China vs North Korea: Press Freedom Index
China
78.72
in 2021
North Korea
81.28
in 2021
China rank
4th
North Korea rank
2nd
Press Freedom Index over time
- China
- North Korea
How they compare
North Korea currently reports 81.28 against 78.72 in China, a difference of 2.56.
Across all 9 years both countries report, North Korea has been ahead every year.
China ranks 4th and North Korea ranks 2nd of 177 countries.
North Korea has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | North Korea | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 76.48 | 84.3 | 7.82 | North Korea |
| 2020s | 78.6 | 83.55 | 4.95 | North Korea |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher press freedom index, China or North Korea?
- North Korea, at 81.28 against 78.72 in China as of 2021.
- What is the difference in press freedom index between China and North Korea?
- 2.56, with North Korea ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and North Korea?
- 9 years are reported by both, from 2013 to 2021.
- How do China and North Korea rank globally for press freedom index?
- China ranks 4th and North Korea ranks 2nd of 177 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Press Freedom Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
The index combines expert estimates with data on violence against journalists. It ranges from 0-100 (no freedom).