What is the highest strong elected local governments index recorded in South Korea?

The highest recorded value was 0.988 in 2013.

What is the lowest strong elected local governments index recorded in South Korea?

The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1895.

How does South Korea rank for strong elected local governments index?

South Korea ranks 14th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.

Is strong elected local governments index 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 V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Strong Elected Local Governments Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Strong Elected Local Governments Index in South Korea

Name: Strong Elected Local Governments Index in South Korea
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

South Korea: Strong Elected Local Governments Index was 0.988 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.988

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

14th

of 175 countries

All-time high

0.988

in 2013

All-time low

in 1895

Years of data

128

1895–2025

Strong Elected Local Governments Index in South Korea, 1895–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

South Korea recorded 0.988 for strong elected local governments index in 2025. That is the highest value across all 128 years on record.

The figure is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, strong elected local governments index in South Korea peaked at 0.988 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1895.

South Korea ranks 14th of 175 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1890s	0	0	0	5
1900s	0.004	0.004	0.004	10
1910s	0.004	0.004	0.004	10
1920s	0.004	0.004	0.004	10
1930s	0.004	0.004	0.004	10
1940s	0.004	0.004	0.004	7
1950s	0.4186	0.237	0.464	10
1960s	0.1067	0.067	0.464	10
1970s	0.067	0.067	0.067	10
1980s	0.071	0.005	0.225	10
1990s	0.7168	0.225	0.977	10
2000s	0.977	0.977	0.977	10
2010s	0.9847	0.977	0.988	10
2020s	0.988	0.988	0.988	6

Countries ranked near South Korea

11 Japan 0.991 compare
12 Sri Lanka 0.99 compare
13 Colombia 0.989 compare
14 Croatia 0.988 compare
14 France 0.988 compare
14 Latvia 0.988 compare
14 Slovakia 0.988 compare

See the full ranking of 175 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 strong elected local governments index in South Korea?: Strong elected local governments index in South Korea was 0.988 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest strong elected local governments index recorded in South Korea?: The highest recorded value was 0.988 in 2013.
What is the lowest strong elected local governments index recorded in South Korea?: The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1895.
How does South Korea rank for strong elected local governments index?: South Korea ranks 14th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is strong elected local governments index 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 V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Strong Elected Local Governments Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 128 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Strong Elected Local Governments Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 175 places, 25,933 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which elected local governments exist, and they operate without interference from local unelected bodies.