What is academic freedom index in Zambia?

Academic freedom index in Zambia was 0.844 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Zambia?

The highest recorded value was 0.844 in 2025.

What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Zambia?

The lowest recorded value was 0.449 in 1976.

How does Zambia rank for academic freedom index?

Zambia ranks 40th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.

Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Zambia?

Over the last ten years it is up 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Zambia 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 Zambia

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

Zambia: Academic Freedom Index was 0.844 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.844

Change on year

up 13.3%

World rank

40th

of 174 countries

All-time high

0.844

in 2025

All-time low

0.449

in 1976

Years of data

1963–2025

Academic Freedom Index in Zambia, 1963–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for academic freedom index in Zambia is 0.844, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.3% on the previous year and up 17.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, academic freedom index in Zambia peaked at 0.844 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.449, in 1976.

That places Zambia 40th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	0.5034	0.479	0.521	7
1970s	0.4751	0.449	0.521	10
1980s	0.532	0.532	0.532	10
1990s	0.6345	0.567	0.642	10
2000s	0.7192	0.714	0.728	10
2010s	0.696	0.653	0.722	10
2020s	0.7423	0.543	0.844	6

Countries ranked near Zambia

37 Brazil 0.849 compare
37 Papua New Guinea 0.849 compare
39 New Zealand 0.847 compare
41 Israel 0.84 compare
42 Peru 0.838 compare
43 Botswana 0.834 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More social development data for Zambia

Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 83,225 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 346 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.497 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.778 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.746 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.497 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.348 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.375 (2025)

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is academic freedom index in Zambia?: Academic freedom index in Zambia was 0.844 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in Zambia?: The highest recorded value was 0.844 in 2025.
What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in Zambia?: The lowest recorded value was 0.449 in 1976.
How does Zambia rank for academic freedom index?: Zambia ranks 40th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is academic freedom index rising or falling in Zambia?: Over the last ten years it is up 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Zambia 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 — 63 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.