Rule of Law Index in South Korea
South Korea: Rule of Law Index was 8 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Rule of Law Index in South Korea, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 8 for rule of law index in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is down 5.9% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rule of law index in South Korea peaked at 8.75 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 8, in 2025.
South Korea ranks 10th of 128 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Rule of Law Index in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 8.5 | — |
| 2007 | 8.25 | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 8.75 | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 8.5 | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 8.25 | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 8.25 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 8.25 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 8.5 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 8.5 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 8.5 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 8 | -5.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 8 is above the median for high income countries, which is 7, 1.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 8 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.5, 2.3× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.5 | 8.25 | 8.75 | 3 |
| 2010s | 8.35 | 8.25 | 8.5 | 5 |
| 2020s | 8.33 | 8 | 8.5 | 3 |
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 rule of law index in South Korea?
- Rule of law index in South Korea was 8 in 2025, according to Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest rule of law index recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 8.75 in 2009.
- What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 8 in 2025.
- How does South Korea rank for rule of law index?
- South Korea ranks 10th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rule of law index rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Rule of Law Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Indicates the extent to which political power is separated, the judiciary is independent, office abuse is prosecuted, and civil rights are enforced.