What is varieties of democracy in North Korea?

Varieties of democracy in North Korea was 0.083 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in North Korea?

The highest recorded value was 0.098 in 1949.

What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in North Korea?

The lowest recorded value was 0.013 in 1910.

How does North Korea rank for varieties of democracy?

North Korea ranks 168th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in North Korea?

Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. 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 Varieties of democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Varieties of democracy in North Korea

Name: Varieties of democracy in North Korea
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

North Korea: Varieties of democracy was 0.083 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.083

Change on year

down 1.2%

World rank

168th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.098

in 1949

All-time low

0.013

in 1910

Years of data

203

1789–2025

Varieties of democracy in North Korea, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

North Korea recorded 0.083 for varieties of democracy in 2025.

The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, varieties of democracy in North Korea peaked at 0.098 in 1949 and was at its lowest, 0.013, in 1910.

That places North Korea 168th 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.

Varieties of democracy in North Korea, year by year

Annual values for Varieties of democracy in North Korea, 1789 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1789	0.015	—
1790	0.015	+0.0%
1791	0.015	+0.0%
1792	0.015	+0.0%
1793	0.015	+0.0%
1794	0.015	+0.0%
1795	0.015	+0.0%
1796	0.015	+0.0%
1797	0.015	+0.0%
1798	0.015	+0.0%
1799	0.015	+0.0%
1800	0.015	+0.0%
1801	0.015	+0.0%
1802	0.015	+0.0%
1803	0.015	+0.0%
1804	0.015	+0.0%
1805	0.015	+0.0%
1806	0.015	+0.0%
1807	0.015	+0.0%
1808	0.015	+0.0%
1809	0.015	+0.0%
1810	0.015	+0.0%
1811	0.015	+0.0%
1812	0.015	+0.0%
1813	0.015	+0.0%
1814	0.015	+0.0%
1815	0.015	+0.0%
1816	0.015	+0.0%
1817	0.015	+0.0%
1818	0.015	+0.0%
1819	0.015	+0.0%
1820	0.015	+0.0%
1821	0.015	+0.0%
1822	0.015	+0.0%
1823	0.015	+0.0%
1824	0.015	+0.0%
1825	0.015	+0.0%
1826	0.015	+0.0%
1827	0.015	+0.0%
1828	0.015	+0.0%
1829	0.015	+0.0%
1830	0.015	+0.0%
1831	0.015	+0.0%
1832	0.015	+0.0%
1833	0.015	+0.0%
1834	0.015	+0.0%
1835	0.015	+0.0%
1836	0.015	+0.0%
1837	0.015	+0.0%
1838	0.015	+0.0%
1839	0.015	+0.0%
1840	0.015	+0.0%
1841	0.015	+0.0%
1842	0.015	+0.0%
1843	0.015	+0.0%
1844	0.015	+0.0%
1845	0.015	+0.0%
1846	0.015	+0.0%
1847	0.015	+0.0%
1848	0.015	+0.0%
1849	0.015	+0.0%
1850	0.015	+0.0%
1851	0.015	+0.0%
1852	0.015	+0.0%
1853	0.015	+0.0%
1854	0.015	+0.0%
1855	0.015	+0.0%
1856	0.015	+0.0%
1857	0.015	+0.0%
1858	0.015	+0.0%
1859	0.015	+0.0%
1860	0.015	+0.0%
1861	0.015	+0.0%
1862	0.015	+0.0%
1863	0.015	+0.0%
1864	0.015	+0.0%
1865	0.015	+0.0%
1866	0.015	+0.0%
1867	0.015	+0.0%
1868	0.015	+0.0%
1869	0.015	+0.0%
1870	0.015	+0.0%
1871	0.015	+0.0%
1872	0.015	+0.0%
1873	0.015	+0.0%
1874	0.015	+0.0%
1875	0.015	+0.0%
1876	0.015	+0.0%
1877	0.015	+0.0%
1878	0.015	+0.0%
1879	0.015	+0.0%
1880	0.015	+0.0%
1881	0.017	+13.3%
1882	0.017	+0.0%
1883	0.017	+0.0%
1884	0.017	+0.0%
1885	0.017	+0.0%
1886	0.017	+0.0%
1887	0.017	+0.0%
1888	0.017	+0.0%
1889	0.017	+0.0%
1890	0.017	+0.0%
1891	0.017	+0.0%
1892	0.017	+0.0%
1893	0.017	+0.0%
1894	0.017	+0.0%
1895	0.018	+5.9%
1896	0.05	+177.8%
1897	0.036	-28.0%
1898	0.033	-8.3%
1899	0.027	-18.2%
1900	0.027	+0.0%
1901	0.027	+0.0%
1902	0.027	+0.0%
1903	0.027	+0.0%
1904	0.02	-25.9%
1905	0.018	-10.0%
1906	0.017	-5.6%
1907	0.017	+0.0%
1908	0.017	+0.0%
1909	0.017	+0.0%
1910	0.013	-23.5%
1945	0.02	+53.8%
1946	0.016	-20.0%
1947	0.016	+0.0%
1948	0.02	+25.0%
1949	0.098	+390.0%
1950	0.096	-2.0%
1951	0.096	+0.0%
1952	0.096	+0.0%
1953	0.096	+0.0%
1954	0.096	+0.0%
1955	0.096	+0.0%
1956	0.096	+0.0%
1957	0.094	-2.1%
1958	0.092	-2.1%
1959	0.092	+0.0%
1960	0.092	+0.0%
1961	0.092	+0.0%
1962	0.091	-1.1%
1963	0.089	-2.2%
1964	0.089	+0.0%
1965	0.089	+0.0%
1966	0.089	+0.0%
1967	0.089	+0.0%
1968	0.088	-1.1%
1969	0.088	+0.0%
1970	0.088	+0.0%
1971	0.088	+0.0%
1972	0.086	-2.3%
1973	0.087	+1.2%
1974	0.087	+0.0%
1975	0.087	+0.0%
1976	0.087	+0.0%
1977	0.086	-1.1%
1978	0.086	+0.0%
1979	0.086	+0.0%
1980	0.086	+0.0%
1981	0.086	+0.0%
1982	0.086	+0.0%
1983	0.087	+1.2%
1984	0.087	+0.0%
1985	0.087	+0.0%
1986	0.086	-1.1%
1987	0.084	-2.3%
1988	0.084	+0.0%
1989	0.084	+0.0%
1990	0.086	+2.4%
1991	0.087	+1.2%
1992	0.084	-3.4%
1993	0.084	+0.0%
1994	0.084	+0.0%
1995	0.084	+0.0%
1996	0.084	+0.0%
1997	0.084	+0.0%
1998	0.084	+0.0%
1999	0.083	-1.2%
2000	0.083	+0.0%
2001	0.083	+0.0%
2002	0.083	+0.0%
2003	0.083	+0.0%
2004	0.085	+2.4%
2005	0.085	+0.0%
2006	0.085	+0.0%
2007	0.085	+0.0%
2008	0.085	+0.0%
2009	0.085	+0.0%
2010	0.086	+1.2%
2011	0.086	+0.0%
2012	0.086	+0.0%
2013	0.086	+0.0%
2014	0.085	-1.2%
2015	0.085	+0.0%
2016	0.085	+0.0%
2017	0.085	+0.0%
2018	0.085	+0.0%
2019	0.083	-2.4%
2020	0.083	+0.0%
2021	0.083	+0.0%
2022	0.083	+0.0%
2023	0.083	+0.0%
2024	0.084	+1.2%
2025	0.083	-1.2%

