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

0.10.20.30.40.5178919072025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by 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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 157 Bahrain 0.245 compare
  2. 158 South Sudan 0.233 compare
  3. 159 Laos 0.229 compare
  4. 161 Egypt 0.212 compare
  5. 162 Russia 0.202 compare
  6. 163 Qatar 0.181 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is civil society participation index in China?
Civil society participation index in China was 0.219 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by 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 V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Civil Society Participation Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator
Civil Society Participation Index
Source
V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
176 places, 30,063 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed

Central estimate of the extent to which major civil society organizations are routinely consulted by policymakers, how many people are involved in them, women can participate, and candidate nomination for the legislature within parties is decentralized or made through primaries.