Home › Indicators › Core civil society index
Core civil society index
What this indicator measures
This V-Dem index estimates the freedom and vitality of civil society organisations (associations, trade unions, NGOs): their freedom to be created and to act, and their protection from repression.
How to read this?
The closer the index is to 1, the more freely associations can act; the closer it is to 0, the less they can.
Ranking : ranked from highest to lowest
In brief
Core civil society index: across 173 countries and territories, values range from 0.01 (Belarus) to 0.97 (Norway), with a world median of 0.74. Data: 2025. The top 10% of countries exceed 0.92, while the bottom 10% stay below 0.14. By continent, the median is highest in Oceania (0.89) and lowest in Asia (0.31).
Median by continent
- Oceania 0.89 (6)
- North America 0.88 (15)
- Europe 0.86 (39)
- South America 0.78 (12)
- Africa 0.56 (51)
- Asia 0.31 (47)
Why this indicator matters
Associations, trade unions and NGOs allow citizens to organise and make their voices heard. This index compares the freedom they have to be created, to act and to fund themselves.
What makes this indicator vary
The level depends on laws on associations, the tolerance of the authorities, the independence of funding, the tradition of associations and the degree of control exercised by the state. It evolves with the political context.
Reading precautions
The index relies on expert opinions and carries a margin of uncertainty. It measures civil society's freedom to act, not the number of associations or their actual influence. Local situations may differ from the national average.
Full ranking
ranked from highest to lowest
| Rank | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1er | 🇳🇴 Norway | 0.97 | 2025 |
| 2e | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 0.97 | 2025 |
| 3e | 🇻🇺 Vanuatu | 0.97 | 2025 |
| 4e | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 0.96 | 2025 |
| 5e | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 0.96 | 2025 |
| 5e | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 0.96 | 2025 |
| 7e | 🇪🇪 Estonia | 0.96 | 2025 |
| 8e | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 0.96 | 2025 |
| 9e | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 0.95 | 2025 |
| 10e | 🇯🇵 Japan | 0.95 | 2025 |
| 11e | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 0.95 | 2025 |
| 12e | 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 0.95 | 2025 |
| 13e | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 0.94 | 2025 |
| 14e | 🇪🇸 Spain | 0.94 | 2025 |
| 15e | 🇸🇷 Suriname | 0.94 | 2025 |
| 16e | 🇲🇹 Malta | 0.93 | 2025 |
| 17e | 🇺🇸 United States | 0.92 | 2025 |
| 18e | 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | 0.92 | 2025 |
| 19e | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 0.92 | 2025 |
| 20e | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 0.92 | 2025 |
| 20e | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 0.92 | 2025 |
| 22e | 🇭🇳 Honduras | 0.92 | 2025 |
| 22e | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 0.92 | 2025 |
| 24e | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 0.91 | 2025 |
| 25e | 🇦🇲 Armenia | 0.91 | 2025 |
| 25e | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 0.91 | 2025 |
| 27e | 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | 0.91 | 2025 |
| 28e | 🇬🇭 Ghana | 0.91 | 2025 |
| 29e | 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands | 0.91 | 2025 |
| 30e | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 0.91 | 2025 |
| 31e | 🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago | 0.9 | 2025 |
| 32e | 🇱🇻 Latvia | 0.9 | 2025 |
| 32e | 🇹🇼 Taiwan | 0.9 | 2025 |
| 34e | 🇧🇧 Barbados | 0.9 | 2025 |
| 34e | 🇬🇲 Gambia | 0.9 | 2025 |
| 36e | 🇬🇾 Guyana | 0.9 | 2025 |
| 37e | 🇦🇹 Austria | 0.89 | 2025 |
| 38e | 🇿🇲 Zambia | 0.89 | 2025 |
| 39e | 🇫🇷 France | 0.88 | 2025 |
| 40e | 🇲🇪 Montenegro | 0.88 | 2025 |
| 41e | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 0.88 | 2025 |
| 41e | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 0.88 | 2025 |
| 43e | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 0.88 | 2025 |
| 43e | 🇨🇦 Canada | 0.88 | 2025 |
| 45e | 🇦🇺 Australia | 0.88 | 2025 |
| 46e | 🇮🇹 Italy | 0.87 | 2025 |
| 47e | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 0.87 | 2025 |
| 48e | 🇬🇷 Greece | 0.86 | 2025 |
| 49e | 🇩🇪 Germany | 0.86 | 2025 |
| 50e | 🇸🇳 Senegal | 0.86 | 2025 |
| 51e | 🇧🇼 Botswana | 0.86 | 2025 |
| 52e | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 0.86 | 2025 |
| 53e | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 0.86 | 2025 |
| 54e | 🇵🇱 Poland | 0.85 | 2025 |
| 55e | 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | 0.85 | 2025 |
| 55e | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 0.85 | 2025 |
| 57e | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 0.85 | 2025 |
| 58e | 🇵🇦 Panama | 0.84 | 2025 |
| 59e | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 0.84 | 2025 |
| 59e | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 0.84 | 2025 |
| 61e | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 0.84 | 2025 |
| 62e | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 0.84 | 2025 |
| 63e | 🇭🇹 Haiti | 0.84 | 2025 |
| 64e | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 0.83 | 2025 |
