What is clientelism index in South Africa?

Clientelism index in South Africa was 0.259 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest clientelism index recorded in South Africa?

The highest recorded value was 0.504 in 1988.

What is the lowest clientelism index recorded in South Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 0.245 in 2021.

How does South Africa rank for clientelism index?

South Africa ranks 132nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is clientelism index rising or falling in South Africa?

Over the last ten years it is down 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.

Where does this South Africa 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 South Africa

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

South Africa: Clientelism Index was 0.259 in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)

0.259

Change on year

down 2.3%

World rank

132nd

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.504

in 1988

All-time low

0.245

in 2021

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Clientelism Index in South Africa, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

South Africa recorded 0.259 for clientelism index in 2025.

The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 23.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, clientelism index in South Africa peaked at 0.504 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 0.245, in 2021.

South Africa ranks 132nd of 176 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 126 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.382	0.382	0.382	10
1910s	0.3393	0.311	0.395	10
1920s	0.3454	0.337	0.354	10
1930s	0.3345	0.333	0.336	10
1940s	0.3595	0.333	0.454	10
1950s	0.4435	0.437	0.454	10
1960s	0.4426	0.437	0.447	10
1970s	0.4452	0.44	0.451	10
1980s	0.4541	0.438	0.504	10
1990s	0.3451	0.308	0.391	10
2000s	0.3045	0.296	0.313	10
2010s	0.3283	0.314	0.338	10
2020s	0.2648	0.245	0.303	6

Countries ranked near South Africa

129 Jamaica 0.297 compare
130 Palestine 0.284 compare
131 Barbados 0.28 compare
133 Croatia 0.252 compare
134 Taiwan 0.236 compare
135 Cyprus 0.232 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

Spring temperature anomalies 0.191 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 1.36 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 0.6318 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 1.18 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 0.2153 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 209.92 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is clientelism index in South Africa?: Clientelism index in South Africa was 0.259 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest clientelism index recorded in South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 0.504 in 1988.
What is the lowest clientelism index recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 0.245 in 2021.
How does South Africa rank for clientelism index?: South Africa ranks 132nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is clientelism index rising or falling in South Africa?: Over the last ten years it is down 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

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: 07 August 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.