What is the highest strong elected local governments index recorded in United States?

The highest recorded value was 0.992 in 1860.

What is the lowest strong elected local governments index recorded in United States?

The lowest recorded value was 0.791 in 1789.

How does United States rank for strong elected local governments index?

United States ranks 27th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.

Is strong elected local governments index rising or falling in United States?

Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. 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 Elected Local Governments Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Strong Elected Local Governments Index in United States

Name: Strong Elected Local Governments Index in United States
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

United States: Strong Elected Local Governments Index was 0.975 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.975

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

27th

of 175 countries

All-time high

0.992

in 1860

All-time low

0.791

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Strong Elected Local Governments Index in United States, 1789–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2025, strong elected local governments index in United States stood at 0.975.

The figure is down 1.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, strong elected local governments index in United States peaked at 0.992 in 1860 and was at its lowest, 0.791, in 1789.

That places United States 27th out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 237 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.791	0.791	0.791	1
1790s	0.791	0.791	0.791	10
1800s	0.791	0.791	0.791	10
1810s	0.791	0.791	0.791	10
1820s	0.791	0.791	0.791	10
1830s	0.8013	0.791	0.809	10
1840s	0.809	0.809	0.809	10
1850s	0.809	0.809	0.809	10
1860s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
1870s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
1880s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
1890s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
1900s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
1910s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
1920s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
1930s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
1940s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
1950s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
1960s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
1970s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
1980s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
1990s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
2000s	0.992	0.992	0.992	10
2010s	0.9886	0.975	0.992	10
2020s	0.975	0.975	0.975	6

Countries ranked near United States

25 Jamaica 0.98 compare
26 Estonia 0.979 compare
28 Denmark 0.974 compare
29 Costa Rica 0.973 compare
30 Brazil 0.972 compare
30 Poland 0.972 compare

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More reference data data for United States

Spring temperature anomalies 2.51 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 0.5014 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 0.0594 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 0.8696 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 0.9189 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 143.86 2010 = 100 (2024)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is strong elected local governments index in United States?: Strong elected local governments index in United States was 0.975 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest strong elected local governments index recorded in United States?: The highest recorded value was 0.992 in 1860.
What is the lowest strong elected local governments index recorded in United States?: The lowest recorded value was 0.791 in 1789.
How does United States rank for strong elected local governments index?: United States ranks 27th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is strong elected local governments index rising or falling in United States?: Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. 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 Elected Local Governments 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

Indicator: Strong Elected Local Governments Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 175 places, 25,933 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which elected local governments exist, and they operate without interference from local unelected bodies.