What is the highest state capacity index recorded in China?

The highest recorded value was 0.7498 in 2003.

What is the lowest state capacity index recorded in China?

The lowest recorded value was -0.4825 in 1972.

How does China rank for state capacity index?

China ranks 62nd out of 165 countries with data for 2015.

Is state capacity index rising or falling in China?

Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this China data come from?

The figures come from Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of State Capacity Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

State Capacity Index in China

Name: State Capacity Index in China
Creator: Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

China: State Capacity Index was 0.7145 in 2015. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2015)

0.7145

Change on year

down 2.1%

World rank

62nd

of 165 countries

All-time high

0.7498

in 2003

All-time low

-0.4825

in 1972

Years of data

1960–2015

State Capacity Index in China, 1960–2015

Source: Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.

Analysis

China recorded 0.7145 for state capacity index in 2015.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 9.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, state capacity index in China peaked at 0.7498 in 2003 and was at its lowest, -0.4825, in 1972.

China ranks 62nd of 165 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	-0.4281	-0.4788	-0.388	10
1970s	-0.3907	-0.4825	-0.0137	10
1980s	0.4586	0.2244	0.5801	10
1990s	0.6206	0.5064	0.6851	10
2000s	0.6561	0.5886	0.7498	10
2010s	0.7178	0.6988	0.7356	6

Countries ranked near China

59 Morocco 0.7204 compare
60 North Macedonia 0.7169 compare
61 Philippines 0.7146 compare
63 United Arab Emirates 0.7112 compare
64 Indonesia 0.6743 compare
65 Mexico 0.6593 compare

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More reference data data for China

Spring temperature anomalies 1.66 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 0.0991 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 1.15 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 1.34 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 2.06 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 132.6 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 0 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is state capacity index in China?: State capacity index in China was 0.7145 in 2015, according to Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest state capacity index recorded in China?: The highest recorded value was 0.7498 in 2003.
What is the lowest state capacity index recorded in China?: The lowest recorded value was -0.4825 in 1972.
How does China rank for state capacity index?: China ranks 62nd out of 165 countries with data for 2015.
Is state capacity index rising or falling in China?: Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China data come from?: The figures come from Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of State Capacity Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: State Capacity Index
Source: Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 166 places, 8,015 data points, 1960–2015
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Measures state capacity by combining 21 different indicators related to three key dimensions: extractive capacity, coercive capacity, and administrative capacity. Higher values indicate greater state capacity.