Strong Civil Society Index by country
Data by V-Dem. Expert estimates of the extent to which interest groups, labor unions, charities, and other civil society organizations are autonomous from the state and can freely pursue their goals. The index ranges from 0 to 1 (strongest).
Countries reporting
173
Highest
0.971
Norway
Lowest
0.014
Belarus
Median
0.716
Years covered
237
1789–2025
Data points
30,138
What the numbers show
Strong Civil Society Index is currently reported for 173 countries. The highest value is 0.971 in Norway; the lowest is 0.014 in Belarus.
The median across all reporting countries is 0.716, and the mean is 0.6075.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 69.
Over the past decade 53 countries rose and 116 fell. The largest increase was in Syria (up 370.3%), and the largest decrease in Afghanistan (down 95.4%).
Strong Civil Society Index: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 0.971 | 2025 | up 0.5% | volatile |
| 2 | Denmark | 0.967 | 2025 | down 0.1% | rising |
| 3 | Vanuatu | 0.965 | 2025 | up 3.0% | rising |
| 4 | Iceland | 0.964 | 2025 | up 1.8% | flat |
| 5 | Sweden | 0.963 | 2025 | down 0.2% | rising |
| 7 | Estonia | 0.962 | 2025 | down 0.2% | volatile |
| 8 | Switzerland | 0.956 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 9 | Costa Rica | 0.954 | 2025 | down 2.3% | rising |
| 10 | Japan | 0.95 | 2025 | up 6.7% | volatile |
| 12 | Jamaica | 0.945 | 2025 | up 0.5% | rising |
| 13 | Portugal | 0.942 | 2025 | up 1.9% | volatile |
| 14 | Spain | 0.941 | 2025 | down 0.3% | volatile |
| 15 | Suriname | 0.939 | 2025 | down 0.4% | rising |
| 17 | United States | 0.924 | 2025 | down 4.8% | rising |
| 18 | East Timor | 0.922 | 2025 | up 26.0% | volatile |
| 19 | Lesotho | 0.921 | 2025 | up 8.4% | volatile |
| 20 | Mauritius | 0.916 | 2025 | up 6.1% | rising |
| 20 | South Africa | 0.916 | 2025 | down 1.5% | rising |
| 22 | Honduras | 0.915 | 2025 | up 13.5% | volatile |
| 22 | Namibia | 0.915 | 2025 | down 1.2% | volatile |
| 24 | Papua New Guinea | 0.914 | 2025 | up 4.7% | rising |
| 25 | Armenia | 0.91 | 2025 | up 19.4% | volatile |
| 25 | Sierra Leone | 0.91 | 2025 | down 1.7% | volatile |
| 27 | Dominican Republic | 0.909 | 2025 | up 2.4% | volatile |
| 28 | Ghana | 0.908 | 2025 | down 4.9% | rising |
| 29 | Solomon Islands | 0.906 | 2025 | up 4.9% | rising |
| 30 | Belgium | 0.905 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 31 | Trinidad and Tobago | 0.903 | 2025 | down 1.5% | volatile |
| 32 | Latvia | 0.902 | 2025 | down 2.1% | volatile |
| 32 | Taiwan | 0.902 | 2025 | up 0.3% | volatile |
| 34 | Barbados | 0.897 | 2025 | down 1.3% | rising |
| 34 | Gambia | 0.897 | 2025 | up 232.2% | rising |
| 36 | Guyana | 0.895 | 2025 | down 6.2% | rising |
| 37 | Austria | 0.886 | 2025 | down 4.6% | volatile |
| 38 | Zambia | 0.885 | 2025 | up 17.2% | volatile |
| 39 | France | 0.883 | 2025 | down 3.7% | rising |
| 40 | Montenegro | 0.882 | 2025 | up 7.6% | volatile |
| 41 | Cyprus | 0.881 | 2025 | down 4.2% | rising |
| 41 | Uruguay | 0.881 | 2025 | down 5.0% | rising |
| 43 | Brazil | 0.878 | 2025 | down 6.5% | volatile |
| 43 | Canada | 0.878 | 2025 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 45 | Australia | 0.875 | 2025 | down 3.3% | rising |
| 46 | Italy | 0.872 | 2025 | down 9.0% | volatile |
| 47 | New Zealand | 0.866 | 2025 | down 8.0% | rising |
| 48 | Greece | 0.864 | 2025 | down 8.1% | volatile |
| 49 | Germany | 0.863 | 2025 | down 2.7% | volatile |
| 50 | Senegal | 0.861 | 2025 | down 5.8% | volatile |
| 51 | Botswana | 0.859 | 2025 | down 5.7% | rising |
| 52 | Lithuania | 0.858 | 2025 | up 1.3% | volatile |
