Which has higher clientelism index, Jamaica or South Africa?

Jamaica, at 0.297 against 0.259 in South Africa as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Jamaica and South Africa?

126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Clientelism Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Jamaica vs South Africa: Clientelism Index

Jamaica

0.297

in 2025

South Africa

0.259

in 2025

Jamaica rank

129th

South Africa rank

132nd

Clientelism Index over time

Jamaica
South Africa

How they compare

Jamaica currently reports 0.297 against 0.259 in South Africa, a difference of 0.038.

That makes Jamaica's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was South Africa ahead.

Jamaica ranks 129th and South Africa ranks 132nd of 176 countries.

Jamaica has averaged higher in every one of the 13 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Jamaica	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.3837	0.382	0.0017	Jamaica
1910s	0.3762	0.3393	0.0369	Jamaica
1920s	0.37	0.3454	0.0246	Jamaica
1930s	0.3725	0.3345	0.038	Jamaica
1940s	0.513	0.3595	0.1535	Jamaica
1950s	0.647	0.4435	0.2035	Jamaica
1960s	0.6572	0.4426	0.2146	Jamaica
1970s	0.6482	0.4452	0.203	Jamaica
1980s	0.6529	0.4541	0.1988	Jamaica
1990s	0.5544	0.3451	0.2093	Jamaica
2000s	0.5302	0.3045	0.2257	Jamaica
2010s	0.5676	0.3283	0.2393	Jamaica
2020s	0.4437	0.2648	0.1788	Jamaica

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher clientelism index, Jamaica or South Africa?: Jamaica, at 0.297 against 0.259 in South Africa as of 2025.
What is the difference in clientelism index between Jamaica and South Africa?: 0.038, with Jamaica ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Jamaica and South Africa?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Jamaica and South Africa rank globally for clientelism index?: Jamaica ranks 129th and South Africa ranks 132nd of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Clientelism Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Clientelism Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 24,366 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Composite index measuring the extent to which politics hinge on clientelistic exchanges of targeted goods, jobs, or cash for electoral support; higher values denote more pervasive clientelism.