Statizoid

Participatory Democracy Index in North Korea

North Korea: Participatory Democracy Index was 0.044 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
0.044
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
165th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.054
in 1946
All-time low
0.007
in 1895
Years of data
203
1789–2025

Participatory Democracy Index in North Korea, 1789–2025

0.010.020.030.040.05178919072025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for participatory democracy index in North Korea is 0.044, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participatory democracy index in North Korea peaked at 0.054 in 1946 and was at its lowest, 0.007, in 1895.

North Korea ranks 165th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Participatory Democracy Index in North Korea, year by year

Year Value Change
1789 0.011 —
1790 0.011 +0.0%
1791 0.011 +0.0%
1792 0.011 +0.0%
1793 0.011 +0.0%
1794 0.011 +0.0%
1795 0.011 +0.0%
1796 0.011 +0.0%
1797 0.011 +0.0%
1798 0.011 +0.0%
1799 0.011 +0.0%
1800 0.011 +0.0%
1801 0.011 +0.0%
1802 0.011 +0.0%
1803 0.011 +0.0%
1804 0.011 +0.0%
1805 0.011 +0.0%
1806 0.011 +0.0%
1807 0.011 +0.0%
1808 0.011 +0.0%
1809 0.011 +0.0%
1810 0.011 +0.0%
1811 0.011 +0.0%
1812 0.011 +0.0%
1813 0.011 +0.0%
1814 0.011 +0.0%
1815 0.011 +0.0%
1816 0.011 +0.0%
1817 0.011 +0.0%
1818 0.011 +0.0%
1819 0.011 +0.0%
1820 0.011 +0.0%
1821 0.011 +0.0%
1822 0.011 +0.0%
1823 0.011 +0.0%
1824 0.011 +0.0%
1825 0.011 +0.0%
1826 0.011 +0.0%
1827 0.011 +0.0%
1828 0.011 +0.0%
1829 0.011 +0.0%
1830 0.011 +0.0%
1831 0.011 +0.0%
1832 0.011 +0.0%
1833 0.011 +0.0%
1834 0.011 +0.0%
1835 0.011 +0.0%
1836 0.011 +0.0%
1837 0.011 +0.0%
1838 0.011 +0.0%
1839 0.011 +0.0%
1840 0.011 +0.0%
1841 0.011 +0.0%
1842 0.011 +0.0%
1843 0.011 +0.0%
1844 0.011 +0.0%
1845 0.011 +0.0%
1846 0.011 +0.0%
1847 0.011 +0.0%
1848 0.011 +0.0%
1849 0.011 +0.0%
1850 0.011 +0.0%
1851 0.011 +0.0%
1852 0.011 +0.0%
1853 0.011 +0.0%
1854 0.011 +0.0%
1855 0.011 +0.0%
1856 0.011 +0.0%
1857 0.011 +0.0%
1858 0.011 +0.0%
1859 0.011 +0.0%
1860 0.011 +0.0%
1861 0.011 +0.0%
1862 0.011 +0.0%
1863 0.011 +0.0%
1864 0.011 +0.0%
1865 0.011 +0.0%
1866 0.011 +0.0%
1867 0.011 +0.0%
1868 0.011 +0.0%
1869 0.011 +0.0%
1870 0.011 +0.0%
1871 0.011 +0.0%
1872 0.011 +0.0%
1873 0.011 +0.0%
1874 0.011 +0.0%
1875 0.011 +0.0%
1876 0.011 +0.0%
1877 0.011 +0.0%
1878 0.011 +0.0%
1879 0.011 +0.0%
1880 0.011 +0.0%
1881 0.011 +0.0%
1882 0.011 +0.0%
1883 0.011 +0.0%
1884 0.011 +0.0%
1885 0.011 +0.0%
1886 0.011 +0.0%
1887 0.011 +0.0%
1888 0.011 +0.0%
1889 0.011 +0.0%
1890 0.011 +0.0%
1891 0.011 +0.0%
1892 0.011 +0.0%
1893 0.011 +0.0%
1894 0.011 +0.0%
1895 0.007 -36.4%
1896 0.009 +28.6%
1897 0.008 -11.1%
1898 0.008 +0.0%
1899 0.008 +0.0%
1900 0.01 +25.0%
1901 0.01 +0.0%
1902 0.01 +0.0%
1903 0.01 +0.0%
1904 0.009 -10.0%
1905 0.009 +0.0%
1906 0.009 +0.0%
1907 0.009 +0.0%
1908 0.009 +0.0%
1909 0.009 +0.0%
1910 0.007 -22.2%
1945 0.053 +657.1%
1946 0.054 +1.9%
1947 0.053 -1.9%
1948 0.047 -11.3%
1949 0.054 +14.9%
1950 0.053 -1.9%
1951 0.053 +0.0%
1952 0.053 +0.0%
1953 0.053 +0.0%
1954 0.054 +1.9%
1955 0.054 +0.0%
1956 0.054 +0.0%
1957 0.052 -3.7%
1958 0.052 +0.0%
1959 0.052 +0.0%
1960 0.049 -5.8%
1961 0.049 +0.0%
1962 0.049 +0.0%
1963 0.049 +0.0%
1964 0.049 +0.0%
1965 0.049 +0.0%
1966 0.049 +0.0%
1967 0.049 +0.0%
1968 0.049 +0.0%
1969 0.049 +0.0%
1970 0.049 +0.0%
1971 0.049 +0.0%
1972 0.044 -10.2%
1973 0.044 +0.0%
1974 0.044 +0.0%
1975 0.044 +0.0%
1976 0.044 +0.0%
1977 0.044 +0.0%
1978 0.043 -2.3%
1979 0.043 +0.0%
1980 0.043 +0.0%
1981 0.043 +0.0%
1982 0.044 +2.3%
1983 0.044 +0.0%
1984 0.044 +0.0%
1985 0.044 +0.0%
1986 0.043 -2.3%
1987 0.043 +0.0%
1988 0.043 +0.0%
1989 0.043 +0.0%
1990 0.044 +2.3%
1991 0.044 +0.0%
1992 0.043 -2.3%
1993 0.043 +0.0%
1994 0.043 +0.0%
1995 0.043 +0.0%
1996 0.043 +0.0%
1997 0.043 +0.0%
1998 0.043 +0.0%
1999 0.043 +0.0%
2000 0.043 +0.0%
2001 0.043 +0.0%
2002 0.043 +0.0%
2003 0.043 +0.0%
2004 0.043 +0.0%
2005 0.043 +0.0%
2006 0.043 +0.0%
2007 0.043 +0.0%
2008 0.043 +0.0%
2009 0.043 +0.0%
2010 0.044 +2.3%
2011 0.044 +0.0%
2012 0.044 +0.0%
2013 0.044 +0.0%
2014 0.044 +0.0%
2015 0.043 -2.3%
2016 0.043 +0.0%
2017 0.043 +0.0%
2018 0.043 +0.0%
2019 0.043 +0.0%
2020 0.043 +0.0%
2021 0.044 +2.3%
2022 0.044 +0.0%
2023 0.044 +0.0%
2024 0.044 +0.0%
2025 0.044 +0.0%