| 53 | United Kingdom | 0.855 | 2025 | down 6.0% | rising |
| 54 | Poland | 0.851 | 2025 | down 4.6% | volatile |
| 55 | Cape Verde | 0.85 | 2025 | down 5.1% | volatile |
| 55 | South Korea | 0.85 | 2025 | up 13.3% | volatile |
| 57 | Czechia | 0.849 | 2025 | down 4.4% | volatile |
| 58 | Panama | 0.844 | 2025 | down 0.5% | rising |
| 59 | Bulgaria | 0.842 | 2025 | up 5.8% | volatile |
| 59 | Colombia | 0.842 | 2025 | down 10.2% | rising |
| 61 | Nigeria | 0.839 | 2025 | down 2.0% | rising |
| 62 | Guatemala | 0.837 | 2025 | down 0.2% | volatile |
| 63 | Haiti | 0.836 | 2025 | up 8.9% | volatile |
| 64 | Slovenia | 0.832 | 2025 | down 11.5% | volatile |
| 64 | Seychelles | 0.832 | 2025 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 66 | Finland | 0.829 | 2025 | down 9.0% | rising |
| 67 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0.828 | 2025 | down 8.3% | volatile |
| 67 | Liberia | 0.828 | 2025 | down 12.4% | falling |
| 69 | Nepal | 0.82 | 2025 | down 3.2% | volatile |
| 70 | Madagascar | 0.817 | 2025 | down 11.2% | volatile |
| 71 | Chile | 0.813 | 2025 | down 13.0% | volatile |
| 71 | Fiji | 0.813 | 2025 | up 5.3% | rising |
| 73 | Netherlands | 0.809 | 2025 | down 0.1% | rising |
| 74 | Kenya | 0.796 | 2025 | down 1.1% | volatile |
| 75 | Benin | 0.795 | 2025 | down 10.4% | rising |
| 76 | Croatia | 0.787 | 2025 | down 3.6% | volatile |
| 77 | Sri Lanka | 0.779 | 2025 | down 1.4% | falling |
| 78 | Albania | 0.778 | 2025 | down 4.1% | volatile |
| 78 | Cote d'Ivoire | 0.778 | 2025 | down 9.4% | rising |
| 80 | Philippines | 0.776 | 2025 | down 17.3% | rising |
| 81 | Sao Tome and Principe | 0.773 | 2025 | down 1.8% | volatile |
| 82 | Lebanon | 0.772 | 2025 | up 2.4% | rising |
| 83 | Niger | 0.765 | 2025 | down 15.5% | volatile |
| 84 | Mongolia | 0.761 | 2025 | down 13.8% | volatile |
| 85 | Romania | 0.754 | 2025 | down 14.9% | volatile |
| 86 | North Macedonia | 0.745 | 2025 | up 10.0% | volatile |
| 87 | Paraguay | 0.743 | 2025 | down 4.1% | volatile |
| 88 | Peru | 0.739 | 2025 | down 11.6% | rising |
| 89 | Gabon | 0.721 | 2025 | down 9.2% | volatile |
| 90 | Iraq | 0.716 | 2025 | up 0.4% | volatile |
| 91 | Bangladesh | 0.709 | 2025 | up 1.4% | volatile |
| 92 | Malawi | 0.704 | 2025 | down 17.7% | volatile |
| 93 | Libya | 0.701 | 2025 | down 11.8% | volatile |
| 94 | Israel | 0.696 | 2025 | up 1.8% | rising |
| 95 | Indonesia | 0.688 | 2025 | down 19.6% | volatile |
| 95 | Malaysia | 0.688 | 2025 | up 10.3% | volatile |
| 95 | Slovakia | 0.688 | 2025 | down 14.3% | volatile |
| 98 | Bhutan | 0.687 | 2025 | up 2.2% | volatile |
| 99 | Tanzania | 0.683 | 2025 | up 9.5% | rising |
| 100 | Argentina | 0.68 | 2025 | down 18.3% | rising |
| 100 | Bolivia | 0.68 | 2025 | down 9.7% | rising |
| 102 | Pakistan | 0.677 | 2025 | up 21.3% | rising |
| 103 | Mauritania | 0.664 | 2025 | up 25.8% | volatile |
| 104 | Maldives | 0.655 | 2025 | up 60.9% | volatile |
| 104 | Mexico | 0.655 | 2025 | down 16.0% | volatile |
| 106 | Ukraine | 0.65 | 2025 | down 12.3% | volatile |
| 107 | Guinea-Bissau | 0.644 | 2025 | down 7.1% | volatile |
| 108 | Thailand | 0.63 | 2025 | up 109.3% | volatile |
| 109 | Moldova | 0.629 | 2025 | down 14.8% | volatile |
| 110 | Angola | 0.599 | 2025 | up 37.1% | volatile |
| 111 | Mali | 0.563 | 2025 | down 32.4% | volatile |
| 112 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 0.543 | 2025 | up 0.7% | volatile |
| 113 | Georgia | 0.536 | 2025 | down 41.2% | volatile |
| 114 | Somalia | 0.533 | 2025 | down 6.3% | volatile |
| 115 | Djibouti | 0.531 | 2025 | up 8.8% | volatile |
| 115 | Ecuador | 0.531 | 2025 | up 62.9% | rising |
| 117 | Togo | 0.523 | 2025 | down 28.8% | volatile |
