Civil society participation index in China
China: Civil society participation index was 0.219 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.219
Change on year
down 6.8%
World rank
160th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.482
in 2003
All-time low
0.059
in 1969
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Civil society participation index in China, 1789–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for civil society participation index in China is 0.219, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 6.8% on the previous year and down 38.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, civil society participation index in China peaked at 0.482 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.059, in 1969.
China ranks 160th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Civil society participation index in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.119 | — |
| 1790 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.169 | +42.0% |
| 1897 | 0.169 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.169 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.122 | -27.8% |
| 1900 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.138 | +13.1% |
| 1902 | 0.138 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.138 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.138 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.138 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.138 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.138 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.138 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.138 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.138 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.16 | +15.9% |
| 1912 | 0.244 | +52.5% |
| 1913 | 0.287 | +17.6% |
| 1914 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.285 | -0.7% |
| 1918 | 0.285 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.329 | +15.4% |
| 1920 | 0.304 | -7.6% |
| 1921 | 0.304 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.304 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.304 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.304 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.304 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.304 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.343 | +12.8% |
| 1928 | 0.268 | -21.9% |
| 1929 | 0.294 | +9.7% |
| 1930 | 0.272 | -7.5% |
| 1931 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.291 | +7.0% |
| 1937 | 0.291 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.303 | +4.1% |
| 1939 | 0.293 | -3.3% |
| 1940 | 0.293 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.293 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.293 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.293 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.293 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.293 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.293 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.293 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.293 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.195 | -33.4% |
| 1950 | 0.106 | -45.6% |
| 1951 | 0.106 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.106 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.106 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.106 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.106 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.106 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.06 | -43.4% |
| 1958 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.077 | +28.3% |
| 1967 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.059 | -23.4% |
| 1970 | 0.059 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.059 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.059 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.076 | +28.8% |
| 1974 | 0.076 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.076 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.076 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.066 | -13.2% |
| 1978 | 0.082 | +24.2% |
| 1979 | 0.153 | +86.6% |
| 1980 | 0.209 | +36.6% |
| 1981 | 0.209 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.209 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.209 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.209 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.209 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.209 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.246 | +17.7% |
| 1988 | 0.246 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.216 | -12.2% |
| 1990 | 0.245 | +13.4% |
| 1991 | 0.253 | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 0.305 | +20.6% |
| 1993 | 0.287 | -5.9% |
| 1994 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.275 | -4.2% |
| 1996 | 0.308 | +12.0% |
| 1997 | 0.308 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.308 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.314 | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 0.344 | +9.6% |
| 2001 | 0.344 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.372 | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 0.482 | +29.6% |
| 2004 | 0.482 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.449 | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 0.449 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.449 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.455 | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 0.455 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.435 | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 0.435 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.435 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.389 | -10.6% |
| 2014 | 0.389 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.354 | -9.0% |
| 2016 | 0.342 | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 0.346 | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 0.323 | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 0.32 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 0.325 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 0.307 | -5.5% |
| 2022 | 0.304 | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 0.257 | -15.5% |
| 2024 | 0.235 | -8.6% |
| 2025 | 0.219 | -6.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 0.219 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.666, 33% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- China's 0.219 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.666, 33% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.119 | 0.119 | 0.119 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.119 | 0.119 | 0.119 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.119 | 0.119 | 0.119 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.119 | 0.119 | 0.119 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.119 | 0.119 | 0.119 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.119 | 0.119 | 0.119 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.119 | 0.119 | 0.119 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.119 | 0.119 | 0.119 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.119 | 0.119 | 0.119 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.119 | 0.119 | 0.119 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.119 | 0.119 | 0.119 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.1343 | 0.119 | 0.169 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.1364 | 0.122 | 0.138 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.2589 | 0.138 | 0.329 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.3033 | 0.268 | 0.343 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.281 | 0.272 | 0.303 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.2832 | 0.195 | 0.293 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.0922 | 0.06 | 0.106 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.065 | 0.059 | 0.077 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0782 | 0.059 | 0.153 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2171 | 0.209 | 0.246 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.289 | 0.245 | 0.314 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4281 | 0.344 | 0.482 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3768 | 0.32 | 0.435 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2745 | 0.219 | 0.325 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is civil society participation index in China?
- Civil society participation index in China was 0.219 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest civil society participation index recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 0.482 in 2003.
- What is the lowest civil society participation index recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.059 in 1969.
- How does China rank for civil society participation index?
- China ranks 160th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is civil society participation index rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Civil society participation index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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