Political Polarization Score in United States
United States: Political Polarization Score was 2.3 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.3
Change on year
up 18.7%
World rank
16th
of 174 countries
All-time high
2.3
in 2025
All-time low
-1.54
in 1949
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Political Polarization Score in United States, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for political polarization score in United States is 2.3, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 126 years on record.
The figure is up 18.7% on the previous year and up 360.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, political polarization score in United States peaked at 2.3 in 2025 and was at its lowest, -1.54, in 1949.
United States ranks 16th of 174 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Political Polarization Score in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -1.2 | — |
| 1901 | -1.01 | -15.2% |
| 1902 | -1.21 | +19.2% |
| 1903 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -1.02 | -15.9% |
| 1913 | -1.21 | +18.6% |
| 1914 | -1.27 | +5.5% |
| 1915 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -1.09 | -14.6% |
| 1918 | -1.01 | -6.7% |
| 1919 | -1.01 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -1.04 | +2.2% |
| 1921 | -1.31 | +26.6% |
| 1922 | -1.31 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -1.31 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -1.32 | +0.7% |
| 1925 | -1.14 | -13.9% |
| 1926 | -1.14 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -1.14 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -1.14 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -1.14 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -1.2 | +5.4% |
| 1931 | -1.2 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -0.856 | -28.7% |
| 1933 | -0.856 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -0.856 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -0.856 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -0.856 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -0.856 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -0.856 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -0.856 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -0.997 | +16.5% |
| 1941 | -1.45 | +45.6% |
| 1942 | -1.45 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -1.45 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -1.45 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -1.45 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | -1.45 | -0.0% |
| 1947 | -1.45 | -0.0% |
| 1948 | -1.45 | -0.0% |
| 1949 | -1.54 | +6.2% |
| 1950 | -0.965 | -37.4% |
| 1951 | -0.965 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -0.965 | -0.0% |
| 1953 | -0.965 | -0.0% |
| 1954 | -0.965 | -0.0% |
| 1955 | -1.21 | +24.9% |
| 1956 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -1.48 | +22.7% |
| 1961 | -1.48 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -1.29 | -12.9% |
| 1963 | -1.14 | -11.3% |
| 1964 | -1.26 | +10.6% |
| 1965 | -0.941 | -25.5% |
| 1966 | -0.941 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -0.771 | -18.1% |
| 1968 | -0.629 | -18.4% |
| 1969 | -0.776 | +23.4% |
| 1970 | -0.725 | -6.6% |
| 1971 | -0.725 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -0.725 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -0.971 | +33.9% |
| 1974 | -0.971 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -1.31 | +34.9% |
| 1976 | -1.31 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -1.31 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -1.31 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -1.31 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -1.01 | -23.1% |
| 1981 | -0.82 | -18.7% |
| 1982 | -1.02 | +24.3% |
| 1983 | -1.02 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -1.02 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -1.02 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -1.02 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -1.02 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -1.02 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -1.02 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -0.925 | -9.2% |
| 1991 | -0.925 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | -0.8 | -13.5% |
| 1993 | -0.8 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -0.654 | -18.3% |
| 1995 | -0.698 | +6.7% |
| 1996 | -0.698 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -0.698 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -0.698 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -0.698 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -0.456 | -34.7% |
| 2001 | -0.637 | +39.7% |
| 2002 | -0.342 | -46.3% |
| 2003 | -0.342 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.342 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -0.261 | -23.7% |
| 2006 | -0.326 | +24.9% |
| 2007 | -0.326 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -0.125 | -61.7% |
| 2009 | 0.108 | -186.4% |
| 2010 | 0.406 | +275.9% |
| 2011 | 0.406 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.406 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.406 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.449 | +10.6% |
| 2015 | 0.5 | +11.4% |
| 2016 | 1.08 | +116.0% |
| 2017 | 1.52 | +41.2% |
| 2018 | 1.52 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.52 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.97 | +29.3% |
| 2021 | 1.7 | -13.7% |
| 2022 | 1.49 | -12.4% |
| 2023 | 1.45 | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 1.94 | +33.3% |
| 2025 | 2.3 | +18.7% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 2.3 is above the median for high income countries, which is -0.532. (55 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -1.19 | -1.21 | -1.01 | 10 |
| 1910s | -1.16 | -1.27 | -1.01 | 10 |
| 1920s | -1.2 | -1.32 | -1.04 | 10 |
| 1930s | -0.9248 | -1.2 | -0.856 | 10 |
| 1940s | -1.42 | -1.54 | -0.997 | 10 |
| 1950s | -1.08 | -1.21 | -0.965 | 10 |
| 1960s | -1.07 | -1.48 | -0.629 | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.07 | -1.31 | -0.725 | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.998 | -1.02 | -0.82 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.7594 | -0.925 | -0.654 | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.3049 | -0.637 | 0.108 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8228 | 0.406 | 1.52 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.81 | 1.45 | 2.3 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 13 Madagascar 2.38 compare
- 14 Bangladesh 2.37 compare
- 15 Afghanistan 2.32 compare
- 17 South Sudan 2.23 compare
- 18 Venezuela 2.23 compare
- 19 Armenia 2.22 compare
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 political polarization score in United States?
- Political polarization score in United States was 2.3 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest political polarization score recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 2.3 in 2025.
- What is the lowest political polarization score recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.54 in 1949.
- How does United States rank for political polarization score?
- United States ranks 16th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is political polarization score rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 360.0%. 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 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.