What is academic freedom index in United States?

Academic freedom index in United States was 0.397 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.925 in 2000.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.397 in 2025.

How does United States rank for academic freedom index?

United States ranks 115th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in United States?

Over the last ten years it is down 56.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this United States 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 States

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

United States: Academic Freedom Index was 0.397 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.397

Change on year

down 41.4%

World rank

115th

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.925

in 2000

All-time low

0.397

in 2025

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Academic Freedom Index in United States, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

United States recorded 0.397 for academic freedom index in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 126 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 41.4% on the previous year and down 56.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in United States peaked at 0.925 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.397, in 2025.

United States ranks 115th of 174 countries on this measure, 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	0.732	0.732	0.732	10
1910s	0.7152	0.687	0.732	10
1920s	0.7804	0.775	0.781	10
1930s	0.8047	0.794	0.807	10
1940s	0.7659	0.729	0.797	10
1950s	0.7801	0.748	0.831	10
1960s	0.8735	0.865	0.883	10
1970s	0.9042	0.886	0.915	10
1980s	0.915	0.915	0.915	10
1990s	0.9231	0.921	0.924	10
2000s	0.9228	0.92	0.925	10
2010s	0.916	0.905	0.923	10
2020s	0.6953	0.397	0.889	6

Countries ranked near United States

112 Angola 0.416 compare
113 Mozambique 0.408 compare
114 Bhutan 0.401 compare
116 Thailand 0.382 compare
117 Kyrgyzstan 0.378 compare
118 Ethiopia 0.337 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for United States

Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 457,647 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 3,667 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.735 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.729 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.913 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.735 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.51 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.571 (2025)

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in United States?: Academic freedom index in United States was 0.397 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in United States?: The highest recorded value was 0.925 in 2000.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in United States?: The lowest recorded value was 0.397 in 2025.
How does United States rank for academic freedom index?: United States ranks 115th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in United States?: Over the last ten years it is down 56.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United States 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.