What is the highest centralization of political power index recorded in South Korea?

The highest recorded value was 0.95 in 1789.

What is the lowest centralization of political power index recorded in South Korea?

The lowest recorded value was 0.054 in 2017.

How does South Korea rank for centralization of political power index?

South Korea ranks 145th out of 173 countries with data for 2025.

Is centralization of political power index rising or falling in South Korea?

Over the last ten years it is down 55.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.

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 Centralization of Political Power Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Centralization of Political Power Index in South Korea

Name: Centralization of Political Power 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: Centralization of Political Power Index was 0.086 in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)

0.086

Change on year

down 39.9%

World rank

145th

of 173 countries

All-time high

0.95

in 1789

All-time low

0.054

in 2017

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Centralization of Political Power Index in South Korea, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

South Korea recorded 0.086 for centralization of political power index in 2025.

The figure is down 39.9% on the previous year and down 55.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, centralization of political power index in South Korea peaked at 0.95 in 1789 and was at its lowest, 0.054, in 2017.

That places South Korea 145th out of 173 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 237 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.95	0.95	0.95	1
1790s	0.9428	0.941	0.95	10
1800s	0.941	0.941	0.941	10
1810s	0.941	0.941	0.941	10
1820s	0.941	0.941	0.941	10
1830s	0.941	0.941	0.941	10
1840s	0.941	0.941	0.941	10
1850s	0.941	0.941	0.941	10
1860s	0.941	0.941	0.941	10
1870s	0.941	0.941	0.941	10
1880s	0.941	0.941	0.941	10
1890s	0.9324	0.916	0.941	10
1900s	0.922	0.922	0.922	10
1910s	0.938	0.938	0.938	10
1920s	0.929	0.928	0.938	10
1930s	0.928	0.928	0.928	10
1940s	0.8753	0.631	0.93	10
1950s	0.67	0.621	0.718	10
1960s	0.7188	0.51	0.776	10
1970s	0.8429	0.734	0.876	10
1980s	0.6526	0.211	0.813	10
1990s	0.1486	0.082	0.211	10
2000s	0.0934	0.077	0.145	10
2010s	0.1383	0.054	0.191	10
2020s	0.1043	0.069	0.148	6

Countries ranked near South Korea

142 Japan 0.094 compare
143 Vanuatu 0.093 compare
144 Jamaica 0.087 compare
146 Canada 0.085 compare
147 South Africa 0.084 compare
148 Barbados 0.076 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 centralization of political power index in South Korea?: Centralization of political power index in South Korea was 0.086 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest centralization of political power index recorded in South Korea?: The highest recorded value was 0.95 in 1789.
What is the lowest centralization of political power index recorded in South Korea?: The lowest recorded value was 0.054 in 2017.
How does South Korea rank for centralization of political power index?: South Korea ranks 145th out of 173 countries with data for 2025.
Is centralization of political power index rising or falling in South Korea?: Over the last ten years it is down 55.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
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 Centralization of Political Power 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: Centralization of Political Power Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,802 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which the executive is unconstrained by the legislature, judiciary, electoral management body, and other oversight.