Strong Elected Regional Governments Index in United States
United States: Strong Elected Regional Governments Index was 0.939 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Strong Elected Regional Governments Index in United States, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for strong elected regional governments index in United States is 0.939, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 5.0% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, strong elected regional governments index in United States peaked at 0.998 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.727, in 1789.
That places United States 26th 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.
Strong Elected Regional Governments Index in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.727 | — |
| 1790 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.727 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.951 | +30.8% |
| 1861 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.951 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.996 | +4.7% |
| 1950 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.996 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.998 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 0.998 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.998 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.998 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.998 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.986 | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.988 | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 0.939 | -5.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 0.939 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.53, 1.8× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.727 | 0.727 | 0.727 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.727 | 0.727 | 0.727 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.727 | 0.727 | 0.727 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.727 | 0.727 | 0.727 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.727 | 0.727 | 0.727 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.727 | 0.727 | 0.727 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.727 | 0.727 | 0.727 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.727 | 0.727 | 0.727 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.951 | 0.951 | 0.951 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.951 | 0.951 | 0.951 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.951 | 0.951 | 0.951 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.951 | 0.951 | 0.951 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.951 | 0.951 | 0.951 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.951 | 0.951 | 0.951 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.951 | 0.951 | 0.951 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.951 | 0.951 | 0.951 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.9555 | 0.951 | 0.996 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.996 | 0.996 | 0.996 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.996 | 0.996 | 0.996 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.996 | 0.996 | 0.996 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.996 | 0.996 | 0.996 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.996 | 0.996 | 0.996 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.996 | 0.996 | 0.996 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9968 | 0.996 | 0.998 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9805 | 0.939 | 0.998 | 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 elected regional governments index in United States?
- Strong elected regional governments index in United States was 0.939 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest strong elected regional governments index recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 0.998 in 2016.
- What is the lowest strong elected regional governments index recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.727 in 1789.
- How does United States rank for strong elected regional governments index?
- United States ranks 26th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is strong elected regional governments index rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. 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 Regional 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
Central estimate of the extent to which elected regional governments exist, and they operate without interference from regional unelected bodies.