Strong Civil Society Index in United States
United States: Strong Civil Society Index was 0.924 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Strong Civil Society Index in United States, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, strong civil society index in United States stood at 0.924.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.7% on the previous year and down 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, strong civil society index in United States peaked at 0.98 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.814, in 1917.
That places United States 17th 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 United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.829 | — |
| 1790 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.829 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.814 | -1.8% |
| 1918 | 0.814 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.814 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.841 | +3.3% |
| 1921 | 0.824 | -2.0% |
| 1922 | 0.824 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.824 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.824 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.824 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.824 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.824 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.824 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.824 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.824 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.824 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.824 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.841 | +2.1% |
| 1934 | 0.839 | -0.2% |
| 1935 | 0.839 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.818 | -2.5% |
| 1937 | 0.818 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.818 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.818 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.836 | +2.2% |
| 1941 | 0.851 | +1.8% |
| 1942 | 0.851 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.851 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.851 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.824 | -3.2% |
| 1946 | 0.824 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.816 | -1.0% |
| 1948 | 0.816 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.816 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.815 | -0.1% |
| 1951 | 0.815 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.815 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.815 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.82 | +0.6% |
| 1955 | 0.82 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.82 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.82 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.82 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.82 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.855 | +4.3% |
| 1961 | 0.855 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.861 | +0.7% |
| 1963 | 0.861 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.874 | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 0.874 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.874 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.874 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.874 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.874 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.906 | +3.7% |
| 1971 | 0.906 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.906 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.906 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.906 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.906 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.906 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.906 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.906 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.906 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.932 | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 0.96 | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 0.96 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.96 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.96 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.96 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.96 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.96 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.96 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.96 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.968 | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 0.968 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.968 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.968 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.968 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.968 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.968 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.968 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.968 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.968 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.968 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.964 | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 0.964 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.964 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.964 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.964 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.964 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.964 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.964 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.965 | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.971 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 0.971 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.971 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.971 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.98 | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 0.976 | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 0.971 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 0.962 | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 0.974 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 0.974 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.941 | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 0.98 | +4.1% |
| 2025 | 0.924 | -5.7% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 0.924 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.864, 1.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.829 | 0.829 | 0.829 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.829 | 0.829 | 0.829 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.829 | 0.829 | 0.829 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.829 | 0.829 | 0.829 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.829 | 0.829 | 0.829 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.829 | 0.829 | 0.829 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.829 | 0.829 | 0.829 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.829 | 0.829 | 0.829 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.829 | 0.829 | 0.829 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.829 | 0.829 | 0.829 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.829 | 0.829 | 0.829 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.829 | 0.829 | 0.829 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.829 | 0.829 | 0.829 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.8245 | 0.814 | 0.829 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.8257 | 0.824 | 0.841 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.8263 | 0.818 | 0.841 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.8336 | 0.816 | 0.851 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.818 | 0.815 | 0.82 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.8676 | 0.855 | 0.874 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.906 | 0.906 | 0.906 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9572 | 0.932 | 0.96 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.968 | 0.968 | 0.968 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9645 | 0.964 | 0.968 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9706 | 0.965 | 0.98 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9592 | 0.924 | 0.98 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
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 strong civil society index in United States?
- Strong civil society index in United States was 0.924 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest strong civil society index recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 0.98 in 2017.
- What is the lowest strong civil society index recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.814 in 1917.
- How does United States rank for strong civil society index?
- United States ranks 17th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is strong civil society index rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 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).