North Korea compared with similar countries

  • North Korea's 0.044 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.13, 34% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
  • North Korea's 0.044 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.2725, 16% of the median. (22 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1780s 0.011 0.011 0.011 1
1790s 0.011 0.011 0.011 10
1800s 0.011 0.011 0.011 10
1810s 0.011 0.011 0.011 10
1820s 0.011 0.011 0.011 10
1830s 0.011 0.011 0.011 10
1840s 0.011 0.011 0.011 10
1850s 0.011 0.011 0.011 10
1860s 0.011 0.011 0.011 10
1870s 0.011 0.011 0.011 10
1880s 0.011 0.011 0.011 10
1890s 0.0095 0.007 0.011 10
1900s 0.0094 0.009 0.01 10
1910s 0.007 0.007 0.007 1
1940s 0.0522 0.047 0.054 5
1950s 0.053 0.052 0.054 10
1960s 0.049 0.049 0.049 10
1970s 0.0448 0.043 0.049 10
1980s 0.0434 0.043 0.044 10
1990s 0.0432 0.043 0.044 10
2000s 0.043 0.043 0.043 10
2010s 0.0435 0.043 0.044 10
2020s 0.0438 0.043 0.044 6

Countries ranked near North Korea

  1. 163 Hong Kong 0.049 compare
  2. 164 South Sudan 0.047 compare
  3. 166 Azerbaijan 0.043 compare
  4. 167 Iran 0.042 compare
  5. 168 Equatorial Guinea 0.041 compare
  6. 168 Myanmar 0.041 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for North Korea

All data for North Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is participatory democracy index in North Korea?
Participatory democracy index in North Korea was 0.044 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in North Korea?
The highest recorded value was 0.054 in 1946.
What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in North Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 0.007 in 1895.
How does North Korea rank for participatory democracy index?
North Korea ranks 165th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in North Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. 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 Participatory Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Participatory Democracy 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/participatory-democracy-index/korea-dem-people-s-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Participatory Democracy Index
Source
V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
176 places, 29,363 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed

Central estimate of the extent of suffrage, the freedom and fairness of elections, freedoms of association and expression, as well as the extent to which citizens can engage in regional and local government, civil society organizations, and direct democracy.