Academic freedom continues to decline globally. According to the 2026 update of the Academic Freedom Index (AFI), it has improved in only nine countries over the past ten years and deteriorated in 50 countries.

The countries that improved are: Seychelles (top 10%), Poland (top 10 to 20%), Montenegro (top 20 to 30%), The Gambia (top 20 to 30%), Bangladesh (bottom 40 to 50%), Thailand (bottom 30 to 40%), Uzbekistan (bottom 20 to 30%), Syria (bottom 10 to 20%), and Bahrain (bottom 10 to 20%).

The top 10 are: Czechia, Estonia, Belgium, Jamaica, Slovenia, Sweden, Honduras, Seychelles (also among the improvers), Latvia, and Ireland.

Germany ranks 22nd and therefore is once again no longer among the top ten percent.