What is clientelism index in India?

Clientelism index in India was 0.453 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest clientelism index recorded in India?

The highest recorded value was 0.751 in 1789.

What is the lowest clientelism index recorded in India?

The lowest recorded value was 0.1 in 1934.

How does India rank for clientelism index?

India ranks 97th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is clientelism index rising or falling in India?

Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.

Where does this India 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 India

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

India: Clientelism Index was 0.453 in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)

0.453

Change on year

down 11.9%

World rank

97th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.751

in 1789

All-time low

0.1

in 1934

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Clientelism Index in India, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

India recorded 0.453 for clientelism index in 2025.

That represents a change of down 11.9% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, clientelism index in India peaked at 0.751 in 1789 and was at its lowest, 0.1, in 1934.

That places India 97th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Clientelism Index in India, year by year

Annual values for Clientelism Index in India, 1789 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1789	0.751	—
1790	0.751	+0.0%
1791	0.751	+0.0%
1792	0.751	+0.0%
1793	0.751	+0.0%
1794	0.751	+0.0%
1795	0.751	+0.0%
1796	0.751	+0.0%
1797	0.751	+0.0%
1798	0.751	+0.0%
1799	0.751	+0.0%
1800	0.751	+0.0%
1801	0.751	+0.0%
1802	0.751	+0.0%
1803	0.751	+0.0%
1804	0.751	+0.0%
1805	0.751	+0.0%
1806	0.751	+0.0%
1807	0.751	+0.0%
1808	0.751	+0.0%
1809	0.751	+0.0%
1810	0.751	+0.0%
1811	0.751	+0.0%
1812	0.751	+0.0%
1813	0.751	+0.0%
1814	0.751	+0.0%
1815	0.751	+0.0%
1816	0.751	+0.0%
1817	0.751	+0.0%
1818	0.751	+0.0%
1819	0.751	+0.0%
1820	0.751	+0.0%
1821	0.751	+0.0%
1822	0.751	+0.0%
1823	0.751	+0.0%
1824	0.751	+0.0%
1825	0.751	+0.0%
1826	0.751	+0.0%
1827	0.751	+0.0%
1828	0.751	+0.0%
1829	0.751	+0.0%
1830	0.751	+0.0%
1831	0.751	+0.0%
1832	0.751	+0.0%
1833	0.751	+0.0%
1834	0.751	+0.0%
1835	0.751	+0.0%
1836	0.751	+0.0%
1837	0.751	+0.0%
1838	0.751	+0.0%
1839	0.751	+0.0%
1840	0.751	+0.0%
1841	0.751	+0.0%
1842	0.751	+0.0%
1843	0.751	+0.0%
1844	0.751	+0.0%
1845	0.751	+0.0%
1846	0.751	+0.0%
1847	0.751	+0.0%
1848	0.751	+0.0%
1849	0.751	+0.0%
1850	0.751	+0.0%
1851	0.751	+0.0%
1852	0.751	+0.0%
1853	0.751	+0.0%
1854	0.751	+0.0%
1855	0.751	+0.0%
1856	0.751	+0.0%
1857	0.751	+0.0%
1858	0.751	+0.0%
1859	0.751	+0.0%
1860	0.751	+0.0%
1861	0.751	+0.0%
1862	0.751	+0.0%
1863	0.751	+0.0%
1864	0.751	+0.0%
1865	0.751	+0.0%
1866	0.751	+0.0%
1867	0.751	+0.0%
1868	0.751	+0.0%
1869	0.751	+0.0%
1870	0.751	+0.0%
1871	0.751	+0.0%
1872	0.751	+0.0%
1873	0.751	+0.0%
1874	0.751	+0.0%
1875	0.751	+0.0%
1876	0.751	+0.0%
1877	0.751	+0.0%
1878	0.751	+0.0%
1879	0.751	+0.0%
1880	0.751	+0.0%
1881	0.751	+0.0%
1882	0.751	+0.0%
1883	0.751	+0.0%
1884	0.751	+0.0%
1885	0.206	-72.6%
1886	0.206	+0.0%
1887	0.206	+0.0%
1888	0.206	+0.0%
1889	0.206	+0.0%
1890	0.206	+0.0%
1891	0.206	+0.0%
1892	0.206	+0.0%
1893	0.206	+0.0%
1894	0.206	+0.0%
1895	0.206	+0.0%
1896	0.206	+0.0%
1897	0.206	+0.0%
1898	0.206	+0.0%
1899	0.206	+0.0%
1900	0.206	+0.0%
1901	0.206	+0.0%
1902	0.206	+0.0%
1903	0.206	+0.0%
1904	0.206	+0.0%
1905	0.206	+0.0%
1906	0.206	+0.0%
1907	0.206	+0.0%
1908	0.206	+0.0%
1909	0.206	+0.0%
1910	0.206	+0.0%
1911	0.206	+0.0%
1912	0.206	+0.0%
1913	0.206	+0.0%
1914	0.206	+0.0%
1915	0.206	+0.0%
1916	0.206	+0.0%
1917	0.206	+0.0%
1918	0.206	+0.0%
1919	0.206	+0.0%
1920	0.192	-6.8%
1921	0.119	-38.0%
1922	0.119	+0.0%
1923	0.118	-0.8%
1924	0.11	-6.8%
1925	0.11	+0.0%
1926	0.111	+0.9%
1927	0.114	+2.7%
1928	0.114	+0.0%
1929	0.114	+0.0%
1930	0.115	+0.9%
1931	0.117	+1.7%
1932	0.117	+0.0%
1933	0.117	+0.0%
1934	0.1	-14.5%
1935	0.193	+93.0%
1936	0.193	+0.0%
1937	0.193	+0.0%
1938	0.193	+0.0%
1939	0.193	+0.0%
1940	0.193	+0.0%
1941	0.193	+0.0%
1942	0.193	+0.0%
1943	0.193	+0.0%
1944	0.193	+0.0%
1945	0.197	+2.1%
1946	0.238	+20.8%
1947	0.21	-11.8%
1948	0.23	+9.5%
1949	0.23	+0.0%
1950	0.23	+0.0%
1951	0.238	+3.5%
1952	0.272	+14.3%
1953	0.272	+0.0%
1954	0.272	+0.0%
1955	0.272	+0.0%
1956	0.272	+0.0%
1957	0.276	+1.5%
1958	0.277	+0.4%
1959	0.277	+0.0%
1960	0.277	+0.0%
1961	0.277	+0.0%
1962	0.277	+0.0%
1963	0.277	+0.0%
1964	0.277	+0.0%
1965	0.298	+7.6%
1966	0.298	+0.0%
1967	0.302	+1.3%
1968	0.365	+20.9%
1969	0.365	+0.0%
1970	0.365	+0.0%
1971	0.416	+14.0%
1972	0.426	+2.4%
1973	0.426	+0.0%
1974	0.426	+0.0%
1975	0.426	+0.0%
1976	0.426	+0.0%
1977	0.402	-5.6%
1978	0.396	-1.5%
1979	0.396	+0.0%
1980	0.453	+14.4%
1981	0.453	+0.0%
1982	0.453	+0.0%
1983	0.453	+0.0%
1984	0.454	+0.2%
1985	0.472	+4.0%
1986	0.472	+0.0%
1987	0.472	+0.0%
1988	0.472	+0.0%
1989	0.472	+0.0%
1990	0.469	-0.6%
1991	0.46	-1.9%
1992	0.455	-1.1%
1993	0.455	+0.0%
1994	0.455	+0.0%
1995	0.455	+0.0%
1996	0.46	+1.1%
1997	0.462	+0.4%
1998	0.463	+0.2%
1999	0.464	+0.2%
2000	0.466	+0.4%
2001	0.466	+0.0%
2002	0.466	+0.0%
2003	0.466	+0.0%
2004	0.467	+0.2%
2005	0.468	+0.2%
2006	0.491	+4.9%
2007	0.476	-3.1%
2008	0.476	+0.0%
2009	0.505	+6.1%
2010	0.516	+2.2%
2011	0.521	+1.0%
2012	0.513	-1.5%
2013	0.528	+2.9%
2014	0.546	+3.4%
2015	0.547	+0.2%
2016	0.547	+0.0%
2017	0.547	+0.0%
2018	0.547	+0.0%
2019	0.559	+2.2%
2020	0.546	-2.3%
2021	0.511	-6.4%
2022	0.481	-5.9%
2023	0.509	+5.8%
2024	0.514	+1.0%
2025	0.453	-11.9%

