What is clientelism index in China?

Clientelism index in China was 0.195 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest clientelism index recorded in China?

The highest recorded value was 0.586 in 1913.

What is the lowest clientelism index recorded in China?

The lowest recorded value was 0.164 in 1950.

How does China rank for clientelism index?

China ranks 140th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is clientelism index rising or falling in China?

Over the last ten years it is down 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.

Where does this China data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Clientelism Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Clientelism Index in China

Name: Clientelism Index in China
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

China: Clientelism Index was 0.195 in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)

0.195

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

140th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.586

in 1913

All-time low

0.164

in 1950

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Clientelism Index in China, 1789–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2025, clientelism index in China stood at 0.195.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, clientelism index in China peaked at 0.586 in 1913 and was at its lowest, 0.164, in 1950.

China ranks 140th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 237 years of available data.

Clientelism Index in China, year by year

Annual values for Clientelism Index in China, 1789 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1789	0.469	—
1790	0.469	+0.0%
1791	0.469	+0.0%
1792	0.469	+0.0%
1793	0.469	+0.0%
1794	0.469	+0.0%
1795	0.469	+0.0%
1796	0.469	+0.0%
1797	0.469	+0.0%
1798	0.469	+0.0%
1799	0.469	+0.0%
1800	0.469	+0.0%
1801	0.469	+0.0%
1802	0.469	+0.0%
1803	0.469	+0.0%
1804	0.469	+0.0%
1805	0.469	+0.0%
1806	0.469	+0.0%
1807	0.469	+0.0%
1808	0.469	+0.0%
1809	0.469	+0.0%
1810	0.469	+0.0%
1811	0.469	+0.0%
1812	0.469	+0.0%
1813	0.469	+0.0%
1814	0.469	+0.0%
1815	0.469	+0.0%
1816	0.469	+0.0%
1817	0.469	+0.0%
1818	0.469	+0.0%
1819	0.469	+0.0%
1820	0.469	+0.0%
1821	0.469	+0.0%
1822	0.469	+0.0%
1823	0.469	+0.0%
1824	0.469	+0.0%
1825	0.469	+0.0%
1826	0.469	+0.0%
1827	0.469	+0.0%
1828	0.469	+0.0%
1829	0.469	+0.0%
1830	0.469	+0.0%
1831	0.469	+0.0%
1832	0.469	+0.0%
1833	0.469	+0.0%
1834	0.469	+0.0%
1835	0.469	+0.0%
1836	0.469	+0.0%
1837	0.469	+0.0%
1838	0.469	+0.0%
1839	0.469	+0.0%
1840	0.469	+0.0%
1841	0.469	+0.0%
1842	0.469	+0.0%
1843	0.469	+0.0%
1844	0.469	+0.0%
1845	0.469	+0.0%
1846	0.469	+0.0%
1847	0.469	+0.0%
1848	0.469	+0.0%
1849	0.469	+0.0%
1850	0.469	+0.0%
1851	0.469	+0.0%
1852	0.469	+0.0%
1853	0.469	+0.0%
1854	0.469	+0.0%
1855	0.469	+0.0%
1856	0.469	+0.0%
1857	0.469	+0.0%
1858	0.469	+0.0%
1859	0.469	+0.0%
1860	0.469	+0.0%
1861	0.469	+0.0%
1862	0.469	+0.0%
1863	0.469	+0.0%
1864	0.469	+0.0%
1865	0.469	+0.0%
1866	0.469	+0.0%
1867	0.469	+0.0%
1868	0.469	+0.0%
1869	0.469	+0.0%
1870	0.469	+0.0%
1871	0.469	+0.0%
1872	0.469	+0.0%
1873	0.469	+0.0%
1874	0.469	+0.0%
1875	0.469	+0.0%
1876	0.469	+0.0%
1877	0.469	+0.0%
1878	0.469	+0.0%
1879	0.469	+0.0%
1880	0.469	+0.0%
1881	0.469	+0.0%
1882	0.469	+0.0%
1883	0.469	+0.0%
1884	0.469	+0.0%
1885	0.469	+0.0%
1886	0.469	+0.0%
1887	0.469	+0.0%
1888	0.469	+0.0%
1889	0.469	+0.0%
1890	0.469	+0.0%
1891	0.469	+0.0%
1892	0.469	+0.0%
1893	0.469	+0.0%
1894	0.469	+0.0%
1895	0.469	+0.0%
1896	0.469	+0.0%
1897	0.469	+0.0%
1898	0.469	+0.0%
1899	0.469	+0.0%
1900	0.434	-7.5%
1901	0.434	+0.0%
1902	0.434	+0.0%
1903	0.434	+0.0%
1904	0.434	+0.0%
1905	0.434	+0.0%
1906	0.434	+0.0%
1907	0.434	+0.0%
1908	0.434	+0.0%
1909	0.434	+0.0%
1910	0.434	+0.0%
1911	0.428	-1.4%
1912	0.365	-14.7%
1913	0.586	+60.5%
1914	0.586	+0.0%
1915	0.586	+0.0%
1916	0.586	+0.0%
1917	0.586	+0.0%
1918	0.569	-2.9%
1919	0.56	-1.6%
1920	0.56	+0.0%
1921	0.558	-0.4%
1922	0.558	+0.0%
1923	0.558	+0.0%
1924	0.558	+0.0%
1925	0.558	+0.0%
1926	0.558	+0.0%
1927	0.29	-48.0%
1928	0.311	+7.2%
1929	0.285	-8.4%
1930	0.285	+0.0%
1931	0.285	+0.0%
1932	0.285	+0.0%
1933	0.285	+0.0%
1934	0.285	+0.0%
1935	0.285	+0.0%
1936	0.285	+0.0%
1937	0.285	+0.0%
1938	0.285	+0.0%
1939	0.285	+0.0%
1940	0.285	+0.0%
1941	0.285	+0.0%
1942	0.285	+0.0%
1943	0.285	+0.0%
1944	0.285	+0.0%
1945	0.285	+0.0%
1946	0.285	+0.0%
1947	0.285	+0.0%
1948	0.52	+82.5%
1949	0.522	+0.4%
1950	0.164	-68.6%
1951	0.164	+0.0%
1952	0.164	+0.0%
1953	0.164	+0.0%
1954	0.164	+0.0%
1955	0.164	+0.0%
1956	0.164	+0.0%
1957	0.164	+0.0%
1958	0.164	+0.0%
1959	0.164	+0.0%
1960	0.164	+0.0%
1961	0.164	+0.0%
1962	0.164	+0.0%
1963	0.164	+0.0%
1964	0.164	+0.0%
1965	0.164	+0.0%
1966	0.315	+92.1%
1967	0.315	+0.0%
1968	0.315	+0.0%
1969	0.315	+0.0%
1970	0.315	+0.0%
1971	0.315	+0.0%
1972	0.315	+0.0%
1973	0.315	+0.0%
1974	0.315	+0.0%
1975	0.315	+0.0%
1976	0.315	+0.0%
1977	0.24	-23.8%
1978	0.254	+5.8%
1979	0.288	+13.4%
1980	0.284	-1.4%
1981	0.284	+0.0%
1982	0.284	+0.0%
1983	0.284	+0.0%
1984	0.284	+0.0%
1985	0.284	+0.0%
1986	0.284	+0.0%
1987	0.284	+0.0%
1988	0.284	+0.0%
1989	0.281	-1.1%
1990	0.281	+0.0%
1991	0.281	+0.0%
1992	0.281	+0.0%
1993	0.281	+0.0%
1994	0.281	+0.0%
1995	0.281	+0.0%
1996	0.281	+0.0%
1997	0.281	+0.0%
1998	0.288	+2.5%
1999	0.288	+0.0%
2000	0.288	+0.0%
2001	0.288	+0.0%
2002	0.288	+0.0%
2003	0.288	+0.0%
2004	0.283	-1.7%
2005	0.186	-34.3%
2006	0.194	+4.3%
2007	0.189	-2.6%
2008	0.189	+0.0%
2009	0.189	+0.0%
2010	0.17	-10.1%
2011	0.17	+0.0%
2012	0.211	+24.1%
2013	0.239	+13.3%
2014	0.239	+0.0%
2015	0.21	-12.1%
2016	0.21	+0.0%
2017	0.194	-7.6%
2018	0.201	+3.6%
2019	0.216	+7.5%
2020	0.216	+0.0%
2021	0.172	-20.4%
2022	0.195	+13.4%
2023	0.195	+0.0%
2024	0.195	+0.0%
2025	0.195	+0.0%

