What is the highest meaningful democratic electoral institutions recorded in South Korea?

The highest recorded value was 1 in 1988.

What is the lowest meaningful democratic electoral institutions recorded in South Korea?

The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1789.

How does South Korea rank for meaningful democratic electoral institutions?

South Korea ranks 1st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is meaningful democratic electoral institutions rising or falling in South Korea?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. 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 Meaningful democratic electoral institutions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Meaningful democratic electoral institutions in South Korea

Name: Meaningful democratic electoral institutions in South Korea
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

South Korea: Meaningful democratic electoral institutions was 1 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

1st

of 176 countries

All-time high

in 1988

All-time low

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Meaningful democratic electoral institutions in South Korea, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for meaningful democratic electoral institutions in South Korea is 1, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 237 years on record.

The figure is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, meaningful democratic electoral institutions in South Korea peaked at 1 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1789.

South Korea ranks 1st of 176 countries on this measure, 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	0	0	1
1790s	0	0	0	10
1800s	0	0	0	10
1810s	0	0	0	10
1820s	0	0	0	10
1830s	0	0	0	10
1840s	0	0	0	10
1850s	0	0	0	10
1860s	0	0	0	10
1870s	0	0	0	10
1880s	0	0	0	10
1890s	0	0	0	10
1900s	0	0	0	10
1910s	0	0	0	10
1920s	0	0	0	10
1930s	0	0	0	10
1940s	0	0	0	10
1950s	0	0	0	10
1960s	0	0	0	10
1970s	0	0	0	10
1980s	0.2	0	1	10
1990s	1	1	1	10
2000s	1	1	1	10
2010s	1	1	1	10
2020s	1	1	1	6

Countries ranked near South Korea

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

Spring temperature anomalies 1.1 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 0.7164 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month -0.8996 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 2.24 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 0.9115 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 135 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is meaningful democratic electoral institutions in South Korea?: Meaningful democratic electoral institutions in South Korea was 1 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest meaningful democratic electoral institutions recorded in South Korea?: The highest recorded value was 1 in 1988.
What is the lowest meaningful democratic electoral institutions recorded in South Korea?: The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1789.
How does South Korea rank for meaningful democratic electoral institutions?: South Korea ranks 1st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is meaningful democratic electoral institutions rising or falling in South Korea?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. 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 Meaningful democratic electoral institutions. 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: Meaningful democratic electoral institutions
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: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of whether the country is meaningfully an electoral democracy. This includes the extent to which political leaders are elected under comprehensive suffrage in free and fair elections, and freedoms of association and expression are guaranteed.