Topic 01 of 18 · Country Index 2026
North Korea: Governance & Institutions
How well is the state actually run?
North Korea is placed joint 191st of 194 countries on governance & institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Government Effectiveness -1.324 (2025); Corruption Perceptions Index 15 (2025).
Share
Governance & Institutions
joint191st
of 194 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
Not placed in the Country Index 2026 overall: measured on too few topics.
- -1.324Government Effectiveness, 2025Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
- —Statistical Performance Indicators, 2024No reading for this country
- 15Corruption Perceptions Index, 2025CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
- 0.003Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index, 2025Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place North Korea on governance & institutions — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
-1.324
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
Higher is better
North Korea: -1.324. Across the 209 countries in this edition, values run from -2.251 (South Sudan) to 2.092 (Singapore); the world median is 0.101.
- World median
- 0.101
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 2.041 Japan
- Land neighbours
- China 0.624 · South Korea 1.503 · Russia -0.501
Key 2 of 4
Statistical Performance Indicators
World Bank Group
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
SPI overall score (0–100)
Higher is better
World Bank Group publishes no 2024 figure for North Korea, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 188 countries in this edition, values run from 27.12 (South Sudan) to 94.14 (Norway); the world median is 69.3.
- World median
- 69.3
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 91.57 South Korea
- Land neighbours
- China 57.93 · South Korea 91.57 · Russia 81.5
Key 3 of 4
Corruption Perceptions Index
Transparency International
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
15
CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
Higher is better
Ranked 172nd of 181 by Transparency International
North Korea: 15. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 9 (Somalia) to 89 (Denmark); the world median is 39.
- World median
- 39
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 76 Hong Kong
- Land neighbours
- China 43 · South Korea 63 · Russia 22
Key 4 of 4
Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.003
Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
Higher is better
North Korea: 0.003. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.003 (Nicaragua) to 0.988 (Australia); the world median is 0.676.
- World median
- 0.676
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 0.881 Japan
- Land neighbours
- China 0.03 · South Korea 0.872 · Russia 0.042
02Over time
Which way North Korea is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Government Effectiveness
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) · higher is better
North KoreaWorld median
North Korea rose from -2.43 in 2000 to -1.324 in 2025; the world median went from -0.397 to 0.101.
Every year’s figures
Year North Korea World median 2025 -1.32406 0.1006 2024 -1.32666 0.0098 2023 -1.32671 -0.0408 2022 -1.37978 -0.0305 2021 -1.51267 -0.0158 2020 -1.37345 -0.0171 2019 -1.37024 0.0150 2018 -1.51070 0.0159 2017 -1.48977 0.0158 2016 -1.48958 0.0225 2015 -1.49004 0.0038 2014 -1.48966 0.0194 2013 -1.78792 -0.0758 2012 -1.78777 -0.0839 2011 -1.39539 -0.1221 2010 -1.38851 -0.1145 2009 -1.72853 -0.1609 2008 -1.68883 -0.2134 2007 -1.95044 -0.3260 2006 -1.95092 -0.3310 2005 -1.95059 -0.3706 2004 -1.94179 -0.3140 2003 -2.48593 -0.4369 2002 -2.48409 -0.3366 2000 -2.42979 -0.3969 Corruption Perceptions Index
CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) · higher is better
North KoreaWorld median
North Korea rose from 8 in 2012 to 15 in 2025; the world median went from 37 to 39.
Every year’s figures
Year North Korea World median 2025 15 39.0 2024 15 40.0 2023 17 40.0 2022 17 39.5 2021 16 39.0 2020 18 40.0 2019 17 39.5 2018 14 38.0 2017 17 38.5 2016 12 38.0 2015 8 37.0 2014 8 38.0 2013 8 38.0 2012 8 37.0 Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index
Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1) · higher is better
North KoreaWorld median
North Korea fell from 0.004 in 2000 to 0.003 in 2025; the world median went from 0.647 to 0.676.
Every year’s figures
Year North Korea World median 2025 0.003 0.6760 2024 0.003 0.6645 2023 0.003 0.6590 2022 0.003 0.6600 2021 0.003 0.6580 2020 0.004 0.6645 2019 0.004 0.6560 2018 0.004 0.6485 2017 0.004 0.6550 2016 0.004 0.6520 2015 0.004 0.6700 2014 0.004 0.6515 2013 0.004 0.6550 2012 0.004 0.6750 2011 0.004 0.6680 2010 0.004 0.6640 2009 0.004 0.6580 2008 0.004 0.6590 2007 0.004 0.6630 2006 0.004 0.6590 2005 0.004 0.6580 2004 0.004 0.6480 2003 0.004 0.6480 2002 0.004 0.6470 2001 0.004 0.6530 2000 0.004 0.6465
03In context
North Korea beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 194 countries on governance & institutions, never a place within the region.
