Academic freedom worldwide: declines and political influences in 2025

Academic freedom worldwide: declines and political influences in 2025

On March 13, 2025, the Academic Freedom Index (AFI) 2025 was published, a collaboration between researchers at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and the V-Dem Institute at the University of Gothenburg. The index provides comprehensive data on academic freedom in 179 countries worldwide and highlights developments in recent years. Particularly striking is the decline in academic freedom in 34 countries or territories, while only eight countries have seen an improvement. This shows that academic freedom is better protected in democracies, but here too it comes under considerable pressure.

These findings are based on comprehensive data collection over 50 years, based on the assessments of 2,363 experts and reflecting the de facto situation of academic freedom through December 2024. A central aspect of the report is the examination of the influence of anti-pluralist parties on academic freedom. These parties are often part of the government and lead to a significant decline in academic freedom. Examples of this are Argentina and Poland, where dramatic deteriorations in the situation have been documented in recent years.

Decline in different countries

The situation in Argentina is alarming: the AFI value fell from 0.97 to 0.69 within a year. In Poland, the value fell from 0.98 in 2014 to 0.73 in 2022, before recovering to 0.87 after the 2023 elections. Of particular concern is the United States, where anti-pluralist politicians are establishing similar control mechanisms over science.

The analysis shows that the AFI consists of five indicators: freedom of research and teaching, academic exchange, institutional autonomy, campus integrity and academic and cultural freedom of expression. These indicators form the foundation on which the assessments are based and are crucial for assessing academic freedom in each country.

International challenges

The report also highlights that over 50% of the world's population lives in countries where academic freedom has declined over the past decade. An alarming trend that is further encouraged by the electoral success of anti-pluralist parties. The AFI shows that only five countries have seen improvement, while in most countries academic freedom remains stagnant at low levels.

The AFI publication provides an interactive map that allows users to visually understand the state of academic freedom across 179 countries. This data is publicly available and an interactive visualization and country profiles are available on the AFI website. The AFI project, which began in 2017 with an expert consultation and is currently funded by V-Dem and FAU, provides valuable information on the global situation of academic freedom and encourages an international dialogue about its protection.

As the University Rectors' Conference (HRK) states, academic freedom is a central concern, especially in times when state violence against university employees, such as in Iran, is increasingly coming into focus. The HRK appeals to those responsible to stop the violence and the suppression of academic freedom in all forms. The AFI is an important tool for tracking these developments and for emphasizing the importance of academic freedom and democracy.

FAU reports, that these trends can also be observed in Europe, with pressure on academic freedom constantly increasing. The report is not only a documentation, but also a call for active support in the defense of academic freedom worldwide.

The Academic Freedom Index represents a fundamental resource for raising awareness of the challenges and status of academic freedom internationally. Its value lies in transparency and the opportunity to learn from each other and show solidarity against the dangers of oppression.

The HRK emphasizes that a culture of openness and tolerance is essential for scientific integrity. The challenges of today require a strong and common commitment to protecting academic freedom. This is not just a question of science, but concerns the foundation of democratic societies worldwide.