
| 1906 | 0.464 | +2.9% |
| 1907 | 0.473 | +1.9% |
| 1908 | 0.466 | -1.5% |
| 1909 | 0.462 | -0.9% |
| 1910 | 0.441 | -4.5% |
| 1911 | 0.441 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.446 | +1.1% |
| 1913 | 0.446 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.423 | -5.2% |
| 1915 | 0.404 | -4.5% |
| 1916 | 0.408 | +1.0% |
| 1917 | 0.316 | -22.5% |
| 1918 | 0.076 | -75.9% |
| 1919 | 0.074 | -2.6% |
| 1920 | 0.044 | -40.5% |
| 1921 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.042 | -4.5% |
| 1923 | 0.044 | +4.8% |
| 1924 | 0.035 | -20.5% |
| 1925 | 0.025 | -28.6% |
| 1926 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.017 | -32.0% |
| 1929 | 0.009 | -47.1% |
| 1930 | 0.005 | -44.4% |
| 1931 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.004 | -20.0% |
| 1939 | 0.004 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.004 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.004 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.004 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.004 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.004 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.005 | +25.0% |
| 1946 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.007 | +40.0% |
| 1951 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.008 | +14.3% |
| 1954 | 0.025 | +212.5% |
| 1955 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.029 | +16.0% |
| 1957 | 0.026 | -10.3% |
| 1958 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.032 | +23.1% |
| 1961 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.029 | -9.4% |
| 1964 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.027 | -6.9% |
| 1966 | 0.027 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.027 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.027 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.025 | -7.4% |
| 1970 | 0.041 | +64.0% |
| 1971 | 0.041 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.041 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.041 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.035 | -14.6% |
| 1975 | 0.037 | +5.7% |
| 1976 | 0.035 | -5.4% |
| 1977 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.044 | +25.7% |
| 1981 | 0.049 | +11.4% |
| 1982 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.056 | +14.3% |
| 1985 | 0.055 | -1.8% |
| 1986 | 0.084 | +52.7% |
| 1987 | 0.162 | +92.9% |
| 1988 | 0.286 | +76.5% |
| 1989 | 0.349 | +22.0% |
| 1990 | 0.583 | +67.0% |
| 1991 | 0.68 | +16.6% |
| 1992 | 0.805 | +18.4% |
| 1993 | 0.823 | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 0.823 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.823 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.823 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.823 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.823 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.823 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.731 | -11.2% |
| 2001 | 0.72 | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 0.72 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.706 | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 0.691 | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 0.673 | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 0.672 | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 0.683 | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 0.639 | -6.4% |
| 2009 | 0.632 | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 0.581 | -8.1% |
| 2011 | 0.55 | -5.3% |
| 2012 | 0.475 | -13.6% |
| 2013 | 0.432 | -9.1% |
| 2014 | 0.386 | -10.6% |
| 2015 | 0.377 | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 0.352 | -6.6% |
| 2017 | 0.35 | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 0.341 | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 0.337 | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 0.329 | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 0.311 | -5.5% |
| 2022 | 0.239 | -23.2% |
| 2023 | 0.196 | -18.0% |
| 2024 | 0.21 | +7.1% |
| 2025 | 0.176 | -16.2% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 0.176 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.847, 21% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Russia's 0.176 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.7865, 22% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Academic Freedom Index in Russia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | +212.5% | 0.008 | 0.025 |
| 1987 | +92.9% | 0.084 | 0.162 |
| 1988 | +76.5% | 0.162 | 0.286 |
| 1918 | -75.9% | 0.316 | 0.076 |
| 1990 | +67.0% | 0.349 | 0.583 |
| 1970 | +64.0% | 0.025 | 0.041 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.4366 | 0.407 | 0.473 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.3475 | 0.074 | 0.446 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.031 | 0.009 | 0.044 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.0048 | 0.004 | 0.005 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.0045 | 0.004 | 0.005 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.0186 | 0.007 | 0.029 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.0287 | 0.025 | 0.032 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0376 | 0.035 | 0.041 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1183 | 0.044 | 0.349 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7829 | 0.583 | 0.823 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6867 | 0.632 | 0.731 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4181 | 0.337 | 0.581 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2435 | 0.176 | 0.329 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Russia
More social development data for Russia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 11,811 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 99,360 (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 0.0007 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 99,360 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 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 Russia?
- Academic freedom index in Russia was 0.176 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.823 in 1993.
- What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.004 in 1938.
- How does Russia rank for academic freedom index?
- Russia ranks 147th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Russia 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
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.