| 64e | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 0.83 | 2025 |
| 66e | 🇫🇮 Finland | 0.83 | 2025 |
| 67e | 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0.83 | 2025 |
| 67e | 🇱🇷 Liberia | 0.83 | 2025 |
| 69e | 🇳🇵 Nepal | 0.82 | 2025 |
| 70e | 🇲🇬 Madagascar | 0.82 | 2025 |
| 71e | 🇨🇱 Chile | 0.81 | 2025 |
| 71e | 🇫🇯 Fiji | 0.81 | 2025 |
| 73e | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 0.81 | 2025 |
| 74e | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 0.8 | 2025 |
| 75e | 🇧🇯 Benin | 0.8 | 2025 |
| 76e | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 0.79 | 2025 |
| 77e | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 0.78 | 2025 |
| 78e | 🇦🇱 Albania | 0.78 | 2025 |
| 78e | 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire | 0.78 | 2025 |
| 80e | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 0.78 | 2025 |
| 81e | 🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe | 0.77 | 2025 |
| 82e | 🇱🇧 Lebanon | 0.77 | 2025 |
| 83e | 🇳🇪 Niger | 0.77 | 2025 |
| 84e | 🇲🇳 Mongolia | 0.76 | 2025 |
| 85e | 🇷🇴 Romania | 0.75 | 2025 |
| 86e | 🇲🇰 North Macedonia | 0.75 | 2025 |
| 87e | 🇵🇾 Paraguay | 0.74 | 2025 |
| 88e | 🇵🇪 Peru | 0.74 | 2025 |
| 89e | 🇬🇦 Gabon | 0.72 | 2025 |
| 90e | 🇮🇶 Iraq | 0.72 | 2025 |
| 91e | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 0.71 | 2025 |
| 92e | 🇲🇼 Malawi | 0.7 | 2025 |
| 93e | 🇱🇾 Libya | 0.7 | 2025 |
| 94e | 🇮🇱 Israel | 0.7 | 2025 |
| 95e | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 0.69 | 2025 |
| 95e | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 0.69 | 2025 |
| 95e | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 0.69 | 2025 |
| 98e | 🇧🇹 Bhutan | 0.69 | 2025 |
| 99e | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 0.68 | 2025 |
| 100e | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 0.68 | 2025 |
| 100e | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | 0.68 | 2025 |
| 102e | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 0.68 | 2025 |
| 103e | 🇲🇷 Mauritania | 0.66 | 2025 |
| 104e | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 0.66 | 2025 |
| 104e | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 0.66 | 2025 |
| 106e | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 0.65 | 2025 |
| 107e | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 0.64 | 2025 |
| 108e | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 0.63 | 2025 |
| 109e | 🇲🇩 Moldova | 0.63 | 2025 |
| 110e | 🇦🇴 Angola | 0.6 | 2025 |
| 111e | 🇲🇱 Mali | 0.56 | 2025 |
| 112e | 🇨🇩 Congo - Kinshasa | 0.54 | 2025 |
| 113e | 🇬🇪 Georgia | 0.54 | 2025 |
| 114e | 🇸🇴 Somalia | 0.53 | 2025 |
| 115e | 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 0.53 | 2025 |
| 115e | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 0.53 | 2025 |
| 117e | 🇹🇬 Togo | 0.52 | 2025 |
| 118e | 🇰🇲 Comoros | 0.52 | 2025 |
| 119e | 🇯🇴 Jordan | 0.51 | 2025 |
| 120e | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 0.5 | 2025 |
| 121e | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 0.49 | 2025 |
| 122e | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 0.47 | 2025 |
| 122e | 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 0.47 | 2025 |
| 124e | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 0.46 | 2025 |
| 125e | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 0.44 | 2025 |
| 126e | 🇸🇻 El Salvador | 0.43 | 2025 |
| 127e | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 0.39 | 2025 |
| 128e | 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | 0.39 | 2025 |
| 129e | 🇬🇳 Guinea | 0.34 | 2025 |
| 130e | 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 0.31 | 2025 |
| 131e | 🇮🇳 India | 0.3 | 2025 |
| 132e | 🇹🇩 Chad | 0.3 | 2025 |
| 133e | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | 0.3 | 2025 |
| 134e | 🇹🇳 Tunisia | 0.3 | 2025 |
| 135e | 🇹🇷 Türkiye | 0.29 | 2025 |
| 136e | 🇾🇪 Yemen | 0.27 | 2025 |
| 137e | 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | 0.26 | 2025 |
| 138e | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | 0.24 | 2025 |
| 139e | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR China | 0.22 | 2025 |
| 140e | 🇺🇬 Uganda | 0.22 | 2025 |
| 141e | 🇨🇲 Cameroon | 0.22 | 2025 |
| 141e | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 0.22 | 2025 |
| 143e | 🇰🇭 Cambodia | 0.21 | 2025 |
| 144e | 🇴🇲 Oman | 0.21 | 2025 |
| 145e | 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 0.2 | 2025 |
| 146e | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 0.2 | 2025 |
| 147e | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 0.19 | 2025 |
| 148e | 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | 0.19 | 2025 |
| 149e | 🇸🇾 Syria | 0.17 | 2025 |
| 150e | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 0.17 | 2025 |
| 151e | 🇸🇩 Sudan | 0.15 | 2025 |
| 152e | 🇶🇦 Qatar | 0.15 | 2025 |
| 153e | 🇧🇮 Burundi | 0.15 | 2025 |
| 153e | 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 0.15 | 2025 |
| 153e | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 0.15 | 2025 |
| 156e | 🇮🇷 Iran | 0.14 | 2025 |
| 157e | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 0.14 | 2025 |
| 158e | 🇨🇬 Congo - Brazzaville | 0.13 | 2025 |
| 159e | 🇲🇲 Myanmar (Burma) | 0.13 | 2025 |
| 160e | 🇱🇦 Laos | 0.11 | 2025 |