North Korea compared with similar countries

North Korea's 0.083 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.227, 37% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
North Korea's 0.083 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.4645, 18% of the median. (22 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.015	0.015	0.015	1
1790s	0.015	0.015	0.015	10
1800s	0.015	0.015	0.015	10
1810s	0.015	0.015	0.015	10
1820s	0.015	0.015	0.015	10
1830s	0.015	0.015	0.015	10
1840s	0.015	0.015	0.015	10
1850s	0.015	0.015	0.015	10
1860s	0.015	0.015	0.015	10
1870s	0.015	0.015	0.015	10
1880s	0.0168	0.015	0.017	10
1890s	0.0249	0.017	0.05	10
1900s	0.0214	0.017	0.027	10
1910s	0.013	0.013	0.013	1
1940s	0.034	0.016	0.098	5
1950s	0.095	0.092	0.096	10
1960s	0.0896	0.088	0.092	10
1970s	0.0868	0.086	0.088	10
1980s	0.0857	0.084	0.087	10
1990s	0.0844	0.083	0.087	10
2000s	0.0842	0.083	0.085	10
2010s	0.0852	0.083	0.086	10
2020s	0.0832	0.083	0.084	6

Countries ranked near North Korea

166 Yemen 0.127 compare
167 United Arab Emirates 0.104 compare
169 Myanmar 0.08 compare
169 Palestine 0.08 compare
171 China 0.072 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

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)

All data for North Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is varieties of democracy in North Korea?: Varieties of democracy in North Korea was 0.083 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in North Korea?: The highest recorded value was 0.098 in 1949.
What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in North Korea?: The lowest recorded value was 0.013 in 1910.
How does North Korea rank for varieties of democracy?: North Korea ranks 168th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in North Korea?: Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. 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 Varieties of democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Varieties of democracy in North Korea. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 11 October 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/varieties-democracy-vdem/korea-dem-people-s-rep/

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About this data

Indicator: Varieties of democracy
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,649 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 09 October 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which political leaders are elected under comprehensive suffrage in free and fair elections, and freedoms of association and expression are guaranteed.