What is human rights index in South Korea?

Human rights index in South Korea was 0.912 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest human rights index recorded in South Korea?

The highest recorded value was 0.931 in 2017.

What is the lowest human rights index recorded in South Korea?

The lowest recorded value was 0.073 in 1866.

How does South Korea rank for human rights index?

South Korea ranks 27th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is human rights index rising or falling in South Korea?

Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. 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 Human Rights Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Human Rights Index in South Korea

Name: Human Rights 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: Human Rights Index was 0.912 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.912

Change on year

up 9.9%

World rank

27th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.931

in 2017

All-time low

0.073

in 1866

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Human Rights Index in South Korea, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

South Korea recorded 0.912 for human rights index in 2025.

That represents a change of up 9.9% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, human rights index in South Korea peaked at 0.931 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.073, in 1866.

South Korea ranks 27th of 176 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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	0.083	0.083	0.083	1
1790s	0.0838	0.083	0.084	10
1800s	0.0844	0.083	0.086	10
1810s	0.0838	0.083	0.084	10
1820s	0.0836	0.082	0.084	10
1830s	0.0829	0.082	0.083	10
1840s	0.0821	0.082	0.083	10
1850s	0.083	0.083	0.083	10
1860s	0.0776	0.073	0.084	10
1870s	0.0754	0.073	0.079	10
1880s	0.0905	0.079	0.097	10
1890s	0.161	0.097	0.268	10
1900s	0.2023	0.195	0.21	10
1910s	0.1093	0.108	0.119	10
1920s	0.1134	0.112	0.114	10
1930s	0.1118	0.101	0.114	10
1940s	0.2509	0.081	0.46	10
1950s	0.4424	0.366	0.491	10
1960s	0.4698	0.434	0.657	10
1970s	0.3976	0.384	0.447	10
1980s	0.5565	0.408	0.841	10
1990s	0.8887	0.852	0.925	10
2000s	0.9226	0.893	0.93	10
2010s	0.8975	0.877	0.931	10
2020s	0.8963	0.83	0.929	6

Countries ranked near South Korea

25 Lithuania 0.913 compare
25 Suriname 0.913 compare
27 Ghana 0.912 compare
27 Netherlands 0.912 compare
30 Austria 0.907 compare
30 Cape Verde 0.907 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)
Key features of democracy 0.819 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.933 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.839 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.819 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.551 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.739 (2025)

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is human rights index in South Korea?: Human rights index in South Korea was 0.912 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest human rights index recorded in South Korea?: The highest recorded value was 0.931 in 2017.
What is the lowest human rights index recorded in South Korea?: The lowest recorded value was 0.073 in 1866.
How does South Korea rank for human rights index?: South Korea ranks 27th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is human rights index rising or falling in South Korea?: Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. 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 Human Rights 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: Human Rights Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,202 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which people are free from government torture, political killings, and forced labor, they have property rights, and enjoy the freedoms of movement, religion, expression, and association.