What is free and fair elections index in South Korea?

Free and fair elections index in South Korea was 0.935 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest free and fair elections index recorded in South Korea?

The highest recorded value was 0.961 in 2018.

What is the lowest free and fair elections index recorded in South Korea?

The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1789.

How does South Korea rank for free and fair elections index?

South Korea ranks 28th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is free and fair elections index rising or falling in South Korea?

Over the last ten years it is up 4.6%. 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 Free and Fair Elections Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Free and Fair Elections Index in South Korea

Name: Free and Fair Elections 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: Free and Fair Elections Index was 0.935 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.935

Change on year

up 0.3%

World rank

28th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.961

in 2018

All-time low

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Free and Fair Elections Index in South Korea, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

South Korea recorded 0.935 for free and fair elections index in 2025.

The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 4.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, free and fair elections index in South Korea peaked at 0.961 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1789.

South Korea ranks 28th 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	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	0.0309	0	0.188	10
1950s	0.1576	0.144	0.168	10
1960s	0.2333	0.167	0.258	10
1970s	0.2216	0.186	0.26	10
1980s	0.3765	0.095	0.748	10
1990s	0.8141	0.748	0.914	10
2000s	0.9394	0.929	0.945	10
2010s	0.9284	0.894	0.961	10
2020s	0.9442	0.932	0.956	6

Countries ranked near South Korea

25 Austria 0.938 compare
25 Slovakia 0.938 compare
27 Japan 0.937 compare
29 Iceland 0.929 compare
30 United Kingdom 0.924 compare
31 Latvia 0.92 compare

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 free and fair elections index in South Korea?: Free and fair elections index in South Korea was 0.935 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest free and fair elections index recorded in South Korea?: The highest recorded value was 0.961 in 2018.
What is the lowest free and fair elections index recorded in South Korea?: The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1789.
How does South Korea rank for free and fair elections index?: South Korea ranks 28th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is free and fair elections index rising or falling in South Korea?: Over the last ten years it is up 4.6%. 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 Free and Fair Elections 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: Free and Fair Elections Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,402 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which registration fraud, systematic irregularities, government intimidation of the opposition, vote buying, and election violence are absent, and the election management body is autonomous and has enough staff and resources.