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Freedom of expression index in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Democratic People’s Republic of 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 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, 1789–2025

00.10.20.3178919072025

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

Democratic People’s Republic of 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 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea peaked at 0.343 in 1896 and was at its lowest, 0.011, in 1968.

That places Democratic People’s Republic of 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 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, year by year

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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

  1. 173 Eritrea 0.024 compare
  2. 174 Afghanistan 0.022 compare
  3. 175 Nicaragua 0.018 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

All data for Democratic People’s Republic of Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea?
Freedom of expression index in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was 0.013 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea?
The highest recorded value was 0.343 in 1896.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 0.011 in 1968.
How does Democratic People’s Republic of Korea rank for freedom of expression index?
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ranks 176th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea?
Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Democratic People’s Republic of Korea data come from?
The figures come from 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 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 August 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
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
176 places, 30,035 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed