Engaged Society Score in South Africa
South Africa: Engaged Society Score was 1.9 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.9
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
33rd
of 176 countries
All-time high
2.34
in 1995
All-time low
-0.686
in 1948
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Engaged Society Score in South Africa, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for engaged society score in South Africa is 1.9, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 28.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, engaged society score in South Africa peaked at 2.34 in 1995 and was at its lowest, -0.686, in 1948.
South Africa ranks 33rd of 176 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Engaged Society Score in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0.017 | — |
| 1901 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.189 | +1011.8% |
| 1911 | 0.306 | +61.9% |
| 1912 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | -0.686 | -324.2% |
| 1949 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1951 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1953 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1954 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1955 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1961 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -0.686 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -0.392 | -42.9% |
| 1981 | -0.392 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -0.392 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -0.392 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -0.392 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -0.392 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -0.392 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -0.392 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -0.392 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -0.392 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.791 | -301.8% |
| 1991 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 1.01 | +27.6% |
| 1993 | 1.14 | +13.0% |
| 1994 | 1.58 | +38.8% |
| 1995 | 2.34 | +47.9% |
| 1996 | 2.34 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 2.34 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 2.34 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1.89 | -19.2% |
| 2000 | 1.89 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1.89 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.89 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1.89 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.89 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.89 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.89 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.89 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1.89 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.83 | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 1.83 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.83 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.83 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.48 | -19.2% |
| 2014 | 1.48 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.48 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.59 | +7.4% |
| 2017 | 1.5 | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 1.57 | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 1.57 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.86 | +18.5% |
| 2021 | 1.86 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.78 | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 1.78 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 1.9 | +6.9% |
| 2025 | 1.9 | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.9 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.7405, 2.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.9 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.558, 3.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.017 | 0.017 | 0.017 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.2943 | 0.189 | 0.306 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.306 | 0.306 | 0.306 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.306 | 0.306 | 0.306 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.1076 | -0.686 | 0.306 | 10 |
| 1950s | -0.686 | -0.686 | -0.686 | 10 |
| 1960s | -0.686 | -0.686 | -0.686 | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.686 | -0.686 | -0.686 | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.392 | -0.392 | -0.392 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.66 | 0.791 | 2.34 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.88 | 1.83 | 1.89 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.62 | 1.48 | 1.83 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.85 | 1.78 | 1.9 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is engaged society score in South Africa?
- Engaged society score in South Africa was 1.9 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest engaged society score recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.34 in 1995.
- What is the lowest engaged society score recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.686 in 1948.
- How does South Africa rank for engaged society score?
- South Africa ranks 33rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is engaged society score rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Engaged Society Score. 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
Central estimate of the extent to which ordinary people independently discuss important policy changes among themselves, in the media, in associations or neighborhoods, or in the streets.