What is clientelism index in Saudi Arabia?

Clientelism index in Saudi Arabia was 0.568 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest clientelism index recorded in Saudi Arabia?

The highest recorded value was 0.733 in 1789.

What is the lowest clientelism index recorded in Saudi Arabia?

The lowest recorded value was 0.55 in 1975.

How does Saudi Arabia rank for clientelism index?

Saudi Arabia ranks 72nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is clientelism index rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?

Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.

Where does this Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia

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

Saudi Arabia: Clientelism Index was 0.568 in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)

0.568

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

72nd

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.733

in 1789

All-time low

0.55

in 1975

Years of data

234

1789–2025

Clientelism Index in Saudi Arabia, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, clientelism index in Saudi Arabia stood at 0.568.

That represents a change of up 3.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, clientelism index in Saudi Arabia peaked at 0.733 in 1789 and was at its lowest, 0.55, in 1975.

That places Saudi Arabia 72nd 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 234 years of available data.

Clientelism Index in Saudi Arabia, year by year

Annual values for Clientelism Index in Saudi Arabia, 1789 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1789	0.733	—
1790	0.733	+0.0%
1791	0.733	+0.0%
1792	0.733	+0.0%
1793	0.733	+0.0%
1794	0.733	+0.0%
1795	0.733	+0.0%
1796	0.733	+0.0%
1797	0.733	+0.0%
1798	0.733	+0.0%
1799	0.733	+0.0%
1800	0.733	+0.0%
1801	0.733	+0.0%
1802	0.733	+0.0%
1803	0.733	+0.0%
1804	0.733	+0.0%
1805	0.733	+0.0%
1806	0.733	+0.0%
1807	0.733	+0.0%
1808	0.733	+0.0%
1809	0.733	+0.0%
1810	0.733	+0.0%
1811	0.733	+0.0%
1812	0.733	+0.0%
1813	0.733	+0.0%
1814	0.733	+0.0%
1815	0.733	+0.0%
1816	0.733	+0.0%
1817	0.733	+0.0%
1818	0.733	+0.0%
1822	0.671	-8.5%
1823	0.671	+0.0%
1824	0.671	+0.0%
1825	0.671	+0.0%
1826	0.671	+0.0%
1827	0.671	+0.0%
1828	0.671	+0.0%
1829	0.671	+0.0%
1830	0.671	+0.0%
1831	0.671	+0.0%
1832	0.671	+0.0%
1833	0.671	+0.0%
1834	0.671	+0.0%
1835	0.671	+0.0%
1836	0.671	+0.0%
1837	0.671	+0.0%
1838	0.671	+0.0%
1839	0.671	+0.0%
1840	0.671	+0.0%
1841	0.671	+0.0%
1842	0.671	+0.0%
1843	0.671	+0.0%
1844	0.671	+0.0%
1845	0.671	+0.0%
1846	0.671	+0.0%
1847	0.671	+0.0%
1848	0.671	+0.0%
1849	0.671	+0.0%
1850	0.671	+0.0%
1851	0.671	+0.0%
1852	0.671	+0.0%
1853	0.671	+0.0%
1854	0.671	+0.0%
1855	0.671	+0.0%
1856	0.671	+0.0%
1857	0.671	+0.0%
1858	0.671	+0.0%
1859	0.671	+0.0%
1860	0.671	+0.0%
1861	0.671	+0.0%
1862	0.671	+0.0%
1863	0.671	+0.0%
1864	0.671	+0.0%
1865	0.671	+0.0%
1866	0.671	+0.0%
1867	0.671	+0.0%
1868	0.671	+0.0%
1869	0.671	+0.0%
1870	0.671	+0.0%
1871	0.671	+0.0%
1872	0.671	+0.0%
1873	0.671	+0.0%
1874	0.671	+0.0%
1875	0.671	+0.0%
1876	0.671	+0.0%
1877	0.671	+0.0%
1878	0.671	+0.0%
1879	0.671	+0.0%
1880	0.671	+0.0%
1881	0.671	+0.0%
1882	0.671	+0.0%
1883	0.671	+0.0%
1884	0.671	+0.0%
1885	0.671	+0.0%
1886	0.671	+0.0%
1887	0.671	+0.0%
1888	0.671	+0.0%
1889	0.671	+0.0%
1890	0.671	+0.0%
1891	0.671	+0.0%
1892	0.671	+0.0%
1893	0.671	+0.0%
1894	0.671	+0.0%
1895	0.671	+0.0%
1896	0.671	+0.0%
1897	0.671	+0.0%
1898	0.671	+0.0%
1899	0.671	+0.0%
1900	0.671	+0.0%
1901	0.671	+0.0%
1902	0.671	+0.0%
1903	0.671	+0.0%
1904	0.671	+0.0%
1905	0.671	+0.0%
1906	0.671	+0.0%
1907	0.671	+0.0%
1908	0.671	+0.0%
1909	0.671	+0.0%
1910	0.671	+0.0%
1911	0.671	+0.0%
1912	0.671	+0.0%
1913	0.671	+0.0%
1914	0.671	+0.0%
1915	0.671	+0.0%
1916	0.671	+0.0%
1917	0.671	+0.0%
1918	0.671	+0.0%
1919	0.671	+0.0%
1920	0.671	+0.0%
1921	0.671	+0.0%
1922	0.671	+0.0%
1923	0.671	+0.0%
1924	0.671	+0.0%
1925	0.671	+0.0%
1926	0.671	+0.0%
1927	0.671	+0.0%
1928	0.671	+0.0%
1929	0.671	+0.0%
1930	0.671	+0.0%
1931	0.671	+0.0%
1932	0.671	+0.0%
1933	0.671	+0.0%
1934	0.671	+0.0%
1935	0.671	+0.0%
1936	0.671	+0.0%
1937	0.671	+0.0%
1938	0.671	+0.0%
1939	0.671	+0.0%
1940	0.671	+0.0%
1941	0.671	+0.0%
1942	0.671	+0.0%
1943	0.671	+0.0%
1944	0.671	+0.0%
1945	0.671	+0.0%
1946	0.671	+0.0%
1947	0.671	+0.0%
1948	0.671	+0.0%
1949	0.671	+0.0%
1950	0.671	+0.0%
1951	0.671	+0.0%
1952	0.671	+0.0%
1953	0.671	+0.0%
1954	0.591	-11.9%
1955	0.591	+0.0%
1956	0.591	+0.0%
1957	0.591	+0.0%
1958	0.591	+0.0%
1959	0.591	+0.0%
1960	0.591	+0.0%
1961	0.591	+0.0%
1962	0.591	+0.0%
1963	0.591	+0.0%
1964	0.591	+0.0%
1965	0.591	+0.0%
1966	0.591	+0.0%
1967	0.591	+0.0%
1968	0.591	+0.0%
1969	0.591	+0.0%
1970	0.591	+0.0%
1971	0.591	+0.0%
1972	0.591	+0.0%
1973	0.591	+0.0%
1974	0.591	+0.0%
1975	0.55	-6.9%
1976	0.55	+0.0%
1977	0.55	+0.0%
1978	0.55	+0.0%
1979	0.55	+0.0%
1980	0.55	+0.0%
1981	0.55	+0.0%
1982	0.55	+0.0%
1983	0.55	+0.0%
1984	0.55	+0.0%
1985	0.55	+0.0%
1986	0.55	+0.0%
1987	0.55	+0.0%
1988	0.55	+0.0%
1989	0.55	+0.0%
1990	0.55	+0.0%
1991	0.55	+0.0%
1992	0.55	+0.0%
1993	0.55	+0.0%
1994	0.55	+0.0%
1995	0.55	+0.0%
1996	0.55	+0.0%
1997	0.55	+0.0%
1998	0.55	+0.0%
1999	0.55	+0.0%
2000	0.55	+0.0%
2001	0.55	+0.0%
2002	0.55	+0.0%
2003	0.55	+0.0%
2004	0.55	+0.0%
2005	0.55	+0.0%
2006	0.55	+0.0%
2007	0.55	+0.0%
2008	0.55	+0.0%
2009	0.55	+0.0%
2010	0.55	+0.0%
2011	0.55	+0.0%
2012	0.55	+0.0%
2013	0.55	+0.0%
2014	0.55	+0.0%
2015	0.55	+0.0%
2016	0.55	+0.0%
2017	0.568	+3.3%
2018	0.568	+0.0%
2019	0.568	+0.0%
2020	0.568	+0.0%
2021	0.568	+0.0%
2022	0.568	+0.0%
2023	0.568	+0.0%
2024	0.568	+0.0%
2025	0.568	+0.0%

Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries

Saudi Arabia's 0.568 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.131, 4.3× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Saudi Arabia's 0.568 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.572, 99% of the median. (23 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.733	0.733	0.733	1
1790s	0.733	0.733	0.733	10
1800s	0.733	0.733	0.733	10
1810s	0.733	0.733	0.733	9
1820s	0.671	0.671	0.671	8
1830s	0.671	0.671	0.671	10
1840s	0.671	0.671	0.671	10
1850s	0.671	0.671	0.671	10
1860s	0.671	0.671	0.671	10
1870s	0.671	0.671	0.671	10
1880s	0.671	0.671	0.671	10
1890s	0.671	0.671	0.671	10
1900s	0.671	0.671	0.671	10
1910s	0.671	0.671	0.671	10
1920s	0.671	0.671	0.671	10
1930s	0.671	0.671	0.671	10
1940s	0.671	0.671	0.671	10
1950s	0.623	0.591	0.671	10
1960s	0.591	0.591	0.591	10
1970s	0.5705	0.55	0.591	10
1980s	0.55	0.55	0.55	10
1990s	0.55	0.55	0.55	10
2000s	0.55	0.55	0.55	10
2010s	0.5554	0.55	0.568	10
2020s	0.568	0.568	0.568	6

Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia

69 Ethiopia 0.574 compare
70 Sao Tome and Principe 0.573 compare
71 Bahrain 0.572 compare
73 Kazakhstan 0.565 compare
73 Morocco 0.565 compare
75 Mali 0.559 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for Saudi Arabia

Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1847 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.4 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.44 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1771 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.44 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6194 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2207 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.07 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.64 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9641 (2050)

All data for Saudi Arabia →

Frequently asked questions

What is clientelism index in Saudi Arabia?: Clientelism index in Saudi Arabia was 0.568 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest clientelism index recorded in Saudi Arabia?: The highest recorded value was 0.733 in 1789.
What is the lowest clientelism index recorded in Saudi Arabia?: The lowest recorded value was 0.55 in 1975.
How does Saudi Arabia rank for clientelism index?: Saudi Arabia ranks 72nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is clientelism index rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?: Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/clientelism-index/saudi-arabia/

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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.