Political Polarization Score in China
China: Political Polarization Score was -0.11 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-0.11
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
98th
of 174 countries
All-time high
2.6
in 1966
All-time low
-1.07
in 2005
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Political Polarization Score in China, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for political polarization score in China is -0.11, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 87.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, political polarization score in China peaked at 2.6 in 1966 and was at its lowest, -1.07, in 2005.
That places China 98th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Political Polarization Score in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 1.07 | — |
| 1901 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 2.6 | +144.1% |
| 1911 | 2.6 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 1.73 | -33.4% |
| 1913 | 1.9 | +9.6% |
| 1914 | 1.9 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 1.9 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 1.9 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 1.9 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 1.7 | -10.4% |
| 1919 | 1.7 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 1.56 | -8.4% |
| 1921 | 1.56 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 1.56 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 1.56 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 1.56 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 2.07 | +32.9% |
| 1926 | 2.07 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 2.07 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 2.25 | +8.5% |
| 1929 | 2.25 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 2.25 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 2.25 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 2.25 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 2.5 | +11.4% |
| 1934 | 2.5 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 2.5 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 2.5 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 1.84 | -26.3% |
| 1938 | 0.577 | -68.7% |
| 1939 | 0.577 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 1.55 | +168.5% |
| 1941 | 1.55 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 1.55 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 1.55 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 1.87 | +20.6% |
| 1945 | 1.87 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 2.52 | +34.9% |
| 1947 | 2.52 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 2.52 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 2.03 | -19.4% |
| 1950 | 0.132 | -93.5% |
| 1951 | 0.523 | +296.2% |
| 1952 | 0.523 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.523 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.71 | +35.8% |
| 1955 | 0.71 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.71 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.333 | -53.1% |
| 1958 | 0.333 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.333 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.333 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.333 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.834 | +150.5% |
| 1963 | 0.834 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.834 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1.02 | +22.7% |
| 1966 | 2.6 | +154.6% |
| 1967 | 2.6 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 2.6 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 2.6 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 2.21 | -15.3% |
| 1971 | 2.21 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 2.21 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 2.21 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1.95 | -11.7% |
| 1975 | 1.95 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1.62 | -16.7% |
| 1977 | 0.455 | -71.9% |
| 1978 | 0.455 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | -0.663 | -245.7% |
| 1980 | -0.969 | +46.2% |
| 1981 | -0.969 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -0.969 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -0.969 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -0.969 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -0.969 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -0.969 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -0.969 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -0.969 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.532 | -154.9% |
| 1990 | -0.24 | -145.1% |
| 1991 | -0.397 | +65.4% |
| 1992 | -0.397 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -0.809 | +103.8% |
| 1994 | -0.809 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -0.911 | +12.6% |
| 1996 | -0.911 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -0.911 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -0.911 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -0.911 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -0.911 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -0.911 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -0.911 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -0.911 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.911 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -1.07 | +17.1% |
| 2006 | -1.07 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -1.07 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -0.834 | -21.8% |
| 2009 | -0.664 | -20.4% |
| 2010 | -0.953 | +43.5% |
| 2011 | -0.953 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -0.953 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -0.85 | -10.8% |
| 2014 | -0.85 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -0.85 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -0.85 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -0.656 | -22.8% |
| 2018 | -0.656 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -0.656 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | -0.999 | +52.3% |
| 2021 | -0.692 | -30.7% |
| 2022 | -0.692 | -0.0% |
| 2023 | -0.11 | -84.1% |
| 2024 | -0.11 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | -0.11 | -0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's -0.11 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.6285. (48 countries reporting)
- China's -0.11 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -0.7055, 16% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 1.07 | 1.07 | 1.07 | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.98 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.85 | 1.56 | 2.25 | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.97 | 0.577 | 2.5 | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.95 | 1.55 | 2.52 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.483 | 0.132 | 0.71 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.46 | 0.333 | 2.6 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.46 | -0.663 | 2.21 | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.8189 | -0.969 | 0.532 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.7207 | -0.911 | -0.24 | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.9254 | -1.07 | -0.664 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.8227 | -0.953 | -0.656 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.4522 | -0.999 | -0.11 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is political polarization score in China?
- Political polarization score in China was -0.11 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest political polarization score recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.6 in 1966.
- What is the lowest political polarization score recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.07 in 2005.
- How does China rank for political polarization score?
- China ranks 98th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is political polarization score rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 87.1%. 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 Political Polarization 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 society is divided into hostile political camps, where political differences undermine social relationships and discourage interaction across ideological lines.