North Korea, the Least Free Country in the World... Freedom Index Score 3 out of 100 Points

Freedom House Publishes 2024 World Freedom Report

North Korea received a score of 3 out of 100 in the 'Freedom Index' evaluation by international human rights organizations, the same as last year, ranking among the lowest in the world.

International human rights organization Freedom House published the '2024 World Freedom Report' on the 29th of last month (local time), evaluating North Korea in this manner.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, visited the Nampo Shipyard to inspect the status of warship construction, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 2nd.

Freedom House has been scoring and publishing how free each country is since 1973. North Korea has consistently ranked at the bottom.

North Korea received 0 points in the 'Political Rights' category, which is scored out of 40 points and evaluates election systems, pluralism and political participation, and government functioning.

In the 'Civil Liberties' category, scored out of 60 points and assessing freedom of expression and belief, freedom of assembly, legal system, personal autonomy, and rights, North Korea scored 3 points.

North Korea received 1 point each in evaluations concerning freedom to own property, freedom to choose marriage partners and family size, and freedom from economic exploitation.

Countries with lower scores than North Korea were Syria (1 point), South Sudan (1 point), and Turkmenistan (2 points), while Eritrea tied with North Korea at 3 points.

South Korea was rated as a 'Free Country' with a total score of 83, receiving 33 out of 40 points in the 'Political Rights' category and 50 out of 60 points in the 'Civil Liberties' category.

Freedom House classified countries into three categories in the report: 'Free', 'Partly Free', and 'Not Free'.

The report described North Korea as "a one-party state led by a dynastic totalitarian dictatorship," explaining that "surveillance is pervasive and arbitrary arrests and detentions are common."

It also added that North Korea maintains a political prison camp system where punishments for political crimes are severe, and torture, forced labor, starvation, and other brutal acts occur.