A list decoding method for a polar code includes generating a tree-type decoding graph for input codeword symbols; the generating a tree-type decoding graph including, generating a decoding path list to which a decoding edge is added based on a reliability of a decoding path, the decoding path list being generated such that, among decoding paths generated based on the decoding edge, decoding paths within a threshold number of critical paths survive within the decoding path list in an order of high likelihood probability, and determining an estimation value, which corresponds to a decoding path having a maximum likelihood probability from among decoding paths of the decoding path list, as an information word.