What is academic freedom index in United Kingdom?

Academic freedom index in United Kingdom was 0.668 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in United Kingdom?

The highest recorded value was 0.938 in 2013.

What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in United Kingdom?

The lowest recorded value was 0.668 in 2025.

How does United Kingdom rank for academic freedom index?

United Kingdom ranks 81st out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in United Kingdom?

Over the last ten years it is down 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.

Where does this United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom

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

United Kingdom: Academic Freedom Index was 0.668 in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)

0.668

Change on year

down 12.6%

World rank

81st

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.938

in 2013

All-time low

0.668

in 2025

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Academic Freedom Index in United Kingdom, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, academic freedom index in United Kingdom stood at 0.668. That is the lowest value across all 126 years on record.

That represents a change of down 12.6% on the previous year and down 28.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in United Kingdom peaked at 0.938 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0.668, in 2025.

That places United Kingdom 81st out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

Academic Freedom Index in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Academic Freedom Index in United Kingdom, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.915	—
1901	0.915	+0.0%
1902	0.915	+0.0%
1903	0.915	+0.0%
1904	0.915	+0.0%
1905	0.915	+0.0%
1906	0.915	+0.0%
1907	0.915	+0.0%
1908	0.915	+0.0%
1909	0.915	+0.0%
1910	0.915	+0.0%
1911	0.915	+0.0%
1912	0.915	+0.0%
1913	0.915	+0.0%
1914	0.915	+0.0%
1915	0.915	+0.0%
1916	0.915	+0.0%
1917	0.915	+0.0%
1918	0.915	+0.0%
1919	0.915	+0.0%
1920	0.915	+0.0%
1921	0.915	+0.0%
1922	0.915	+0.0%
1923	0.915	+0.0%
1924	0.915	+0.0%
1925	0.915	+0.0%
1926	0.915	+0.0%
1927	0.915	+0.0%
1928	0.915	+0.0%
1929	0.915	+0.0%
1930	0.915	+0.0%
1931	0.915	+0.0%
1932	0.915	+0.0%
1933	0.915	+0.0%
1934	0.915	+0.0%
1935	0.915	+0.0%
1936	0.915	+0.0%
1937	0.915	+0.0%
1938	0.915	+0.0%
1939	0.915	+0.0%
1940	0.915	+0.0%
1941	0.915	+0.0%
1942	0.915	+0.0%
1943	0.915	+0.0%
1944	0.915	+0.0%
1945	0.915	+0.0%
1946	0.915	+0.0%
1947	0.915	+0.0%
1948	0.915	+0.0%
1949	0.915	+0.0%
1950	0.915	+0.0%
1951	0.915	+0.0%
1952	0.915	+0.0%
1953	0.915	+0.0%
1954	0.915	+0.0%
1955	0.915	+0.0%
1956	0.915	+0.0%
1957	0.915	+0.0%
1958	0.915	+0.0%
1959	0.915	+0.0%
1960	0.915	+0.0%
1961	0.915	+0.0%
1962	0.915	+0.0%
1963	0.915	+0.0%
1964	0.915	+0.0%
1965	0.915	+0.0%
1966	0.915	+0.0%
1967	0.915	+0.0%
1968	0.915	+0.0%
1969	0.915	+0.0%
1970	0.915	+0.0%
1971	0.915	+0.0%
1972	0.915	+0.0%
1973	0.915	+0.0%
1974	0.915	+0.0%
1975	0.915	+0.0%
1976	0.915	+0.0%
1977	0.915	+0.0%
1978	0.915	+0.0%
1979	0.915	+0.0%
1980	0.915	+0.0%
1981	0.915	+0.0%
1982	0.915	+0.0%
1983	0.915	+0.0%
1984	0.915	+0.0%
1985	0.915	+0.0%
1986	0.915	+0.0%
1987	0.915	+0.0%
1988	0.915	+0.0%
1989	0.915	+0.0%
1990	0.915	+0.0%
1991	0.915	+0.0%
1992	0.915	+0.0%
1993	0.915	+0.0%
1994	0.915	+0.0%
1995	0.915	+0.0%
1996	0.915	+0.0%
1997	0.915	+0.0%
1998	0.915	+0.0%
1999	0.915	+0.0%
2000	0.93	+1.6%
2001	0.93	+0.0%
2002	0.93	+0.0%
2003	0.93	+0.0%
2004	0.93	+0.0%
2005	0.93	+0.0%
2006	0.93	+0.0%
2007	0.93	+0.0%
2008	0.93	+0.0%
2009	0.93	+0.0%
2010	0.93	+0.0%
2011	0.93	+0.0%
2012	0.93	+0.0%
2013	0.938	+0.9%
2014	0.935	-0.3%
2015	0.934	-0.1%
2016	0.931	-0.3%
2017	0.891	-4.3%
2018	0.891	+0.0%
2019	0.878	-1.5%
2020	0.882	+0.5%
2021	0.834	-5.4%
2022	0.844	+1.2%
2023	0.787	-6.8%
2024	0.764	-2.9%
2025	0.668	-12.6%

United Kingdom compared with similar countries

United Kingdom's 0.668 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.847, 79% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
United Kingdom's 0.668 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.7865, 85% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.915	0.915	0.915	10
1910s	0.915	0.915	0.915	10
1920s	0.915	0.915	0.915	10
1930s	0.915	0.915	0.915	10
1940s	0.915	0.915	0.915	10
1950s	0.915	0.915	0.915	10
1960s	0.915	0.915	0.915	10
1970s	0.915	0.915	0.915	10
1980s	0.915	0.915	0.915	10
1990s	0.915	0.915	0.915	10
2000s	0.93	0.93	0.93	10
2010s	0.9188	0.878	0.938	10
2020s	0.7965	0.668	0.882	6

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

78 Greece 0.68 compare
79 Mongolia 0.671 compare
80 Ghana 0.67 compare
82 North Macedonia 0.664 compare
83 Lesotho 0.643 compare
84 Fiji 0.636 compare
84 Sao Tome and Principe 0.636 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for United Kingdom

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 581,072 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 517 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (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 517 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0084 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 United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in United Kingdom?: Academic freedom index in United Kingdom was 0.668 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in United Kingdom?: The highest recorded value was 0.938 in 2013.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in United Kingdom?: The lowest recorded value was 0.668 in 2025.
How does United Kingdom rank for academic freedom index?: United Kingdom ranks 81st out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in United Kingdom?: Over the last ten years it is down 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/academic-freedom-index/united-kingdom/

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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.