Strong Civil Society Index in Sweden
Sweden: Strong Civil Society Index was 0.963 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Strong Civil Society Index in Sweden, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, strong civil society index in Sweden stood at 0.963.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, strong civil society index in Sweden peaked at 0.965 in 1974 and was at its lowest, 0.047, in 1789.
That places Sweden 5th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 237 years of available data.
Strong Civil Society Index in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.047 | — |
| 1790 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.787 | +1574.5% |
| 1841 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.787 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.881 | +11.9% |
| 1861 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.894 | +1.5% |
| 1923 | 0.894 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.894 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.894 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.894 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.894 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.894 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.894 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.894 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.883 | -1.2% |
| 1932 | 0.893 | +1.1% |
| 1933 | 0.893 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.893 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.893 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.893 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.893 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.893 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.911 | +2.0% |
| 1940 | 0.911 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.911 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.911 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.911 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.911 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.896 | -1.6% |
| 1946 | 0.937 | +4.6% |
| 1947 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.965 | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.937 | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.937 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.963 | +2.8% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 0.963 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.864, 1.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 0.963 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.8455, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.047 | 0.047 | 0.047 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.047 | 0.047 | 0.047 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.047 | 0.047 | 0.047 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.047 | 0.047 | 0.047 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.047 | 0.047 | 0.047 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.047 | 0.047 | 0.047 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.787 | 0.787 | 0.787 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.787 | 0.787 | 0.787 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.881 | 0.881 | 0.881 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.881 | 0.881 | 0.881 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.881 | 0.881 | 0.881 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.881 | 0.881 | 0.881 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.881 | 0.881 | 0.881 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.881 | 0.881 | 0.881 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.8914 | 0.881 | 0.894 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.8939 | 0.883 | 0.911 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.9199 | 0.896 | 0.937 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.937 | 0.937 | 0.937 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.937 | 0.937 | 0.937 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.9538 | 0.937 | 0.965 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.965 | 0.965 | 0.965 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.965 | 0.965 | 0.965 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.965 | 0.965 | 0.965 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.965 | 0.965 | 0.965 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9507 | 0.937 | 0.965 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More reference data data for Sweden
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4328 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2237 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9766 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.12 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is strong civil society index in Sweden?
- Strong civil society index in Sweden was 0.963 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest strong civil society index recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 0.965 in 1974.
- What is the lowest strong civil society index recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.047 in 1789.
- How does Sweden rank for strong civil society index?
- Sweden ranks 5th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is strong civil society index rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden 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).