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.

Political Polarization Score in South Korea

Name: Political Polarization Score in South Korea
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

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.

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

37 Burkina Faso 1.53 compare
38 El Salvador 1.53 compare
39 Somalia 1.45 compare
41 France 1.43 compare
42 Slovakia 1.42 compare
43 Serbia 1.37 compare

See the full ranking of 174 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 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

Indicator: Political Polarization Score
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 174 places, 20,575 data points, 1900–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.