How many years of comparable data are there for China and North Korea?

203 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 Government Effectiveness Index vs. Electoral Democracy Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

China vs North Korea: Government Effectiveness Index vs. Electoral Democracy Index

China

0.072

in 2025

North Korea

0.083

in 2025

China rank

170th

North Korea rank

167th

Government Effectiveness Index vs. Electoral Democracy Index over time

China
North Korea

How they compare

North Korea currently reports 0.083 against 0.072 in China, a difference of 0.011.

That makes North Korea's figure about 1.2 times China's.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 203 shared years of data; in 1789 it was China ahead.

China ranks 170th and North Korea ranks 167th of 175 countries.

Across the 23 decades both report, China averaged higher in 18 and North Korea in 5.

Head to head by decade

Decade	China	North Korea	Difference	Ahead
1780s	0.036	0.015	0.021	China
1790s	0.036	0.015	0.021	China
1800s	0.036	0.015	0.021	China
1810s	0.036	0.015	0.021	China
1820s	0.036	0.015	0.021	China
1830s	0.036	0.015	0.021	China
1840s	0.036	0.015	0.021	China
1850s	0.0332	0.015	0.0182	China
1860s	0.0401	0.015	0.0251	China
1870s	0.044	0.015	0.029	China
1880s	0.044	0.0168	0.0272	China
1890s	0.0471	0.0249	0.0222	China
1900s	0.056	0.0214	0.0346	China
1910s	0.058	0.013	0.045	China
1940s	0.1202	0.034	0.0862	China
1950s	0.0729	0.095	0.0221	North Korea
1960s	0.0701	0.0896	0.0195	North Korea
1970s	0.0721	0.0868	0.0147	North Korea
1980s	0.0998	0.0857	0.0141	China
1990s	0.0996	0.0844	0.0152	China
2000s	0.0981	0.0842	0.0139	China
2010s	0.0843	0.0852	0.0009	North Korea
2020s	0.0743	0.0832	0.0088	North Korea

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher government effectiveness index vs. electoral democracy index, China or North Korea?: North Korea, at 0.083 against 0.072 in China as of 2025.
What is the difference in government effectiveness index vs. electoral democracy index between China and North Korea?: 0.011, with North Korea ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and North Korea?: 203 years are reported by both, from 1789 to 2025.
How do China and North Korea rank globally for government effectiveness index vs. electoral democracy index?: China ranks 170th and North Korea ranks 167th of 175 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Government Effectiveness Index vs. Electoral Democracy Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs North Korea: Government Effectiveness Index vs. Electoral Democracy Index. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/government-effectiveness-vs-electoral-democracy-index/china/korea-dem-people-s-rep/

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<a href="https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/government-effectiveness-vs-electoral-democracy-index/china/korea-dem-people-s-rep/">China vs North Korea: Government Effectiveness Index vs. Electoral Democracy Index</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Government Effectiveness Index vs. Electoral Democracy Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 175 places, 29,523 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which political leaders are elected under comprehensive suffrage in free and fair elections, and freedoms of association and expression are guaranteed.