Clientelism Index in United States
United States: Clientelism Index was 0.105 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.105
Change on year
up 8.2%
World rank
152nd
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.932
in 1883
All-time low
0.062
in 2013
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Clientelism Index in United States, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for clientelism index in United States is 0.105, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 8.2% on the previous year and up 45.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, clientelism index in United States peaked at 0.932 in 1883 and was at its lowest, 0.062, in 2013.
United States ranks 152nd 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.
Clientelism Index in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.418 | — |
| 1790 | 0.415 | -0.7% |
| 1791 | 0.414 | -0.2% |
| 1792 | 0.42 | +1.4% |
| 1793 | 0.422 | +0.5% |
| 1794 | 0.42 | -0.5% |
| 1795 | 0.415 | -1.2% |
| 1796 | 0.414 | -0.2% |
| 1797 | 0.411 | -0.7% |
| 1798 | 0.41 | -0.2% |
| 1799 | 0.41 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.421 | +2.7% |
| 1801 | 0.426 | +1.2% |
| 1802 | 0.424 | -0.5% |
| 1803 | 0.423 | -0.2% |
| 1804 | 0.413 | -2.4% |
| 1805 | 0.409 | -1.0% |
| 1806 | 0.415 | +1.5% |
| 1807 | 0.417 | +0.5% |
| 1808 | 0.412 | -1.2% |
| 1809 | 0.41 | -0.5% |
| 1810 | 0.43 | +4.9% |
| 1811 | 0.439 | +2.1% |
| 1812 | 0.43 | -2.1% |
| 1813 | 0.416 | -3.3% |
| 1814 | 0.408 | -1.9% |
| 1815 | 0.404 | -1.0% |
| 1816 | 0.625 | +54.7% |
| 1817 | 0.62 | -0.8% |
| 1818 | 0.618 | -0.3% |
| 1819 | 0.617 | -0.2% |
| 1820 | 0.618 | +0.2% |
| 1821 | 0.619 | +0.2% |
| 1822 | 0.62 | +0.2% |
| 1823 | 0.621 | +0.2% |
| 1824 | 0.629 | +1.3% |
| 1825 | 0.636 | +1.1% |
| 1826 | 0.626 | -1.6% |
| 1827 | 0.616 | -1.6% |
| 1828 | 0.613 | -0.5% |
| 1829 | 0.892 | +45.5% |
| 1830 | 0.894 | +0.2% |
| 1831 | 0.896 | +0.2% |
| 1832 | 0.896 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.896 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.894 | -0.2% |
| 1835 | 0.892 | -0.2% |
| 1836 | 0.895 | +0.3% |
| 1837 | 0.897 | +0.2% |
| 1838 | 0.896 | -0.1% |
| 1839 | 0.894 | -0.2% |
| 1840 | 0.897 | +0.3% |
| 1841 | 0.9 | +0.3% |
| 1842 | 0.898 | -0.2% |
| 1843 | 0.896 | -0.2% |
| 1844 | 0.419 | -53.2% |
| 1845 | 0.417 | -0.5% |
| 1846 | 0.419 | +0.5% |
| 1847 | 0.421 | +0.5% |
| 1848 | 0.424 | +0.7% |
| 1849 | 0.428 | +0.9% |
| 1850 | 0.897 | +109.6% |
| 1851 | 0.897 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.898 | +0.1% |
| 1853 | 0.899 | +0.1% |
| 1854 | 0.898 | -0.1% |
| 1855 | 0.896 | -0.2% |
| 1856 | 0.894 | -0.2% |
| 1857 | 0.891 | -0.3% |
| 1858 | 0.897 | +0.7% |
| 1859 | 0.904 | +0.8% |
| 1860 | 0.902 | -0.2% |
| 1861 | 0.402 | -55.4% |
| 1862 | 0.413 | +2.7% |
| 1863 | 0.422 | +2.2% |
| 1864 | 0.426 | +0.9% |
| 1865 | 0.429 | +0.7% |
| 1866 | 0.493 | +14.9% |
| 1867 | 0.492 | -0.2% |
| 1868 | 0.49 | -0.4% |
| 1869 | 0.489 | -0.2% |
| 1870 | 0.489 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.489 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.49 | +0.2% |
| 1873 | 0.497 | +1.4% |
| 1874 | 0.497 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.498 | +0.2% |
| 1876 | 0.498 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.495 | -0.6% |
| 1878 | 0.929 | +87.7% |
| 1879 | 0.928 | -0.1% |
| 1880 | 0.929 | +0.1% |
| 1881 | 0.931 | +0.2% |
| 1882 | 0.931 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.932 | +0.1% |
| 1884 | 0.931 | -0.1% |
| 1885 | 0.924 | -0.8% |
| 1886 | 0.925 | +0.1% |
| 1887 | 0.932 | +0.8% |
| 1888 | 0.931 | -0.1% |
| 1889 | 0.927 | -0.4% |
| 1890 | 0.927 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.927 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.928 | +0.1% |
| 1893 | 0.93 | +0.2% |
| 1894 | 0.923 | -0.8% |
| 1895 | 0.884 | -4.2% |
| 1896 | 0.516 | -41.6% |