China compared with similar countries

China's 0.195 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5145, 38% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
China's 0.195 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.4255, 46% of the median. (22 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.469	0.469	0.469	1
1790s	0.469	0.469	0.469	10
1800s	0.469	0.469	0.469	10
1810s	0.469	0.469	0.469	10
1820s	0.469	0.469	0.469	10
1830s	0.469	0.469	0.469	10
1840s	0.469	0.469	0.469	10
1850s	0.469	0.469	0.469	10
1860s	0.469	0.469	0.469	10
1870s	0.469	0.469	0.469	10
1880s	0.469	0.469	0.469	10
1890s	0.469	0.469	0.469	10
1900s	0.434	0.434	0.434	10
1910s	0.5286	0.365	0.586	10
1920s	0.4794	0.285	0.56	10
1930s	0.285	0.285	0.285	10
1940s	0.3322	0.285	0.522	10
1950s	0.164	0.164	0.164	10
1960s	0.2244	0.164	0.315	10
1970s	0.2987	0.24	0.315	10
1980s	0.2837	0.281	0.284	10
1990s	0.2824	0.281	0.288	10
2000s	0.2382	0.186	0.288	10
2010s	0.206	0.17	0.239	10
2020s	0.1947	0.172	0.216	6

Countries ranked near China

137 Malta 0.226 compare
138 Italy 0.218 compare
139 Slovenia 0.204 compare
141 Seychelles 0.184 compare
142 Greece 0.16 compare
143 Ireland 0.145 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

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)

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is clientelism index in China?: Clientelism index in China was 0.195 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest clientelism index recorded in China?: The highest recorded value was 0.586 in 1913.
What is the lowest clientelism index recorded in China?: The lowest recorded value was 0.164 in 1950.
How does China rank for clientelism index?: China ranks 140th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is clientelism index rising or falling in China?: Over the last ten years it is down 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this China data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Clientelism Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Clientelism Index in China. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/clientelism-index/china/

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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: 18 September 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.