What is academic freedom index in South Sudan?

Academic freedom index in South Sudan was 0.054 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in South Sudan?

The highest recorded value was 0.244 in 1965.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.041 in 2021.

How does South Sudan rank for academic freedom index?

South Sudan ranks 170th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in South Sudan?

Over the last ten years it is up 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this South Sudan 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 Sudan

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

South Sudan: Academic Freedom Index was 0.054 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.054

Change on year

down 29.9%

World rank

170th

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.244

in 1965

All-time low

0.041

in 2021

Years of data

114

1912–2025

Academic Freedom Index in South Sudan, 1912–2025

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

Analysis

South Sudan recorded 0.054 for academic freedom index in 2025.

That represents a change of down 29.9% on the previous year and up 14.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in South Sudan peaked at 0.244 in 1965 and was at its lowest, 0.041, in 2021.

South Sudan ranks 170th of 174 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 114 years of available data.

Academic Freedom Index in South Sudan, year by year

Annual values for Academic Freedom Index in South Sudan, 1912 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1912	0.106	—
1913	0.106	+0.0%
1914	0.106	+0.0%
1915	0.106	+0.0%
1916	0.106	+0.0%
1917	0.106	+0.0%
1918	0.106	+0.0%
1919	0.106	+0.0%
1920	0.106	+0.0%
1921	0.109	+2.8%
1922	0.109	+0.0%
1923	0.109	+0.0%
1924	0.109	+0.0%
1925	0.109	+0.0%
1926	0.109	+0.0%
1927	0.109	+0.0%
1928	0.109	+0.0%
1929	0.109	+0.0%
1930	0.109	+0.0%
1931	0.109	+0.0%
1932	0.109	+0.0%
1933	0.109	+0.0%
1934	0.109	+0.0%
1935	0.109	+0.0%
1936	0.109	+0.0%
1937	0.109	+0.0%
1938	0.109	+0.0%
1939	0.109	+0.0%
1940	0.109	+0.0%
1941	0.109	+0.0%
1942	0.109	+0.0%
1943	0.109	+0.0%
1944	0.109	+0.0%
1945	0.11	+0.9%
1946	0.135	+22.7%
1947	0.135	+0.0%
1948	0.135	+0.0%
1949	0.135	+0.0%
1950	0.138	+2.2%
1951	0.138	+0.0%
1952	0.138	+0.0%
1953	0.142	+2.9%
1954	0.142	+0.0%
1955	0.145	+2.1%
1956	0.181	+24.8%
1957	0.24	+32.6%
1958	0.229	-4.6%
1959	0.21	-8.3%
1960	0.198	-5.7%
1961	0.213	+7.6%
1962	0.213	+0.0%
1963	0.207	-2.8%
1964	0.235	+13.5%
1965	0.244	+3.8%
1966	0.244	+0.0%
1967	0.244	+0.0%
1968	0.244	+0.0%
1969	0.198	-18.9%
1970	0.182	-8.1%
1971	0.182	+0.0%
1972	0.182	+0.0%
1973	0.182	+0.0%
1974	0.182	+0.0%
1975	0.182	+0.0%
1976	0.182	+0.0%
1977	0.182	+0.0%
1978	0.182	+0.0%
1979	0.182	+0.0%
1980	0.188	+3.3%
1981	0.188	+0.0%
1982	0.188	+0.0%
1983	0.188	+0.0%
1984	0.188	+0.0%
1985	0.221	+17.6%
1986	0.224	+1.4%
1987	0.224	+0.0%
1988	0.224	+0.0%
1989	0.174	-22.3%
1990	0.179	+2.9%
1991	0.179	+0.0%
1992	0.179	+0.0%
1993	0.179	+0.0%
1994	0.208	+16.2%
1995	0.208	+0.0%
1996	0.208	+0.0%
1997	0.208	+0.0%
1998	0.208	+0.0%
1999	0.208	+0.0%
2000	0.208	+0.0%
2001	0.208	+0.0%
2002	0.208	+0.0%
2003	0.208	+0.0%
2004	0.214	+2.9%
2005	0.21	-1.9%
2006	0.21	+0.0%
2007	0.21	+0.0%
2008	0.21	+0.0%
2009	0.21	+0.0%
2010	0.219	+4.3%
2011	0.059	-73.1%
2012	0.059	+0.0%
2013	0.053	-10.2%
2014	0.047	-11.3%
2015	0.047	+0.0%
2016	0.05	+6.4%
2017	0.049	-2.0%
2018	0.05	+2.0%
2019	0.05	+0.0%
2020	0.05	+0.0%
2021	0.041	-18.0%
2022	0.086	+109.8%
2023	0.084	-2.3%
2024	0.077	-8.3%
2025	0.054	-29.9%

South Sudan compared with similar countries

South Sudan's 0.054 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.326, 17% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
South Sudan's 0.054 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.519, 10% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1910s	0.106	0.106	0.106	8
1920s	0.1087	0.106	0.109	10
1930s	0.109	0.109	0.109	10
1940s	0.1195	0.109	0.135	10
1950s	0.1703	0.138	0.24	10
1960s	0.224	0.198	0.244	10
1970s	0.182	0.182	0.182	10
1980s	0.2007	0.174	0.224	10
1990s	0.1964	0.179	0.208	10
2000s	0.2096	0.208	0.214	10
2010s	0.0683	0.047	0.219	10
2020s	0.0653	0.041	0.086	6

Countries ranked near South Sudan

167 Turkmenistan 0.064 compare
168 Belarus 0.06 compare
168 Iran 0.06 compare
171 North Korea 0.036 compare
172 Eritrea 0.034 compare
173 Myanmar 0.023 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for South Sudan

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 601,818 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.39 million (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 0.1958 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.39 million (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0494 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2015)

All data for South Sudan →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in South Sudan?: Academic freedom index in South Sudan was 0.054 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in South Sudan?: The highest recorded value was 0.244 in 1965.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in South Sudan?: The lowest recorded value was 0.041 in 2021.
How does South Sudan rank for academic freedom index?: South Sudan ranks 170th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in South Sudan?: Over the last ten years it is up 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Sudan 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 Sudan. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/academic-freedom-index/south-sudan/

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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.