The 2007 Economic Freedom Index

Every year, the Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation, a D.C. think tank, compile what's known as the Economic Freedom Index. The Index, according to the Heritage Foundation's website, ranks 161 countries based on "10 freedoms–-from property rights to entrepreneurship."

As you may have guessed, the DPRK did not rank terribly high on this year's list.

Hong Kong, the country deemed "most free" this year, scored 89.3 out of a potential 100 points. To give a few more examples: the US came in at 82.0, Japan at 73.6, France at 66.1, and Venezuela at 47.7. Cuba, the nation ranked second "least free" scored a 29.7.

North Korea was ranked "most oppressed" or "least free." It scored a 3.0. That's right: a 3.0 out of 100, almost 27 points behind the next runner up. It's a score so low it makes the cigarette-based economies of state penitentiaries seem laissez-faire.