What is freedom of expression index in North Korea?

Freedom of expression index in North Korea was 0.013 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in North Korea?

The highest recorded value was 0.343 in 1896.

What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in North Korea?

The lowest recorded value was 0.011 in 1968.

How does North Korea rank for freedom of expression index?

North Korea ranks 176th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in North Korea?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. 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 Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Freedom of Expression Index in North Korea

Name: Freedom of Expression Index in North Korea
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

North Korea: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.013 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.013

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

176th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.343

in 1896

All-time low

0.011

in 1968

Years of data

203

1789–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in North Korea, 1789–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

North Korea recorded 0.013 for freedom of expression index in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in North Korea peaked at 0.343 in 1896 and was at its lowest, 0.011, in 1968.

That places North Korea 176th out of 176 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.

Freedom of Expression Index in North Korea, year by year

Annual values for Freedom of Expression Index in North Korea, 1789 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1789	0.071	—
1790	0.071	+0.0%
1791	0.071	+0.0%
1792	0.071	+0.0%
1793	0.071	+0.0%
1794	0.071	+0.0%
1795	0.071	+0.0%
1796	0.071	+0.0%
1797	0.071	+0.0%
1798	0.071	+0.0%
1799	0.071	+0.0%
1800	0.071	+0.0%
1801	0.071	+0.0%
1802	0.071	+0.0%
1803	0.071	+0.0%
1804	0.071	+0.0%
1805	0.071	+0.0%
1806	0.071	+0.0%
1807	0.071	+0.0%
1808	0.071	+0.0%
1809	0.071	+0.0%
1810	0.071	+0.0%
1811	0.071	+0.0%
1812	0.071	+0.0%
1813	0.071	+0.0%
1814	0.071	+0.0%
1815	0.071	+0.0%
1816	0.071	+0.0%
1817	0.071	+0.0%
1818	0.071	+0.0%
1819	0.071	+0.0%
1820	0.071	+0.0%
1821	0.071	+0.0%
1822	0.071	+0.0%
1823	0.071	+0.0%
1824	0.071	+0.0%
1825	0.071	+0.0%
1826	0.071	+0.0%
1827	0.071	+0.0%
1828	0.071	+0.0%
1829	0.071	+0.0%
1830	0.071	+0.0%
1831	0.071	+0.0%
1832	0.071	+0.0%
1833	0.071	+0.0%
1834	0.071	+0.0%
1835	0.071	+0.0%
1836	0.071	+0.0%
1837	0.071	+0.0%
1838	0.071	+0.0%
1839	0.071	+0.0%
1840	0.071	+0.0%
1841	0.071	+0.0%
1842	0.071	+0.0%
1843	0.071	+0.0%
1844	0.071	+0.0%
1845	0.071	+0.0%
1846	0.071	+0.0%
1847	0.071	+0.0%
1848	0.071	+0.0%
1849	0.071	+0.0%
1850	0.071	+0.0%
1851	0.071	+0.0%
1852	0.071	+0.0%
1853	0.071	+0.0%
1854	0.071	+0.0%
1855	0.071	+0.0%
1856	0.071	+0.0%
1857	0.071	+0.0%
1858	0.071	+0.0%
1859	0.071	+0.0%
1860	0.071	+0.0%
1861	0.071	+0.0%
1862	0.071	+0.0%
1863	0.071	+0.0%
1864	0.071	+0.0%
1865	0.071	+0.0%
1866	0.071	+0.0%
1867	0.071	+0.0%
1868	0.071	+0.0%
1869	0.071	+0.0%
1870	0.071	+0.0%
1871	0.071	+0.0%
1872	0.071	+0.0%
1873	0.071	+0.0%
1874	0.071	+0.0%
1875	0.071	+0.0%
1876	0.071	+0.0%
1877	0.071	+0.0%
1878	0.071	+0.0%
1879	0.071	+0.0%
1880	0.071	+0.0%
1881	0.076	+7.0%
1882	0.076	+0.0%
1883	0.076	+0.0%
1884	0.076	+0.0%
1885	0.076	+0.0%
1886	0.076	+0.0%
1887	0.076	+0.0%
1888	0.076	+0.0%
1889	0.076	+0.0%
1890	0.076	+0.0%
1891	0.078	+2.6%
1892	0.078	+0.0%
1893	0.078	+0.0%
1894	0.085	+9.0%
1895	0.088	+3.5%
1896	0.343	+289.8%
1897	0.223	-35.0%
1898	0.223	+0.0%
1899	0.169	-24.2%
1900	0.169	+0.0%
1901	0.169	+0.0%
1902	0.169	+0.0%
1903	0.169	+0.0%
1904	0.118	-30.2%
1905	0.104	-11.9%
1906	0.094	-9.6%
1907	0.094	+0.0%
1908	0.094	+0.0%
1909	0.094	+0.0%
1910	0.065	-30.9%
1945	0.076	+16.9%
1946	0.064	-15.8%
1947	0.064	+0.0%
1948	0.04	-37.5%
1949	0.033	-17.5%
1950	0.033	+0.0%
1951	0.033	+0.0%
1952	0.033	+0.0%
1953	0.033	+0.0%
1954	0.033	+0.0%
1955	0.033	+0.0%
1956	0.033	+0.0%
1957	0.024	-27.3%
1958	0.024	+0.0%
1959	0.024	+0.0%
1960	0.024	+0.0%
1961	0.024	+0.0%
1962	0.024	+0.0%
1963	0.024	+0.0%
1964	0.024	+0.0%
1965	0.024	+0.0%
1966	0.024	+0.0%
1967	0.024	+0.0%
1968	0.011	-54.2%
1969	0.011	+0.0%
1970	0.011	+0.0%
1971	0.011	+0.0%
1972	0.011	+0.0%
1973	0.011	+0.0%
1974	0.011	+0.0%
1975	0.011	+0.0%
1976	0.011	+0.0%
1977	0.011	+0.0%
1978	0.011	+0.0%
1979	0.011	+0.0%
1980	0.011	+0.0%
1981	0.011	+0.0%
1982	0.011	+0.0%
1983	0.011	+0.0%
1984	0.011	+0.0%
1985	0.011	+0.0%
1986	0.011	+0.0%
1987	0.011	+0.0%
1988	0.011	+0.0%
1989	0.011	+0.0%
1990	0.011	+0.0%
1991	0.011	+0.0%
1992	0.011	+0.0%
1993	0.011	+0.0%
1994	0.011	+0.0%
1995	0.011	+0.0%
1996	0.011	+0.0%
1997	0.011	+0.0%
1998	0.011	+0.0%
1999	0.011	+0.0%
2000	0.011	+0.0%
2001	0.011	+0.0%
2002	0.011	+0.0%
2003	0.011	+0.0%
2004	0.013	+18.2%
2005	0.013	+0.0%
2006	0.013	+0.0%
2007	0.013	+0.0%
2008	0.013	+0.0%
2009	0.013	+0.0%
2010	0.013	+0.0%
2011	0.013	+0.0%
2012	0.013	+0.0%
2013	0.013	+0.0%
2014	0.013	+0.0%
2015	0.013	+0.0%
2016	0.013	+0.0%
2017	0.013	+0.0%
2018	0.013	+0.0%
2019	0.013	+0.0%
2020	0.013	+0.0%
2021	0.013	+0.0%
2022	0.013	+0.0%
2023	0.013	+0.0%
2024	0.013	+0.0%
2025	0.013	+0.0%

