Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in North Korea
North Korea: Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index was 0.008 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.008
Change on year
up 14.3%
World rank
176th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.234
in 1899
All-time low
0.005
in 1995
Years of data
203
1789–2025
Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in North Korea, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, individual liberties and equality before the law index in North Korea stood at 0.008.
The figure is up 14.3% on the previous year and up 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, individual liberties and equality before the law index in North Korea peaked at 0.234 in 1899 and was at its lowest, 0.005, in 1995.
That places North Korea 176th 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.
Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.055 | — |
| 1790 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.045 | -18.2% |
| 1801 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.052 | +15.6% |
| 1804 | 0.045 | -13.5% |
| 1805 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.034 | -24.4% |
| 1850 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.048 | +41.2% |
| 1865 | 0.048 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.048 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.048 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.048 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.048 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.048 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.048 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.048 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.053 | +10.4% |
| 1874 | 0.046 | -13.2% |
| 1875 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.041 | -10.9% |
| 1881 | 0.044 | +7.3% |
| 1882 | 0.054 | +22.7% |
| 1883 | 0.054 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.054 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.063 | +16.7% |
| 1886 | 0.065 | +3.2% |
| 1887 | 0.065 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.065 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.065 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.065 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.065 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.065 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.065 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.084 | +29.2% |
| 1895 | 0.128 | +52.4% |
| 1896 | 0.151 | +18.0% |
| 1897 | 0.228 | +51.0% |
| 1898 | 0.228 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.234 | +2.6% |
| 1900 | 0.234 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.234 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.234 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.234 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.234 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.227 | -3.0% |
| 1906 | 0.227 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.227 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.227 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.227 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.127 | -44.1% |
| 1945 | 0.146 | +15.0% |
| 1946 | 0.013 | -91.1% |
| 1947 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.012 | -7.7% |
| 1951 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.013 | +8.3% |
| 1955 | 0.011 | -15.4% |
| 1956 | 0.01 | -9.1% |
| 1957 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.007 | -30.0% |
| 1959 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.005 | -28.6% |
| 1996 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.006 | +20.0% |
| 2014 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.007 | +16.7% |
| 2019 | 0.01 | +42.9% |
| 2020 | 0.008 | -20.0% |
| 2021 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.008 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.007 | -12.5% |
| 2024 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.008 | +14.3% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 0.008 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.341, 2% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 0.008 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.7075, 1% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.055 | 0.055 | 0.055 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.055 | 0.055 | 0.055 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.0457 | 0.045 | 0.052 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.045 | 0.045 | 0.045 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.045 | 0.045 | 0.045 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.045 | 0.045 | 0.045 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.0439 | 0.034 | 0.045 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.034 | 0.034 | 0.034 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.0424 | 0.034 | 0.048 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.0473 | 0.046 | 0.053 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.057 | 0.041 | 0.065 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.1313 | 0.065 | 0.234 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.2305 | 0.227 | 0.234 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.127 | 0.127 | 0.127 | 1 |
| 1940s | 0.0396 | 0.013 | 0.146 | 5 |
| 1950s | 0.0106 | 0.007 | 0.013 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.007 | 0.007 | 0.007 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.007 | 0.007 | 0.007 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.007 | 0.007 | 0.007 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.006 | 0.005 | 0.007 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.005 | 0.005 | 0.005 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0062 | 0.005 | 0.01 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0077 | 0.007 | 0.008 | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More reference data data for North Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9593 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.75 (2050)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.3103 °C (2026)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.7425 °C (2026)
- Spring temperature anomalies 2.29 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -2.22 °C (2026)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Burning - Crop 99.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 9,167 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure Management 656.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure applied to Soils 316.45 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is individual liberties and equality before the law index in North Korea?
- Individual liberties and equality before the law index in North Korea was 0.008 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest individual liberties and equality before the law index recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 0.234 in 1899.
- What is the lowest individual liberties and equality before the law index recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.005 in 1995.
- How does North Korea rank for individual liberties and equality before the law index?
- North Korea ranks 176th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is individual liberties and equality before the law index rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.3%. 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 Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 203 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which extent to which citizens enjoy physical integrity rights, freedoms of religion, of movement, and from forced labor, as well as access to justice, laws are transparent, and public administration is impartial.