Academic Freedom Index in North Korea
North Korea: Academic Freedom Index was 0.036 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.036
Change on year
up 100.0%
World rank
171st
of 174 countries
All-time high
0.092
in 1946
All-time low
0.01
in 1990
Years of data
91
1900–2025
Academic Freedom Index in North Korea, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, academic freedom index in North Korea stood at 0.036.
That represents a change of up 100.0% on the previous year and up 200.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, academic freedom index in North Korea peaked at 0.092 in 1946 and was at its lowest, 0.01, in 1990.
That places North Korea 171st out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Academic Freedom Index in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0.05 | — |
| 1901 | 0.05 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.05 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.05 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.05 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.048 | -4.0% |
| 1906 | 0.048 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.048 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.048 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.048 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.019 | -60.4% |
| 1946 | 0.092 | +384.2% |
| 1947 | 0.092 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.092 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.054 | -41.3% |
| 1950 | 0.036 | -33.3% |
| 1951 | 0.026 | -27.8% |
| 1952 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.025 | -3.8% |
| 1958 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.016 | -36.0% |
| 1968 | 0.013 | -18.8% |
| 1969 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.012 | -7.7% |
| 1971 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.01 | -16.7% |
| 1991 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.012 | +20.0% |
| 2013 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.018 | +50.0% |
| 2024 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.036 | +100.0% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 0.036 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.326, 11% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 0.036 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.5275, 7% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.049 | 0.048 | 0.05 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.019 | 0.019 | 0.019 | 1 |
| 1940s | 0.0825 | 0.054 | 0.092 | 4 |
| 1950s | 0.0267 | 0.025 | 0.036 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.0217 | 0.013 | 0.025 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.012 | 0.012 | 0.012 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.012 | 0.012 | 0.012 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0116 | 0.01 | 0.012 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.018 | 0.012 | 0.036 | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More social development data for North Korea
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 263 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 263 (2025)
- Sovereign state gleditsch ward, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -7.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Human Rights Index vs. Electoral Democracy Index 0.024 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is academic freedom index in North Korea?
- Academic freedom index in North Korea was 0.036 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest academic freedom index recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 0.092 in 1946.
- What is the lowest academic freedom index recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.01 in 1990.
- How does North Korea rank for academic freedom index?
- North Korea ranks 171st out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is academic freedom index rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 200.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Academic Freedom Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which academics can research, teach, publish, express opinions, and participate in academic bodies without interference, censorship, or institutional restrictions, and universities exercise institutional autonomy.