Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in Korea
Korea: Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index was 0.942 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.942
Change on year
up 6.7%
World rank
23rd
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.963
in 1998
All-time low
0.034
in 1849
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in Korea, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Korea recorded 0.942 for individual liberties and equality before the law index in 2025.
The figure is up 6.7% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, individual liberties and equality before the law index in Korea peaked at 0.963 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 0.034, in 1849.
Korea ranks 23rd 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.
Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in 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% |
| 1911 | 0.126 | -0.8% |
| 1912 | 0.126 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.126 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.126 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.126 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.126 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.126 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.126 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.126 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.126 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.126 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.126 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.128 | +1.6% |
| 1924 | 0.128 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.128 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.128 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.128 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.128 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.128 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.128 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.128 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.128 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.128 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.128 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.128 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.128 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.122 | -4.7% |
| 1938 | 0.123 | +0.8% |
| 1939 | 0.107 | -13.0% |
| 1940 | 0.111 | +3.7% |
| 1941 | 0.08 | -27.9% |
| 1942 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.08 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.189 | +136.2% |
| 1946 | 0.483 | +155.6% |
| 1947 | 0.48 | -0.6% |
| 1948 | 0.486 | +1.3% |
| 1949 | 0.486 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.424 | -12.8% |
| 1951 | 0.4 | -5.7% |
| 1952 | 0.4 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.449 | +12.2% |
| 1954 | 0.569 | +26.7% |
| 1955 | 0.572 | +0.5% |
| 1956 | 0.572 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.572 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.598 | +4.5% |
| 1959 | 0.598 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.681 | +13.9% |
| 1961 | 0.582 | -14.5% |
| 1962 | 0.577 | -0.9% |
| 1963 | 0.568 | -1.6% |
| 1964 | 0.568 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.555 | -2.3% |
| 1966 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.534 | -3.8% |
| 1973 | 0.51 | -4.5% |
| 1974 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.563 | +10.4% |
| 1981 | 0.563 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.622 | +10.5% |
| 1983 | 0.625 | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 0.625 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.63 | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 0.643 | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 0.803 | +24.9% |
| 1988 | 0.905 | +12.7% |
| 1989 | 0.933 | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 0.941 | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 0.941 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.941 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.956 | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 0.956 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.956 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.956 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.956 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.963 | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 0.963 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.963 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.963 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.963 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.963 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.963 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.963 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.963 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.963 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.955 | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 0.955 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.955 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.955 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.955 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.948 | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 0.948 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.942 | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 0.942 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.955 | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 0.957 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 0.953 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 0.951 | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 0.948 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 0.938 | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 0.933 | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 0.883 | -5.4% |
| 2025 | 0.942 | +6.7% |
Korea compared with similar countries
- Korea's 0.942 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.932, 1.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Korea's 0.942 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.7075, 1.3× 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 | 0.1261 | 0.126 | 0.127 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.1274 | 0.126 | 0.128 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.1248 | 0.107 | 0.128 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.2555 | 0.08 | 0.486 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.5154 | 0.4 | 0.598 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.5751 | 0.555 | 0.681 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.5214 | 0.51 | 0.555 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.6912 | 0.563 | 0.933 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.9529 | 0.941 | 0.963 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9614 | 0.955 | 0.963 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.951 | 0.942 | 0.957 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9325 | 0.883 | 0.951 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Korea
More reference data data for Korea
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 0.0294 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure Management 1,158 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is individual liberties and equality before the law index in Korea?
- Individual liberties and equality before the law index in Korea was 0.942 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 Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 0.963 in 1998.
- What is the lowest individual liberties and equality before the law index recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.034 in 1849.
- How does Korea rank for individual liberties and equality before the law index?
- Korea ranks 23rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is individual liberties and equality before the law index rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this 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 — 237 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.