| 1897 | 0.5 | -3.1% |
| 1898 | 0.503 | +0.6% |
| 1899 | 0.518 | +3.0% |
| 1900 | 0.438 | -15.4% |
| 1901 | 0.442 | +0.9% |
| 1902 | 0.442 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.443 | +0.2% |
| 1904 | 0.443 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.441 | -0.5% |
| 1906 | 0.442 | +0.2% |
| 1907 | 0.445 | +0.7% |
| 1908 | 0.444 | -0.2% |
| 1909 | 0.444 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.445 | +0.2% |
| 1911 | 0.449 | +0.9% |
| 1912 | 0.449 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.451 | +0.4% |
| 1914 | 0.432 | -4.2% |
| 1915 | 0.437 | +1.2% |
| 1916 | 0.437 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.435 | -0.5% |
| 1918 | 0.435 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.443 | +1.8% |
| 1920 | 0.442 | -0.2% |
| 1921 | 0.44 | -0.5% |
| 1922 | 0.439 | -0.2% |
| 1923 | 0.434 | -1.1% |
| 1924 | 0.435 | +0.2% |
| 1925 | 0.444 | +2.1% |
| 1926 | 0.446 | +0.5% |
| 1927 | 0.457 | +2.5% |
| 1928 | 0.455 | -0.4% |
| 1929 | 0.445 | -2.2% |
| 1930 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.445 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.414 | -7.0% |
| 1933 | 0.362 | -12.6% |
| 1934 | 0.347 | -4.1% |
| 1935 | 0.359 | +3.5% |
| 1936 | 0.358 | -0.3% |
| 1937 | 0.354 | -1.1% |
| 1938 | 0.355 | +0.3% |
| 1939 | 0.361 | +1.7% |
| 1940 | 0.352 | -2.5% |
| 1941 | 0.353 | +0.3% |
| 1942 | 0.352 | -0.3% |
| 1943 | 0.345 | -2.0% |
| 1944 | 0.343 | -0.6% |
| 1945 | 0.365 | +6.4% |
| 1946 | 0.368 | +0.8% |
| 1947 | 0.362 | -1.6% |
| 1948 | 0.364 | +0.6% |
| 1949 | 0.375 | +3.0% |
| 1950 | 0.35 | -6.7% |
| 1951 | 0.279 | -20.3% |
| 1952 | 0.278 | -0.4% |
| 1953 | 0.273 | -1.8% |
| 1954 | 0.274 | +0.4% |
| 1955 | 0.279 | +1.8% |
| 1956 | 0.281 | +0.7% |
| 1957 | 0.287 | +2.1% |
| 1958 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.281 | -2.1% |
| 1960 | 0.283 | +0.7% |
| 1961 | 0.292 | +3.2% |
| 1962 | 0.29 | -0.7% |
| 1963 | 0.278 | -4.1% |
| 1964 | 0.287 | +3.2% |
| 1965 | 0.282 | -1.7% |
| 1966 | 0.282 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.285 | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 0.283 | -0.7% |
| 1969 | 0.27 | -4.6% |
| 1970 | 0.26 | -3.7% |
| 1971 | 0.236 | -9.2% |
| 1972 | 0.234 | -0.8% |
| 1973 | 0.222 | -5.1% |
| 1974 | 0.222 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.218 | -1.8% |
| 1976 | 0.215 | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 0.201 | -6.5% |
| 1978 | 0.199 | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 0.188 | -5.5% |
| 1980 | 0.162 | -13.8% |
| 1981 | 0.183 | +13.0% |
| 1982 | 0.181 | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 0.172 | -5.0% |
| 1984 | 0.172 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.176 | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 0.177 | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 0.178 | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 0.177 | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 0.123 | -30.5% |
| 1990 | 0.124 | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 0.127 | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 0.128 | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 0.12 | -6.3% |
| 1994 | 0.121 | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 0.127 | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 0.126 | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 0.117 | -7.1% |
| 1998 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.121 | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 0.124 | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 0.134 | +8.1% |
| 2002 | 0.135 | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 0.142 | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 0.14 | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 0.132 | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 0.125 | -5.3% |
