North Korea ranks as the third least democratic country in the world in the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index, while The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journals Index of Economic Freedom places the country as the one with least economic freedom. According to the Press Freedom Index, North Korea has the second least free press in the world.
According to the Walk Free Foundation's Global Slavery Index, North Korea has the highest proportion of people in modern slavery. The Open Doors foundation's World Watch List lists the country as the worst persecutor of Christians in the world.
Economy
+Economy rankingsOrganizationSurveyYearPlaceOut ofValueThe Heritage Foundation/The Wall Street JournalIndex of Economic Freedom2023Overall score: 4.2 (Repressed)
Politics, law and military
+Political, law and military rankingsOrganizationSurveyYearPlaceOut ofValueTransparency InternationalCorruption Perceptions Index2024170 180Score: 15 (Highly corrupt)The Economist Intelligence UnitDemocracy Index2024165167Overall score: 1.08 (Authoritarian)Institute for Economics and PeaceGlobal Peace Index2023152 163GPI score: 2.942Global Terrorism Index2024140163No impact of terrorism in 2024Reporters Without BordersPress Freedom Index2024177 180Score: 20.66 (Very serious situation)Freedom HouseFreedom in the World2024187 195Score: 3 (Not free)Freedom of the Press2017198 199Score: 98 (Not free)
Science and technology +Science and technology rankingsOrganizationSurveyYearPlaceOut ofValue United Nations Public Administration NetworkE-Government Development Index2014149193EGDI: 0.2753E-Participation Index2014186193EPART: 0.0196E-Government Development Index2016153193Index: 0.2801
Society and quality of life +Social and quality of life rankingsOrganizationSurveyYearPlaceOut ofValueWalk Free FoundationGlobal Slavery Index2016 4.373% of the population in modern slaveryUnited Nations Development ProgramHuman Development Index199575 174HDI value: 0.766 (Medium human development)Fund for PeaceFragile States Index201637 179Total: 87.0 (High warning)Bertelsmann StiftungBertelsmann Transformation Index2022132137Average value: 2.14Foundation for the Advancement of LibertyWorld Index of Moral Freedom2016127160Index: 34.50 (Low Moral Freedom)International Food Policy Research InstituteGlobal Hunger Index202297121Score: 24.9 (Serious)Open DoorsWorld Watch List (most persecuted Christians)2025 Score: 98/100 (Extreme levels of persecution)
See also
Outline of North Korea International rankings of South Korea List of international rankings
References