Strong Elected Local Governments Index in South Africa
South Africa: Strong Elected Local Governments Index was 0.88 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
0.88
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
78th
of 175 countries
All-time high
0.959
in 2000
All-time low
0.698
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Strong Elected Local Governments Index in South Africa, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for strong elected local governments index in South Africa is 0.88, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, strong elected local governments index in South Africa peaked at 0.959 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.698, in 1900.
South Africa ranks 78th of 175 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 126 years of available data.
Strong Elected Local Governments Index in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0.698 | — |
| 1901 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.698 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.959 | +37.4% |
| 2001 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.959 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.953 | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 0.953 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.953 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.953 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.88 | -7.7% |
| 2024 | 0.88 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.88 | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.88 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.87, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.88 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.7165, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.698 | 0.698 | 0.698 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.698 | 0.698 | 0.698 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.698 | 0.698 | 0.698 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.698 | 0.698 | 0.698 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.698 | 0.698 | 0.698 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.698 | 0.698 | 0.698 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.698 | 0.698 | 0.698 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.698 | 0.698 | 0.698 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.698 | 0.698 | 0.698 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.698 | 0.698 | 0.698 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.959 | 0.959 | 0.959 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9584 | 0.953 | 0.959 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9165 | 0.88 | 0.953 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 75 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.892 compare
- 76 Cyprus 0.889 compare
- 77 Cape Verde 0.884 compare
- 79 Ukraine 0.878 compare
- 80 United Kingdom 0.868 compare
- 81 Cote d'Ivoire 0.867 compare
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is strong elected local governments index in South Africa?
- Strong elected local governments index in South Africa was 0.88 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest strong elected local governments index recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.959 in 2000.
- What is the lowest strong elected local governments index recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.698 in 1900.
- How does South Africa rank for strong elected local governments index?
- South Africa ranks 78th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is strong elected local governments index rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Strong Elected Local Governments Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which elected local governments exist, and they operate without interference from local unelected bodies.