Stateness Index in North Korea

North Korea: Stateness Index was 8.75 in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
8.75
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
23rd
of 128 countries
All-time high
9.5
in 2007
All-time low
8.5
in 2021
Years of data
11
2005–2025

Stateness Index in North Korea, 2005–2025

02468102005201520252005: 9.22007: 9.52009: 9.22011: 92013: 92015: 92017: 92019: 92021: 8.52023: 8.52025: 8.8

Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for stateness index in North Korea is 8.75, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and down 2.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, stateness index in North Korea peaked at 9.5 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 8.5, in 2021.

That places North Korea 23rd out of 128 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.

Stateness Index in North Korea, year by year

Annual values for Stateness Index in North Korea, 2005 to 2025.
Year Value Change
2005 9.25 —
2007 9.5 +2.7%
2009 9.25 -2.6%
2011 9 -2.7%
2013 9 +0.0%
2015 9 +0.0%
2017 9 +0.0%
2019 9 +0.0%
2021 8.5 -5.6%
2023 8.5 +0.0%
2025 8.75 +2.9%

North Korea compared with similar countries

  • North Korea's 8.75 is above the median for low income countries, which is 5.5, 1.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
  • North Korea's 8.75 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.12, 1.1× the median. (14 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 9.33 9.25 9.5 3
2010s 9 9 9 5
2020s 8.58 8.5 8.75 3

Countries ranked near North Korea

  1. 23 Argentina 8.75 compare
  2. 23 Bulgaria 8.75 compare
  3. 23 United Arab Emirates 8.75 compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More reference data data for North Korea

All data for North Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is stateness index in North Korea?
Stateness index in North Korea was 8.75 in 2025, according to Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest stateness index recorded in North Korea?
The highest recorded value was 9.5 in 2007.
What is the lowest stateness index recorded in North Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 8.5 in 2021.
How does North Korea rank for stateness index?
North Korea ranks 23rd out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
Is stateness index rising or falling in North Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this North Korea data come from?
The figures come from Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Stateness Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Stateness Index in North Korea. Statizoid, drawing on Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/stateness-index-bti/korea-dem-people-s-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Stateness Index
Source
Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
128 places, 1,394 data points, 2005–2025
Last refreshed

Indicates the extent to which the state has the monopoly on the use of force, provides basic public services across the country, citizens accept the state as legitimate, religious dogmas do not interfere, and citizenship is accessible.