Which has higher freedom of expression index, Finland or South Korea?

Finland, at 0.946 against 0.933 in South Korea as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Finland and South Korea?

237 years are reported by both, from 1789 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Finland vs South Korea: Freedom of Expression Index

Finland

0.946

in 2025

South Korea

0.933

in 2025

Finland rank

10th

South Korea rank

12th

Freedom of Expression Index over time

Finland
South Korea

How they compare

Finland currently reports 0.946 against 0.933 in South Korea, a difference of 0.013.

Across all 237 years both countries report, Finland has been ahead every year.

Finland ranks 10th and South Korea ranks 12th of 176 countries.

Finland has averaged higher in every one of the 25 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Finland	South Korea	Difference	Ahead
1780s	0.438	0.071	0.367	Finland
1790s	0.4521	0.071	0.3811	Finland
1800s	0.4166	0.071	0.3456	Finland
1810s	0.26	0.071	0.189	Finland
1820s	0.26	0.071	0.189	Finland
1830s	0.26	0.071	0.189	Finland
1840s	0.26	0.071	0.189	Finland
1850s	0.26	0.071	0.189	Finland
1860s	0.277	0.071	0.206	Finland
1870s	0.277	0.071	0.206	Finland
1880s	0.277	0.0755	0.2015	Finland
1890s	0.4114	0.1441	0.2673	Finland
1900s	0.4933	0.1274	0.3659	Finland
1910s	0.4979	0.0606	0.4373	Finland
1920s	0.7679	0.074	0.6939	Finland
1930s	0.6852	0.074	0.6112	Finland
1940s	0.644	0.1952	0.4488	Finland
1950s	0.9069	0.3749	0.532	Finland
1960s	0.914	0.3929	0.5211	Finland
1970s	0.921	0.2773	0.6437	Finland
1980s	0.9402	0.4307	0.5095	Finland
1990s	0.9762	0.8876	0.0886	Finland
2000s	0.977	0.9272	0.0498	Finland
2010s	0.9724	0.8388	0.1336	Finland
2020s	0.961	0.8815	0.0795	Finland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher freedom of expression index, Finland or South Korea?: Finland, at 0.946 against 0.933 in South Korea as of 2025.
What is the difference in freedom of expression index between Finland and South Korea?: 0.013, with Finland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Finland and South Korea?: 237 years are reported by both, from 1789 to 2025.
How do Finland and South Korea rank globally for freedom of expression index?: Finland ranks 10th and South Korea ranks 12th of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Finland vs South Korea: Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 07 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/freedom-of-expression-index/finland/korea-rep/

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<a href="https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/freedom-of-expression-index/finland/korea-rep/">Finland vs South Korea: Freedom of Expression Index</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Freedom of Expression Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,035 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 30 October 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which people can discuss political matters at home and in the public sphere, the press, and media are free and can present different political perspectives, and the freedom of academic and cultural expression.