North Korea and the countries it borders
Standing among all 194; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Government EffectivenessGovernance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) | Statistical Performance IndicatorsSPI overall score (0–100) | Corruption Perceptions IndexCPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) | Judicial Constraints on the Executive IndexJudicial constraints on the executive index (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 South Koreacompare | =19th | 1.503 | 91.57 | 63 | 0.872 |
 China | 125th | 0.624 | 57.93 | 43 | 0.03 |
 Russia | 148th | -0.501 | 81.5 | 22 | 0.042 |
| North Korea | =191st | -1.324 | — | 15 | 0.003 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 194.
Placed either side on governance & institutions
The countries immediately above and below North Korea in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where North Korea is ahead of the world, and behind
19 more statistics filed under governance & institutions, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median3
Statistics on which North Korea does better than the middle country measured.
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.410098.4No earlier reading
North Korea: 100 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.
State Authority over TerritoryV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 95.399.8395.3▲ Improved since 2015
North Korea: 99.83 · world median 95.3 · Territory under effective state control (% of official territory). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 47.56 to 100; higher is better.
Meritocratic Appointment in the State AdministrationV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3091.1880.309▲ Improved since 2015
North Korea: 1.188 · world median 0.309 · Original latent estimate (≈ −2.9 to +3.6); higher = more appointments on merit. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.442 to 3.584; higher is better.
Position 44th of 176 · derived.
Behind the world median16
Statistics on which North Korea does worse than the middle country measured.
Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.3870.380.387▲ Improved since 2014
North Korea: 0.38 · world median 0.387 · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.137 to 0.749; higher is better.
Ranked 103rd of 192 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
State Capacity IndexJonathan K. Hanson (University of Michigan) and Rachel Sigman (Naval Postgraduate School) · 2015 · world median 0.4870.1980.487▲ Improved since 2005
North Korea: 0.198 · world median 0.487 · Latent estimate of state capacity (≈ −2.3 to +3.0, centred near 0); higher = a more capable state. Jonathan K. Hanson (University of Michigan) and Rachel Sigman (Naval Postgraduate School), 2015 edition, data for 2015.
Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.697; higher is better.
Position 106th of 166 · derived.
Political Corruption IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5180.670.518▼ Worsened since 2015
North Korea: 0.67 · world median 0.518 · Political corruption index (0–1; higher = more corrupt). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.004 to 0.968; lower is better.
Position 62nd of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.
State Fiscal Source of RevenueV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.179-0.0121.179▼ Worsened since 2015
North Korea: -0.012 · world median 1.179 · Original latent estimate (≈ −2.9 to +3.1); higher = broader taxation. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -1.716 to 3.135; higher is better.
Position 132nd of 176 · derived.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1921.1540.19▲ Improved since 2023
North Korea: 21.15 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 167th of 195 by Oxford Insights.
Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.102-1.486-0.102▲ Improved since 2015
North Korea: -1.486 · world median -0.102 · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.199 to 2.012; higher is better.
Position 196th of 211 · derived.
Rigorous and Impartial Public AdministrationV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.333-1.850.333▲ Improved since 2015
North Korea: -1.85 · world median 0.333 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +4.0); higher = a more rigorous and impartial administration. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.552 to 3.99; higher is better.
Position 164th of 176 · derived.
Equal Protection IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6510.0990.651▲ Improved since 2015
North Korea: 0.099 · world median 0.651 · Equal protection index (0–1); higher = rights and freedoms protected more equally across social groups and classes. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.027 to 0.986; higher is better.
Position 167th of 176 · derived.
V-Dem Electoral Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4970.0830.497No real change since 2015
North Korea: 0.083 · world median 0.497 · Electoral democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.016 to 0.913; higher is better.
Position 170th of 176 · derived.
Control of CorruptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.197-1.553-0.197▼ Worsened since 2015
North Korea: -1.553 · world median -0.197 · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.259; higher is better.
Position 205th of 211 · derived.
Neopatrimonial Rule IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4450.9670.445No real change since 2015
North Korea: 0.967 · world median 0.445 · Neopatrimonial rule index (0–1; higher = more personalised rule). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.008 to 0.989; lower is better.
Position 5th of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.
Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.022-2.125-0.022No real change since 2015
North Korea: -2.125 · world median -0.022 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.348 to 1.825; higher is better.
Position 204th of 206 · derived.
Liberal Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3530.0140.353No real change since 2015
North Korea: 0.014 · world median 0.353 · Liberal democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.009 to 0.884; higher is better.