| 2007 | 0.088 | -29.6% |
| 2008 | 0.087 | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 0.074 | -14.9% |
| 2010 | 0.071 | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 0.068 | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 0.064 | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 0.062 | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 0.063 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 0.072 | +14.3% |
| 2016 | 0.083 | +15.3% |
| 2017 | 0.078 | -6.0% |
| 2018 | 0.077 | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 0.076 | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 0.092 | +21.1% |
| 2021 | 0.106 | +15.2% |
| 2022 | 0.103 | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 0.107 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 0.097 | -9.3% |
| 2025 | 0.105 | +8.2% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 0.105 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.131, 80% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Clientelism Index in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | +109.6% | 0.428 | 0.897 |
| 1878 | +87.7% | 0.495 | 0.929 |
| 1861 | -55.4% | 0.902 | 0.402 |
| 1816 | +54.7% | 0.404 | 0.625 |
| 1844 | -53.2% | 0.896 | 0.419 |
| 1829 | +45.5% | 0.613 | 0.892 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.418 | 0.418 | 0.418 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.4151 | 0.41 | 0.422 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.417 | 0.409 | 0.426 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.5007 | 0.404 | 0.625 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.649 | 0.613 | 0.892 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.895 | 0.892 | 0.897 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.6119 | 0.417 | 0.9 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.8971 | 0.891 | 0.904 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.4958 | 0.402 | 0.902 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.581 | 0.489 | 0.929 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.9293 | 0.924 | 0.932 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.7556 | 0.5 | 0.93 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.4424 | 0.438 | 0.445 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.4413 | 0.432 | 0.451 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.4437 | 0.434 | 0.457 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.38 | 0.347 | 0.445 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.3579 | 0.343 | 0.375 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.2869 | 0.273 | 0.35 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.2832 | 0.27 | 0.292 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2195 | 0.188 | 0.26 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1701 | 0.123 | 0.183 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1228 | 0.117 | 0.128 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1181 | 0.074 | 0.142 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0714 | 0.062 | 0.083 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1017 | 0.092 | 0.107 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is clientelism index in United States?
- Clientelism index in United States was 0.105 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest clientelism index recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 0.932 in 1883.
- What is the lowest clientelism index recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.062 in 2013.
- How does United States rank for clientelism index?
- United States ranks 152nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is clientelism index rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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 — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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.