India compared with similar countries

India's 0.453 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.6325, 72% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
India's 0.453 is above the median for South Asia, which is 0.388, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.751	0.751	0.751	1
1790s	0.751	0.751	0.751	10
1800s	0.751	0.751	0.751	10
1810s	0.751	0.751	0.751	10
1820s	0.751	0.751	0.751	10
1830s	0.751	0.751	0.751	10
1840s	0.751	0.751	0.751	10
1850s	0.751	0.751	0.751	10
1860s	0.751	0.751	0.751	10
1870s	0.751	0.751	0.751	10
1880s	0.4785	0.206	0.751	10
1890s	0.206	0.206	0.206	10
1900s	0.206	0.206	0.206	10
1910s	0.206	0.206	0.206	10
1920s	0.1221	0.11	0.192	10
1930s	0.1531	0.1	0.193	10
1940s	0.207	0.193	0.238	10
1950s	0.2658	0.23	0.277	10
1960s	0.3013	0.277	0.365	10
1970s	0.4105	0.365	0.426	10
1980s	0.4626	0.453	0.472	10
1990s	0.4598	0.455	0.469	10
2000s	0.4747	0.466	0.505	10
2010s	0.5371	0.513	0.559	10
2020s	0.5023	0.453	0.546	6

Countries ranked near India

94 United Arab Emirates 0.457 compare
95 Gabon 0.454 compare
95 Tanzania 0.454 compare
98 Nepal 0.45 compare
99 Senegal 0.443 compare
100 Argentina 0.442 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for India

Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is clientelism index in India?: Clientelism index in India was 0.453 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest clientelism index recorded in India?: The highest recorded value was 0.751 in 1789.
What is the lowest clientelism index recorded in India?: The lowest recorded value was 0.1 in 1934.
How does India rank for clientelism index?: India ranks 97th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is clientelism index rising or falling in India?: Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this India 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 India. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/clientelism-index/india/

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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.