Strong Civil Society Index in China
China: Strong Civil Society Index was 0.026 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Strong Civil Society Index in China, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, strong civil society index in China stood at 0.026.
That represents a change of down 77.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, strong civil society index in China peaked at 0.561 in 1919 and was at its lowest, 0.01, in 1970.
That places China 173rd 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
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.52 | 0.52 | 0.52 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.52 | 0.52 | 0.52 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.52 | 0.52 | 0.52 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.52 | 0.52 | 0.52 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.52 | 0.52 | 0.52 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.52 | 0.52 | 0.52 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.52 | 0.52 | 0.52 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.3644 | 0.35 | 0.494 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.4431 | 0.35 | 0.527 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.527 | 0.527 | 0.527 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.527 | 0.527 | 0.527 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.379 | 0.327 | 0.392 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.434 | 0.434 | 0.434 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.5205 | 0.43 | 0.561 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.5284 | 0.434 | 0.552 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.4444 | 0.44 | 0.465 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.43 | 0.169 | 0.459 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.033 | 0.011 | 0.045 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.0193 | 0.011 | 0.04 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0253 | 0.01 | 0.098 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1322 | 0.121 | 0.165 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1474 | 0.104 | 0.176 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2109 | 0.185 | 0.228 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1475 | 0.077 | 0.221 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0503 | 0.026 | 0.087 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 171 Eritrea 0.032 compare
- 172 Afghanistan 0.03 compare
- 173 Azerbaijan 0.026 compare
- 175 North Korea 0.016 compare
- 176 Belarus 0.014 compare
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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is strong civil society index in China?
- Strong civil society index in China was 0.026 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest strong civil society index recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 0.561 in 1919.
- What is the lowest strong civil society index recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.01 in 1970.
- How does China rank for strong civil society index?
- China ranks 173rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is strong civil society index rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 77.8%. 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 Strong Civil Society 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
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).