How does South Korea rank for individual liberties and equality before the law index?

South Korea ranks 23rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is individual liberties and equality before the law index 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 Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in South Korea

Name: Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law 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: 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 South Korea, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

South 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 South Korea peaked at 0.963 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 0.034, in 1849.

South 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.

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 South Korea

20 Australia 0.957 compare
21 Netherlands 0.95 compare
22 Italy 0.945 compare
24 Chile 0.94 compare
24 Slovenia 0.94 compare
26 France 0.938 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

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

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is individual liberties and equality before the law index in South Korea?: Individual liberties and equality before the law index in South 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 South Korea?: The highest recorded value was 0.963 in 1998.
What is the lowest individual liberties and equality before the law index recorded in South Korea?: The lowest recorded value was 0.034 in 1849.
How does South Korea rank for individual liberties and equality before the law index?: South Korea ranks 23rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is individual liberties and equality before the law index 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 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

Indicator: Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,494 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.