What is academic freedom index in South Africa?

Academic freedom index in South Africa 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 South Africa?

The highest recorded value was 0.926 in 1997.

What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in South Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 0.185 in 1956.

How does South Africa rank for academic freedom index?

South Africa ranks 44th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in South Africa?

Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this South Africa 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 South Africa

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

South Africa: Academic Freedom Index was 0.831 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.831

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

44th

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.926

in 1997

All-time low

0.185

in 1956

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Academic Freedom Index in South Africa, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

South Africa recorded 0.831 for academic freedom index in 2025.

That represents a change of up 0.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in South Africa peaked at 0.926 in 1997 and was at its lowest, 0.185, in 1956.

That places South Africa 44th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Academic Freedom Index in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Academic Freedom Index in South Africa, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.424	—
1901	0.424	+0.0%
1902	0.424	+0.0%
1903	0.424	+0.0%
1904	0.424	+0.0%
1905	0.424	+0.0%
1906	0.424	+0.0%
1907	0.424	+0.0%
1908	0.424	+0.0%
1909	0.424	+0.0%
1910	0.424	+0.0%
1911	0.424	+0.0%
1912	0.424	+0.0%
1913	0.424	+0.0%
1914	0.424	+0.0%
1915	0.424	+0.0%
1916	0.424	+0.0%
1917	0.424	+0.0%
1918	0.424	+0.0%
1919	0.424	+0.0%
1920	0.424	+0.0%
1921	0.424	+0.0%
1922	0.424	+0.0%
1923	0.424	+0.0%
1924	0.424	+0.0%
1925	0.424	+0.0%
1926	0.424	+0.0%
1927	0.424	+0.0%
1928	0.424	+0.0%
1929	0.424	+0.0%
1930	0.424	+0.0%
1931	0.424	+0.0%
1932	0.424	+0.0%
1933	0.424	+0.0%
1934	0.424	+0.0%
1935	0.424	+0.0%
1936	0.424	+0.0%
1937	0.424	+0.0%
1938	0.424	+0.0%
1939	0.424	+0.0%
1940	0.424	+0.0%
1941	0.424	+0.0%
1942	0.424	+0.0%
1943	0.424	+0.0%
1944	0.424	+0.0%
1945	0.424	+0.0%
1946	0.424	+0.0%
1947	0.424	+0.0%
1948	0.245	-42.2%
1949	0.205	-16.3%
1950	0.189	-7.8%
1951	0.189	+0.0%
1952	0.189	+0.0%
1953	0.189	+0.0%
1954	0.189	+0.0%
1955	0.189	+0.0%
1956	0.185	-2.1%
1957	0.185	+0.0%
1958	0.185	+0.0%
1959	0.185	+0.0%
1960	0.185	+0.0%
1961	0.185	+0.0%
1962	0.185	+0.0%
1963	0.185	+0.0%
1964	0.185	+0.0%
1965	0.185	+0.0%
1966	0.185	+0.0%
1967	0.185	+0.0%
1968	0.185	+0.0%
1969	0.185	+0.0%
1970	0.185	+0.0%
1971	0.185	+0.0%
1972	0.185	+0.0%
1973	0.185	+0.0%
1974	0.185	+0.0%
1975	0.185	+0.0%
1976	0.185	+0.0%
1977	0.185	+0.0%
1978	0.185	+0.0%
1979	0.185	+0.0%
1980	0.188	+1.6%
1981	0.188	+0.0%
1982	0.188	+0.0%
1983	0.188	+0.0%
1984	0.188	+0.0%
1985	0.211	+12.2%
1986	0.211	+0.0%
1987	0.211	+0.0%
1988	0.211	+0.0%
1989	0.211	+0.0%
1990	0.34	+61.1%
1991	0.346	+1.8%
1992	0.346	+0.0%
1993	0.361	+4.3%
1994	0.693	+92.0%
1995	0.869	+25.4%
1996	0.899	+3.5%
1997	0.926	+3.0%
1998	0.926	+0.0%
1999	0.926	+0.0%
2000	0.926	+0.0%
2001	0.926	+0.0%
2002	0.926	+0.0%
2003	0.926	+0.0%
2004	0.926	+0.0%
2005	0.913	-1.4%
2006	0.915	+0.2%
2007	0.915	+0.0%
2008	0.915	+0.0%
2009	0.915	+0.0%
2010	0.864	-5.6%
2011	0.864	+0.0%
2012	0.859	-0.6%
2013	0.872	+1.5%
2014	0.864	-0.9%
2015	0.828	-4.2%
2016	0.83	+0.2%
2017	0.819	-1.3%
2018	0.829	+1.2%
2019	0.832	+0.4%
2020	0.84	+1.0%
2021	0.839	-0.1%
2022	0.839	+0.0%
2023	0.833	-0.7%
2024	0.831	-0.2%
2025	0.831	+0.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

South Africa's 0.831 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5905, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
South Africa's 0.831 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.519, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.424	0.424	0.424	10
1910s	0.424	0.424	0.424	10
1920s	0.424	0.424	0.424	10
1930s	0.424	0.424	0.424	10
1940s	0.3842	0.205	0.424	10
1950s	0.1874	0.185	0.189	10
1960s	0.185	0.185	0.185	10
1970s	0.185	0.185	0.185	10
1980s	0.1995	0.188	0.211	10
1990s	0.6632	0.34	0.926	10
2000s	0.9203	0.913	0.926	10
2010s	0.8461	0.819	0.872	10
2020s	0.8355	0.831	0.84	6

Countries ranked near South Africa

41 Israel 0.84 compare
42 Peru 0.838 compare
43 Botswana 0.834 compare
44 Nepal 0.831 compare
46 Sri Lanka 0.828 compare
46 Suriname 0.828 compare
46 Taiwan 0.828 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for South Africa

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 55,177 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,319 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,319 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0009 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 South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in South Africa?: Academic freedom index in South Africa 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 South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 0.926 in 1997.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 0.185 in 1956.
How does South Africa rank for academic freedom index?: South Africa ranks 44th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in South Africa?: Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa 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 South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/academic-freedom-index/south-africa/

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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: 30 October 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.