Freedom Score in North Korea
North Korea: Freedom Score was 3 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Freedom Score in North Korea, 2002–2025
Source: Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, freedom score in North Korea stood at 3. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom score in North Korea peaked at 3 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0, in 2002.
North Korea ranks 193rd of 197 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Freedom Score in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 1 | — |
| 2007 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 2008 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 2010 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 2012 | 3 | +50.0% |
| 2013 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 3 | +0.0% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 3 is below the median for low income countries, which is 18, 17% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 3 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 73, 4% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.75 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 2010s | 2.7 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 191 Myanmar 4 compare
- 191 Western Sahara 4 compare
- 193 Eritrea 3 compare
- 195 Sudan 1 compare
- 195 Turkmenistan 1 compare
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 freedom score in North Korea?
- Freedom score in North Korea was 3 in 2025, according to Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom score recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3 in 2012.
- What is the lowest freedom score recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 2002.
- How does North Korea rank for freedom score?
- North Korea ranks 193rd out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom score 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 Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Freedom Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Freedom House’s freedom score captures the extent of free and fair elections, political pluralism and participation, a functioning government, freedom of expression and association, the rule of law, and personal autonomy. Higher scores indicate more freedom.