North Korea compared with similar countries

North Korea's 0.013 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.432, 3% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
North Korea's 0.013 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.682, 2% of the median. (22 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.071	0.071	0.071	1
1790s	0.071	0.071	0.071	10
1800s	0.071	0.071	0.071	10
1810s	0.071	0.071	0.071	10
1820s	0.071	0.071	0.071	10
1830s	0.071	0.071	0.071	10
1840s	0.071	0.071	0.071	10
1850s	0.071	0.071	0.071	10
1860s	0.071	0.071	0.071	10
1870s	0.071	0.071	0.071	10
1880s	0.0755	0.071	0.076	10
1890s	0.1441	0.076	0.343	10
1900s	0.1274	0.094	0.169	10
1910s	0.065	0.065	0.065	1
1940s	0.0554	0.033	0.076	5
1950s	0.0303	0.024	0.033	10
1960s	0.0214	0.011	0.024	10
1970s	0.011	0.011	0.011	10
1980s	0.011	0.011	0.011	10
1990s	0.011	0.011	0.011	10
2000s	0.0122	0.011	0.013	10
2010s	0.013	0.013	0.013	10
2020s	0.013	0.013	0.013	6

Countries ranked near North Korea

173 Eritrea 0.024 compare
174 Afghanistan 0.022 compare
175 Nicaragua 0.018 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

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)

All data for North Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in North Korea?: Freedom of expression index in North Korea was 0.013 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in North Korea?: The highest recorded value was 0.343 in 1896.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in North Korea?: The lowest recorded value was 0.011 in 1968.
How does North Korea rank for freedom of expression index?: North Korea ranks 176th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in North Korea?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. 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 Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Freedom of Expression Index in North Korea. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/freedom-of-expression-index/korea-dem-people-s-rep/

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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.