Democracy in South Korea
South Korea: Democracy was 4 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
17th
of 175 countries
All-time high
5
in 1988
All-time low
0
in 1961
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Democracy in South Korea, 1900–2025
Source: Episodes of Regime Transformation (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for democracy in South Korea is 4, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy in South Korea peaked at 5 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1961.
That places South Korea 17th out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Democracy in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 1 | — |
| 1901 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1946 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 1951 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1962 | 0 | — |
| 1963 | 2 | — |
| 1964 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 1966 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1982 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 5 | +150.0% |
| 1989 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 4 | -20.0% |
| 2002 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 3 | -25.0% |
| 2009 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 4 | +33.3% |
| 2016 | 5 | +25.0% |
| 2017 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 4 | -20.0% |
| 2019 | 3 | -25.0% |
| 2020 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 4 | +33.3% |
| 2025 | 4 | +0.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 4 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4, 1.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 4 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1, 4.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1910s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1920s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1930s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.5 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 1950s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.5 | 1 | 5 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.9 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.6 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.33 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 17 Australia 4 compare
- 17 Austria 4 compare
- 17 Barbados 4 compare
- 17 Belgium 4 compare
- 17 Bhutan 4 compare
- 17 Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 compare
- 17 Bulgaria 4 compare
- 17 Canada 4 compare
- 17 Cape Verde 4 compare
- 17 Chile 4 compare
- 17 Colombia 4 compare
- 17 Costa Rica 4 compare
- 17 Cyprus 4 compare
- 17 Czechia 4 compare
- 17 Denmark 4 compare
- 17 Ecuador 4 compare
- 17 Estonia 4 compare
- 17 Finland 4 compare
- 17 France 4 compare
- 17 Germany 4 compare
- 17 Ghana 4 compare
- 17 Iceland 4 compare
- 17 Ireland 4 compare
- 17 Israel 4 compare
- 17 Jamaica 4 compare
- 17 Japan 4 compare
- 17 Kenya 4 compare
- 17 Latvia 4 compare
- 17 Liberia 4 compare
- 17 Lithuania 4 compare
- 17 Luxembourg 4 compare
- 17 Malawi 4 compare
- 17 Malta 4 compare
- 17 Namibia 4 compare
- 17 Netherlands 4 compare
- 17 New Zealand 4 compare
- 17 North Macedonia 4 compare
- 17 Norway 4 compare
- 17 Panama 4 compare
- 17 Paraguay 4 compare
- 17 Portugal 4 compare
- 17 Sao Tome and Principe 4 compare
- 17 South Africa 4 compare
- 17 Spain 4 compare
- 17 Suriname 4 compare
- 17 Sweden 4 compare
- 17 Switzerland 4 compare
- 17 Taiwan 4 compare
- 17 Trinidad and Tobago 4 compare
- 17 Uruguay 4 compare
- 17 Vanuatu 4 compare
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 democracy in South Korea?
- Democracy in South Korea was 4 in 2025, according to Episodes of Regime Transformation (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest democracy recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5 in 1988.
- What is the lowest democracy recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1961.
- How does South Korea rank for democracy?
- South Korea ranks 17th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is democracy 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 Episodes of Regime Transformation (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy. 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
Political regime of a country using the classification by the Episodes of Regime Transformation-project. It distinguishes between hardening autocracies (score 0), stable autocracies (score 1), liberalizing autocracies (score 2), eroding democracies (score 3), stable democracies (score 4), and deepening democracies (score 5).