What is freedom of expression index in South Korea?

Freedom of expression index in South Korea was 0.933 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.955 in 2000.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.059 in 1911.

How does South Korea rank for freedom of expression index?

South Korea ranks 12th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

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

Over the last ten years it is up 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this South 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 South Korea

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

South Korea: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.933 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.933

Change on year

up 19.3%

World rank

12th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.955

in 2000

All-time low

0.059

in 1911

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in South Korea, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

South Korea recorded 0.933 for freedom of expression index in 2025.

That represents a change of up 19.3% on the previous year and up 22.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in South Korea peaked at 0.955 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.059, in 1911.

That places South Korea 12th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

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	0.0606	0.059	0.069	10
1920s	0.074	0.074	0.074	10
1930s	0.074	0.074	0.074	10
1940s	0.1952	0.068	0.395	10
1950s	0.3749	0.344	0.405	10
1960s	0.3929	0.253	0.644	10
1970s	0.2773	0.232	0.397	10
1980s	0.4307	0.218	0.824	10
1990s	0.8876	0.829	0.94	10
2000s	0.9272	0.816	0.955	10
2010s	0.8388	0.76	0.952	10
2020s	0.8815	0.782	0.949	6

Countries ranked near South Korea

9 Czechia 0.947 compare
10 Finland 0.946 compare
10 Sweden 0.946 compare
12 Canada 0.933 compare
14 Latvia 0.932 compare
15 Uruguay 0.931 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for South Korea

Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 4,407 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 117 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.819 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.739 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.912 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.551 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.912 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.819 (2025)

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in South Korea?: Freedom of expression index in South Korea was 0.933 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in South Korea?: The highest recorded value was 0.955 in 2000.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in South Korea?: The lowest recorded value was 0.059 in 1911.
How does South Korea rank for freedom of expression index?: South Korea ranks 12th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in South Korea?: Over the last ten years it is up 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

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: 07 August 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.