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Participatory Political Institutions Index in China

China: Participatory Political Institutions Index was 0.125 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
0.125
Change on year
up 19.0%
World rank
168th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.177
in 2003
All-time low
0.036
in 1969
Years of data
237
1789–2025

Participatory Political Institutions Index in China, 1789–2025

0.050.10.150.2178919072025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for participatory political institutions index in China is 0.125, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of up 19.0% on the previous year and down 8.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participatory political institutions index in China peaked at 0.177 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.036, in 1969.

That places China 168th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1780s 0.047 0.047 0.047 1
1790s 0.047 0.047 0.047 10
1800s 0.047 0.047 0.047 10
1810s 0.047 0.047 0.047 10
1820s 0.047 0.047 0.047 10
1830s 0.047 0.047 0.047 10
1840s 0.047 0.047 0.047 10
1850s 0.047 0.047 0.047 10
1860s 0.047 0.047 0.047 10
1870s 0.047 0.047 0.047 10
1880s 0.047 0.047 0.047 10
1890s 0.0517 0.046 0.063 10
1900s 0.0565 0.049 0.06 10
1910s 0.1157 0.06 0.141 10
1920s 0.134 0.127 0.156 10
1930s 0.1328 0.13 0.138 10
1940s 0.1335 0.102 0.137 10
1950s 0.0485 0.038 0.053 10
1960s 0.0396 0.036 0.044 10
1970s 0.0434 0.036 0.068 10
1980s 0.0929 0.089 0.104 10
1990s 0.1151 0.103 0.123 10
2000s 0.1583 0.135 0.177 10
2010s 0.1419 0.127 0.161 10
2020s 0.1197 0.105 0.127 6

Countries ranked near China

  1. 165 Cuba 0.134 compare
  2. 166 Hong Kong 0.131 compare
  3. 167 Qatar 0.128 compare
  4. 169 Iran 0.101 compare
  5. 169 Saudi Arabia 0.101 compare
  6. 171 Azerbaijan 0.097 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is participatory political institutions index in China?
Participatory political institutions index in China was 0.125 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest participatory political institutions index recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 0.177 in 2003.
What is the lowest participatory political institutions index recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 0.036 in 1969.
How does China rank for participatory political institutions index?
China ranks 168th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is participatory political institutions index rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Participatory Political Institutions 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

Indicator
Participatory Political Institutions Index
Source
V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
176 places, 29,844 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed

Central estimate of the extent to which citizens can engage in regional and local government, civil society organizations, and direct democracy.