What is academic freedom index in Turkey?

Academic freedom index in Turkey was 0.088 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Turkey?

The highest recorded value was 0.561 in 2002.

What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Turkey?

The lowest recorded value was 0.044 in 1913.

How does Turkey rank for academic freedom index?

Turkey ranks 160th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Turkey?

Over the last ten years it is down 68.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Turkey 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 Turkey

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

Turkey: Academic Freedom Index was 0.088 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.088

Change on year

down 18.5%

World rank

160th

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.561

in 2002

All-time low

0.044

in 1913

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Academic Freedom Index in Turkey, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for academic freedom index in Turkey is 0.088, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.5% on the previous year and down 68.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Turkey peaked at 0.561 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 0.044, in 1913.

That places Turkey 160th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Academic Freedom Index in Turkey, year by year

Annual values for Academic Freedom Index in Turkey, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.045	—
1901	0.045	+0.0%
1902	0.045	+0.0%
1903	0.045	+0.0%
1904	0.045	+0.0%
1905	0.045	+0.0%
1906	0.045	+0.0%
1907	0.046	+2.2%
1908	0.102	+121.7%
1909	0.119	+16.7%
1910	0.119	+0.0%
1911	0.112	-5.9%
1912	0.112	+0.0%
1913	0.044	-60.7%
1914	0.044	+0.0%
1915	0.044	+0.0%
1916	0.044	+0.0%
1917	0.044	+0.0%
1918	0.049	+11.4%
1919	0.049	+0.0%
1920	0.051	+4.1%
1921	0.051	+0.0%
1922	0.051	+0.0%
1923	0.073	+43.1%
1924	0.091	+24.7%
1925	0.091	+0.0%
1926	0.086	-5.5%
1927	0.086	+0.0%
1928	0.086	+0.0%
1929	0.086	+0.0%
1930	0.086	+0.0%
1931	0.086	+0.0%
1932	0.086	+0.0%
1933	0.086	+0.0%
1934	0.081	-5.8%
1935	0.081	+0.0%
1936	0.081	+0.0%
1937	0.081	+0.0%
1938	0.081	+0.0%
1939	0.081	+0.0%
1940	0.081	+0.0%
1941	0.081	+0.0%
1942	0.081	+0.0%
1943	0.081	+0.0%
1944	0.081	+0.0%
1945	0.098	+21.0%
1946	0.113	+15.3%
1947	0.116	+2.7%
1948	0.116	+0.0%
1949	0.116	+0.0%
1950	0.227	+95.7%
1951	0.226	-0.4%
1952	0.226	+0.0%
1953	0.235	+4.0%
1954	0.235	+0.0%
1955	0.235	+0.0%
1956	0.188	-20.0%
1957	0.188	+0.0%
1958	0.188	+0.0%
1959	0.188	+0.0%
1960	0.167	-11.2%
1961	0.174	+4.2%
1962	0.256	+47.1%
1963	0.289	+12.9%
1964	0.382	+32.2%
1965	0.381	-0.3%
1966	0.381	+0.0%
1967	0.381	+0.0%
1968	0.379	-0.5%
1969	0.379	+0.0%
1970	0.387	+2.1%
1971	0.343	-11.4%
1972	0.343	+0.0%
1973	0.372	+8.5%
1974	0.372	+0.0%
1975	0.366	-1.6%
1976	0.366	+0.0%
1977	0.366	+0.0%
1978	0.366	+0.0%
1979	0.366	+0.0%
1980	0.075	-79.5%
1981	0.049	-34.7%
1982	0.049	+0.0%
1983	0.077	+57.1%
1984	0.217	+181.8%
1985	0.217	+0.0%
1986	0.217	+0.0%
1987	0.217	+0.0%
1988	0.223	+2.8%
1989	0.223	+0.0%
1990	0.249	+11.7%
1991	0.249	+0.0%
1992	0.258	+3.6%
1993	0.258	+0.0%
1994	0.258	+0.0%
1995	0.258	+0.0%
1996	0.252	-2.3%
1997	0.252	+0.0%
1998	0.252	+0.0%
1999	0.279	+10.7%
2000	0.446	+59.9%
2001	0.458	+2.7%
2002	0.561	+22.5%
2003	0.561	+0.0%
2004	0.559	-0.4%
2005	0.559	+0.0%
2006	0.559	+0.0%
2007	0.556	-0.5%
2008	0.55	-1.1%
2009	0.543	-1.3%
2010	0.455	-16.2%
2011	0.448	-1.5%
2012	0.427	-4.7%
2013	0.332	-22.2%
2014	0.312	-6.0%
2015	0.278	-10.9%
2016	0.072	-74.1%
2017	0.054	-25.0%
2018	0.054	+0.0%
2019	0.061	+13.0%
2020	0.06	-1.6%
2021	0.068	+13.3%
2022	0.074	+8.8%
2023	0.089	+20.3%
2024	0.108	+21.3%
2025	0.088	-18.5%

Turkey compared with similar countries

Turkey's 0.088 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5905, 15% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Turkey's 0.088 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.7865, 11% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.0582	0.045	0.119	10
1910s	0.0661	0.044	0.119	10
1920s	0.0752	0.051	0.091	10
1930s	0.083	0.081	0.086	10
1940s	0.0964	0.081	0.116	10
1950s	0.2136	0.188	0.235	10
1960s	0.3169	0.167	0.382	10
1970s	0.3647	0.343	0.387	10
1980s	0.1564	0.049	0.223	10
1990s	0.2565	0.249	0.279	10
2000s	0.5352	0.446	0.561	10
2010s	0.2493	0.054	0.455	10
2020s	0.0812	0.06	0.108	6

Countries ranked near Turkey

157 Qatar 0.1 compare
158 Rwanda 0.097 compare
159 Azerbaijan 0.092 compare
161 Afghanistan 0.086 compare
162 Cuba 0.084 compare
163 Tajikistan 0.082 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for Turkey

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 149,405 (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 0.0017 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 149,405 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0278 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 Turkey →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in Turkey?: Academic freedom index in Turkey was 0.088 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Turkey?: The highest recorded value was 0.561 in 2002.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Turkey?: The lowest recorded value was 0.044 in 1913.
How does Turkey rank for academic freedom index?: Turkey ranks 160th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Turkey?: Over the last ten years it is down 68.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Turkey 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 Turkey. 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/turkiye/

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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.