| 161e | 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | 0.1 | 2025 |
| 162e | 🇸🇿 Eswatini | 0.08 | 2025 |
| 163e | 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | 0.07 | 2025 |
| 164e | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 0.04 | 2025 |
| 165e | 🇷🇺 Russia | 0.04 | 2025 |
| 166e | 🇨🇺 Cuba | 0.03 | 2025 |
| 166e | 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | 0.03 | 2025 |
| 168e | 🇪🇷 Eritrea | 0.03 | 2025 |
| 169e | 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | 0.03 | 2025 |
| 170e | 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | 0.03 | 2025 |
| 170e | 🇨🇳 China | 0.03 | 2025 |
| 172e | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 0.02 | 2025 |
| 173e | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 0.01 | 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the highest value for "Core civil society index"?
The highest value is in Norway, at 0.97 (2025).
Which country has the lowest value for "Core civil society index"?
The lowest value is in Belarus, at 0.01 (2025).
What is the world median value of "Core civil society index"?
The world median is 0.74, calculated across 173 countries: half of the countries are above it, the other half below.
What is the value of "Core civil society index" for France?
France scores 0.88 (2025), ranking 39 out of 173 countries (ranked from highest to lowest).
Where does the "Core civil society index" data come from?
It comes from V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy), version 16 – via Our World in Data. Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.
What is meant by civil society?
It is the set of organisations independent of the state and of business: associations, trade unions, NGOs, citizens' groups. They allow residents to defend their collective interests.
How should this index be read?
The higher it is, the more freely civil society organisations can be created and can act, and the more they are protected from repression. The lower it is, the more limited they are.
Source and update
Source : V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy), version 16 – via Our World in Data. Site last updated: November 8, 2026.
Indicators in the same category : Democracy & Elections
- Head of the executive chosen through multiparty electionsIndicates, according to V-Dem, whether the head of the executive (president or head of government) is chosen in multiparty elections, either directly or by a parliament that is itself elected this way. It does not say whether these elections are free and fair.
- Free and fair elections indexThis V-Dem index estimates the extent to which elections are free from registration fraud, systematic irregularities, intimidation of the opposition, vote buying and violence, and whether the body that organizes them is autonomous.
- Liberal democracy indexThis V-Dem index adds to electoral democracy the protection of individual liberties, equality before the law and oversight of the executive by the judiciary and parliament.
- Participatory democracy indexThis V-Dem index measures, in addition to electoral democracy, the room left for citizen participation: civil society organizations, direct democracy, and regional and local governments.
- Egalitarian democracy indexThis V-Dem index measures electoral democracy as well as the equal protection of rights, access to power and distribution of resources among groups in the population.
- Electoral democracy indexThis V-Dem index measures whether leaders are chosen in free and fair elections with broad voting rights, and whether freedom of association and freedom of expression are guaranteed. It is calculated from expert assessments from around the world.
- Civil society participation indexThis V-Dem index estimates the extent to which major civil society organizations are consulted by policymakers, how many people take part in them, and whether women can take part.
- Share of adults with the right to voteShare of adult citizens who legally have the right to vote in national elections, according to V-Dem. Legal exclusions (for example based on sex, property or status) bring it below 100%. It does not say whether the elections are free.
- Political regimeClassification of regimes from “Regimes of the World” (Lührmann, Tannenberg and Lindberg), adopted by V-Dem. In a closed autocracy, citizens choose neither the executive nor parliament in multiparty elections. In an electoral autocracy, there are multiparty elections but without the freedoms that make them free and fair. In an electoral democracy, they are free and fair; in a liberal democracy, individual rights are also protected and power is checked.
- Minimum voting ageAge from which a citizen has the right to vote in national elections, according to the CIA World Factbook. When the source text gives several different ages or an ambiguous rule, the country is left out.
- Multiparty legislative electionsShows, according to V-Dem, whether the national assembly (parliament) is chosen in elections where several parties can field candidates. It does not say whether these elections are free and fair.
- Multiparty national electionsShows, according to V-Dem, whether national elections are multiparty, that is, whether several parties can field candidates in them. It does not say whether these elections are free and fair.