| 118 | Comoros | 0.515 | 2025 | down 26.8% | rising |
| 119 | Jordan | 0.51 | 2025 | down 8.4% | rising |
| 120 | Mozambique | 0.495 | 2025 | down 34.6% | volatile |
| 121 | Serbia | 0.486 | 2025 | down 32.4% | volatile |
| 122 | Ethiopia | 0.469 | 2025 | up 120.2% | volatile |
| 122 | Kuwait | 0.469 | 2025 | up 5.4% | rising |
| 124 | Hungary | 0.46 | 2025 | down 27.4% | volatile |
| 125 | Morocco | 0.443 | 2025 | down 25.0% | volatile |
| 126 | El Salvador | 0.426 | 2025 | down 50.8% | rising |
| 127 | Singapore | 0.388 | 2025 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 128 | Central African Republic | 0.386 | 2025 | down 33.3% | volatile |
| 129 | Guinea | 0.342 | 2025 | down 47.2% | volatile |
| 130 | Palestine | 0.316 | 1948 | unchanged | flat |
| 131 | Uzbekistan | 0.307 | 2025 | up 124.1% | volatile |
| 132 | India | 0.302 | 2025 | down 47.6% | volatile |
| 133 | Chad | 0.301 | 2025 | down 22.8% | volatile |
| 134 | Kazakhstan | 0.297 | 2025 | down 14.4% | volatile |
| 135 | Tunisia | 0.296 | 2025 | down 66.0% | volatile |
| 136 | Turkey | 0.292 | 2025 | down 23.8% | volatile |
| 137 | Yemen | 0.271 | 2025 | down 1.8% | volatile |
| 138 | Kyrgyzstan | 0.261 | 2025 | down 55.4% | volatile |
| 139 | Venezuela | 0.235 | 2025 | down 36.3% | volatile |
| 140 | Hong Kong | 0.223 | 2025 | down 63.0% | rising |
| 141 | Uganda | 0.222 | 2025 | down 46.4% | volatile |
| 142 | Cameroon | 0.22 | 2025 | down 37.1% | volatile |
| 142 | Zimbabwe | 0.22 | 2025 | down 53.6% | rising |
| 144 | Cambodia | 0.213 | 2025 | down 51.6% | volatile |
| 145 | Oman | 0.208 | 2025 | up 6.7% | volatile |
| 146 | United Arab Emirates | 0.202 | 2025 | up 46.4% | rising |
| 147 | Rwanda | 0.199 | 2025 | down 41.5% | rising |
| 148 | Algeria | 0.194 | 2025 | down 39.9% | volatile |
| 149 | Burkina Faso | 0.188 | 2025 | down 80.4% | volatile |
| 150 | Syria | 0.174 | 2025 | up 370.3% | volatile |
| 151 | Vietnam | 0.169 | 2025 | down 45.5% | rising |
| 152 | Sudan | 0.151 | 2025 | down 42.6% | falling |
| 153 | Qatar | 0.149 | 2025 | down 21.6% | rising |
| 154 | Burundi | 0.146 | 2025 | up 17.7% | volatile |
| 154 | Bahrain | 0.146 | 2025 | down 5.8% | volatile |
| 154 | Saudi Arabia | 0.146 | 2025 | up 16.8% | volatile |
| 157 | South Sudan | 0.143 | 2025 | up 3.6% | falling |
| 158 | Iran | 0.137 | 2025 | down 18.5% | volatile |
| 159 | Egypt | 0.135 | 2025 | down 28.9% | falling |
| 160 | Congo | 0.132 | 2025 | down 19.0% | volatile |
| 161 | Myanmar | 0.125 | 2025 | down 74.3% | volatile |
| 162 | Laos | 0.113 | 2025 | down 9.6% | volatile |
| 162 | Vatican | 0.113 | 1870 | unchanged | volatile |
| 164 | Equatorial Guinea | 0.099 | 2025 | down 40.0% | rising |
| 165 | Eswatini | 0.082 | 2025 | down 35.9% | falling |
| 166 | Tajikistan | 0.068 | 2025 | down 75.5% | volatile |
| 167 | Nicaragua | 0.037 | 2025 | down 90.0% | volatile |
| 168 | Russia | 0.036 | 2025 | down 88.2% | volatile |
| 169 | Cuba | 0.033 | 2025 | down 23.3% | volatile |
| 169 | Turkmenistan | 0.033 | 2025 | up 50.0% | volatile |
| 171 | Eritrea | 0.032 | 2025 | down 63.6% | volatile |
| 172 | Afghanistan | 0.03 | 2025 | down 95.4% | volatile |
| 173 | Azerbaijan | 0.026 | 2025 | down 82.6% | volatile |
| 173 | China | 0.026 | 2025 | down 77.8% | volatile |
| 175 | North Korea | 0.016 | 2025 | up 128.6% | volatile |
| 176 | Belarus | 0.014 | 2025 | down 95.2% | volatile |
About this data
Data by V-Dem. Expert estimates of the extent to which interest groups, labor unions, charities, and other civil society organizations are autonomous from the state and can freely pursue their goals. The index ranges from 0 to 1 (strongest).