What is academic freedom index in Switzerland?

Academic freedom index in Switzerland was 0.773 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Switzerland?

The highest recorded value was 0.926 in 2010.

What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Switzerland?

The lowest recorded value was 0.773 in 2025.

How does Switzerland rank for academic freedom index?

Switzerland ranks 59th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Switzerland?

Over the last ten years it is down 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Switzerland 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 Switzerland

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

Switzerland: Academic Freedom Index was 0.773 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.773

Change on year

down 6.2%

World rank

59th

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.926

in 2010

All-time low

0.773

in 2025

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Academic Freedom Index in Switzerland, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

Switzerland recorded 0.773 for academic freedom index in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 126 years on record.

That represents a change of down 6.2% on the previous year and down 16.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Switzerland peaked at 0.926 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.773, in 2025.

That places Switzerland 59th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.835	0.835	0.835	10
1910s	0.835	0.835	0.835	10
1920s	0.831	0.825	0.835	10
1930s	0.8159	0.812	0.825	10
1940s	0.8232	0.812	0.837	10
1950s	0.837	0.837	0.837	10
1960s	0.837	0.837	0.837	10
1970s	0.842	0.842	0.842	10
1980s	0.8664	0.851	0.873	10
1990s	0.923	0.923	0.923	10
2000s	0.923	0.923	0.923	10
2010s	0.9255	0.921	0.926	10
2020s	0.868	0.773	0.924	6

Countries ranked near Switzerland

56 Slovakia 0.807 compare
57 France 0.8 compare
58 Malawi 0.795 compare
60 Netherlands 0.763 compare
61 Guyana 0.761 compare
62 Albania 0.76 compare
62 Japan 0.76 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for Switzerland

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 208,287 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 6 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.882 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.967 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.917 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.882 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.785 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.843 (2025)

All data for Switzerland →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in Switzerland?: Academic freedom index in Switzerland was 0.773 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Switzerland?: The highest recorded value was 0.926 in 2010.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Switzerland?: The lowest recorded value was 0.773 in 2025.
How does Switzerland rank for academic freedom index?: Switzerland ranks 59th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Switzerland?: Over the last ten years it is down 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Switzerland 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.