North Korea was ranked 23rd in “Failed States Index”.
According to an American media specializing in foreign policy FP and a non-partisan research institute The Fund For Peace, the Failed States Index evaluated North Korea 95.1 points and ranked the country 23rd among 178 countries.
Since 2005, the two agencies have been annually presenting countries’ level by vulnerability by evaluating them under 12 different categories, including government control, human rights, civil order, economic condition, intervention of other states and more.
In 2005, North Korea was ranked 13th out of 146 countries, scoring 97.3 out of 120 points. The country has since secured its position among upper ranks of the index. This year’s score slightly decreased from last year’s 22nd rank with 95.5 points, but the country still stagnated among the upper group of the index.
By category, it scored +9 points in categories including Sharp and/or severe economic decline (9.3 points), Criminalization and/or delegitimisation of the state (9.8 points), Progressive deterioration of public services (9.5 points) and Widespread violation of human rights (9.7 points), putting the country in a “Warning Group”.
The first place went to Somalia with score of 113.9 points. The country’s spot was followed by Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Yemen, Afghanistan, Haiti, Central African Republic and Zimbabwe, all evaluated within top 10 ranks.
On the other side of the index, Finland was ranked at bottom, with 18.0 points, followed by other European countries like Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Denmark.
South Korea was ranked 157th with 35.4 points, and Japan was ranked 156th with 36.1 points, being considered “more failed state” than South Korea.
United States was ranked 159th with 33.5 points, and China was ranked 66th with 80.9 points.