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July 15, 2026 Ranked: Countries With the Biggest Declines in Academic Freedom

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Key Takeaways

Nicaragua, Myanmar, and Afghanistan recorded the world’s steepest declines in academic freedom between 2015 and 2025.

Academic freedom declined in 67% of countries over the past decade, according to the V-Dem Academic Freedom Index.

The U.S. dropped from 27th to 116th globally, making it one of the most notable declines among advanced economies.

Academic freedom reflects the ability of universities and scholars to research, teach, publish, and exchange ideas without political interference.

Using data from the V-Dem Institute via Our World in Data, this graphic ranks countries by the percentage change in their Academic Freedom Index scores between 2015 and 2025.

Where Academic Freedom Has Fallen Fastest

The ranking below shows the 30 countries that experienced the largest percentage declines between 2015 and 2025.

CountryChange (2015-2025)2015 Index2025 Index

🇳🇮 Nicaragua	-95%	0.42	0.02
🇲🇲 Myanmar	-94%	0.35	0.02
🇦🇫 Afghanistan	-83%	0.51	0.09
🇸🇻 El Salvador	-80%	0.81	0.17
🇹🇩 Chad	-76%	0.56	0.13
🇵🇸 Palestine/Gaza	-72%	0.38	0.10
🇹🇷 Türkiye	-68%	0.28	0.09
🇲🇱 Mali	-67%	0.85	0.28
🇧🇾 Belarus	-67%	0.18	0.06
🇮🇳 India	-66%	0.41	0.14
🇺🇬 Uganda	-58%	0.47	0.20
🇺🇸 U.S.	-57%	0.92	0.40
🇭🇰 Hong Kong	-57%	0.55	0.24
🇻🇪 Venezuela	-57%	0.30	0.13
🇮🇩 Indonesia	-56%	0.74	0.33
🇰🇲 Comoros	-53%	0.64	0.30
🇷🇺 Russia	-53%	0.38	0.18
🇯🇴 Jordan	-53%	0.37	0.17
🇵🇰 Pakistan	-52%	0.56	0.27
🇮🇷 Iran	-52%	0.12	0.06
🇬🇦 Gabon	-49%	0.84	0.43
🇺🇦 Ukraine	-49%	0.55	0.28
🇿🇦 Zanzibar	-49%	0.46	0.23
🇨🇫 Central African Republic	-47%	0.62	0.33
🇭🇺 Hungary	-43%	0.52	0.30
🇶🇦 Qatar	-43%	0.17	0.10
🇰🇭 Cambodia	-42%	0.37	0.22
🇨🇲 Cameroon	-41%	0.35	0.21
🇨🇳 China	-40%	0.12	0.07
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan	-39%	0.62	0.38

Nicaragua recorded the largest decline, with its index score falling 95% between 2015 and 2025. The government of Daniel Ortega has targeted universities connected to anti-government protests, revoking their legal status and, in some cases, closing them entirely.

Myanmar and Afghanistan followed with declines of 94% and 83%, respectively. Both countries experienced high levels of corruption and major political upheaval during the period, including Myanmar’s 2021 military coup and the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan.

Most countries experiencing the steepest declines are emerging or developing economies. However, the inclusion of the U.S. and Hong Kong shows that growing political pressure on universities is not confined to one region or income group.

Why the U.S. Stands Out

The U.S. decline is especially notable given the country’s global influence in research and higher education.

American universities dominate many international rankings, attract scholars from around the world, and account for a significant share of scientific research and innovation. Federal funding restrictions, scrutiny of universities, and policies affecting international students and researchers have added to the uncertainty.

Moreover, nearly half of U.S. states have enacted laws or policies that censor higher education since 2021. These measures have targeted classroom instruction, tenure, faculty governance, and institutional control over curricula.

Why It Matters Beyond Campus

Academic freedom affects more than speech on university campuses. Universities produce research, train skilled workers, attract global talent, and support innovation.

Political pressure can shape which questions researchers pursue, whether controversial findings are published, and how freely scholars collaborate internationally.

For research-intensive economies, these constraints can have consequences for innovation, talent attraction, and long-term economic competitiveness.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic showing how quality of life has changed across 30 economies over the past decade.