Political Polarization Score in South Korea
South Korea: Political Polarization Score was 1.44 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.44
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
40th
of 174 countries
All-time high
1.92
in 1950
All-time low
-0.043
in 1990
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Political Polarization Score in South Korea, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 1.44 for political polarization score in 2025.
The figure is up 707.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, political polarization score in South Korea peaked at 1.92 in 1950 and was at its lowest, -0.043, in 1990.
That places South Korea 40th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Political Polarization Score in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 1.5 | — |
| 1901 | 1.5 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 1.5 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 1.5 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 1.82 | +21.5% |
| 1905 | 1.67 | -8.2% |
| 1906 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 1.81 | +8.3% |
| 1946 | 1.65 | -8.9% |
| 1947 | 1.65 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 1.65 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 1.2 | -27.2% |
| 1950 | 1.92 | +60.1% |
| 1951 | 1.92 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 1.92 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 1.56 | -18.8% |
| 1954 | 0.772 | -50.6% |
| 1955 | 0.736 | -4.7% |
| 1956 | 0.736 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.736 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.736 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.736 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.736 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.527 | -28.4% |
| 1962 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.527 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.776 | +47.2% |
| 1981 | 0.776 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.776 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.776 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.776 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.776 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.776 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.646 | -16.8% |
| 1988 | 0.29 | -55.1% |
| 1989 | -0.033 | -111.4% |
| 1990 | -0.043 | +30.3% |
| 1991 | -0.043 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | -0.043 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -0.043 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -0.043 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -0.043 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -0.043 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -0.043 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -0.043 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -0.043 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -0.043 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -0.043 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -0.043 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.071 | -265.1% |
| 2004 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.178 | +150.7% |
| 2015 | 0.178 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.637 | +257.9% |
| 2017 | 0.637 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.637 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.637 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.637 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.637 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.829 | +30.1% |
| 2023 | 0.855 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 1.44 | +68.2% |
| 2025 | 1.44 | +0.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.44 is above the median for high income countries, which is -0.532. (55 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.44 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -0.7055. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 1.62 | 1.5 | 1.82 | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.67 | 1.67 | 1.67 | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.67 | 1.67 | 1.67 | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.67 | 1.67 | 1.67 | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.63 | 1.2 | 1.81 | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.18 | 0.736 | 1.92 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.5479 | 0.527 | 0.736 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.527 | 0.527 | 0.527 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.6335 | -0.033 | 0.776 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.043 | -0.043 | -0.043 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0368 | -0.043 | 0.071 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3188 | 0.071 | 0.637 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9723 | 0.637 | 1.44 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is political polarization score in South Korea?
- Political polarization score in South Korea was 1.44 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest political polarization score recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.92 in 1950.
- What is the lowest political polarization score recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.043 in 1990.
- How does South Korea rank for political polarization score?
- South Korea ranks 40th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is political polarization score rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 707.9%. 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 Political Polarization Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which society is divided into hostile political camps, where political differences undermine social relationships and discourage interaction across ideological lines.