Position 175th of 176 · derived.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.093-1.988-0.093No real change since 2015
North Korea: -1.988 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 208th of 209 · derived.
Civic Space RatingsCIVICUS · 2025 · world median 50.462.1750.46No earlier reading
North Korea: 2.17 · world median 50.46 · Civic space score (0–100). CIVICUS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.17 to 100; higher is better.
Position 198th of 198 · derived.
GovTech Maturity IndexWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.630.010.63No real change since 2022
North Korea: 0.01 · world median 0.63 · GTMI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.01 to 0.997; higher is better.
Position 196th of 196 · derived.
No current reading for North Korea
Agriculture Orientation Index, Bribery Incidence, Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Central Bank Independence Index, Child and Family Benefit Coverage, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Debt Service on External Debt, Disability Benefit Coverage, External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), Firms Expecting to Make Informal Payments to Public Officials, Foundational ID Ownership, General Government Consumption, Global Indicators of Regulatory Governance Score, Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Old-Age Pension Coverage, Open Data Inventory, Public Sector Employment, Public Sector Wage Bill, Senior Management Time Spent on Government Regulation, Social Protection Coverage, Statistical Performance Indicators, Trade Union Density and Women, Business and the Law. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Governance & Institutions among North Korea’s 10 topics
Governance & Institutions is North Korea’s 9th best-placed topic of 10. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Food & Agriculture49th of 1842/4 keys
- Energy51st of 1652/3 keys
- Work & Labour81st of 1824/4 keys
- Peace & Security94th of 1773/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing115th of 2003/4 keys
- Digital & Technology119th of 1983/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 121st of 1862/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience147th of 1933/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 191st of 1943/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties196th of 1983/4 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation, Education & Knowledge, Development & Human Capital, Gender & Equality, Mobility & Trade, Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on governance & institutions
The three countries placed highest of 194, and the leaders North Korea can most readily be measured against.
1
DenmarkNorthern Europe
1st of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
New ZealandAustralia and New Zealand
2nd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain, greyscale
3
SwedenNorthern Europe
3rd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Pieter Kuiper · Public domain, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan=10th4/4 keysThis page
North Korea=191st3/4 keys
Positions out of 194 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about North Korea and governance & institutions
08Questions
North Korea on governance & institutions: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does North Korea rank on governance & institutions?
North Korea is placed joint 191st of 194 countries on Governance & Institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Government Effectiveness, Corruption Perceptions Index and Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Government Effectiveness figure for North Korea?
-1.324 in 2025 (governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.101.
What is the latest Corruption Perceptions Index figure for North Korea?
15 in 2025 (cPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)), according to Transparency International. The world median in the same edition was 39.
How does North Korea compare with China on governance & institutions?
China is placed 125th of 194, and North Korea joint 191st. Government Effectiveness: China 0.624, North Korea -1.324; Corruption Perceptions Index: China 43, North Korea 15; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index: China 0.03, North Korea 0.003.
How have North Korea’s governance & institutions figures changed?
Government Effectiveness rose from -2.43 in 2000 to -1.324 in 2025; Corruption Perceptions Index rose from 8 in 2012 to 15 in 2025; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index fell from 0.004 in 2000 to 0.003 in 2025.
Which governance & institutions statistics are missing for North Korea?
No current reading is published for North Korea on Agriculture Orientation Index, Bribery Incidence, Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Central Bank Independence Index, Child and Family Benefit Coverage, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Debt Service on External Debt, Disability Benefit Coverage, External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), Firms Expecting to Make Informal Payments to Public Officials, Foundational ID Ownership, General Government Consumption, Global Indicators of Regulatory Governance Score, Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Old-Age Pension Coverage, Open Data Inventory, Public Sector Employment, Public Sector Wage Bill, Senior Management Time Spent on Government Regulation, Social Protection Coverage, Statistical Performance Indicators, Trade Union Density and Women, Business and the Law. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Governance is not democracy. Free elections, civil liberties and press freedom belong to the Democracy & Civil Liberties topic, and a country can place well on one and poorly on the other. How openly official data is published sits here as context, beside the statistical capacity that is a key. Nor does this topic measure the size of government or how much it spends — the share of the economy run by the state is published on this page as context, with no better end.
How the Governance & Institutions standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The governance & institutions method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Government Effectiveness — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Statistical Performance Indicators — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Corruption Perceptions Index — Transparency International, CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
- Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 19 statistics on this page come from 7 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
North Korea’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
- New Zealand — Karora derivative work: Inkey, Public domain
- Sweden — User:Pieter Kuiper, Public domain
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). North Korea: Governance & Institutions — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/north-korea/governance