What is public sector corruption index in United States?

Public sector corruption index in United States was 0.029 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest public sector corruption index recorded in United States?

The highest recorded value was 0.17 in 1789.

What is the lowest public sector corruption index recorded in United States?

The lowest recorded value was 0.021 in 2023.

How does United States rank for public sector corruption index?

United States ranks 161st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is public sector corruption index rising or falling in United States?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

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 Public Sector Corruption Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Public Sector Corruption Index in United States

Name: Public Sector Corruption 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: Public Sector Corruption Index was 0.029 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.029

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

161st

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.17

in 1789

All-time low

0.021

in 2023

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Public Sector Corruption Index in United States, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for public sector corruption index in United States is 0.029, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, public sector corruption index in United States peaked at 0.17 in 1789 and was at its lowest, 0.021, in 2023.

That places United States 161st out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.17	0.17	0.17	1
1790s	0.17	0.17	0.17	10
1800s	0.17	0.17	0.17	10
1810s	0.17	0.17	0.17	10
1820s	0.17	0.17	0.17	10
1830s	0.17	0.17	0.17	10
1840s	0.17	0.17	0.17	10
1850s	0.17	0.17	0.17	10
1860s	0.17	0.17	0.17	10
1870s	0.17	0.17	0.17	10
1880s	0.17	0.17	0.17	10
1890s	0.17	0.17	0.17	10
1900s	0.17	0.17	0.17	10
1910s	0.0776	0.066	0.099	10
1920s	0.0854	0.06	0.131	10
1930s	0.055	0.055	0.055	10
1940s	0.055	0.055	0.055	10
1950s	0.049	0.049	0.049	10
1960s	0.049	0.049	0.049	10
1970s	0.0413	0.035	0.042	10
1980s	0.043	0.031	0.05	10
1990s	0.033	0.033	0.033	10
2000s	0.033	0.033	0.033	10
2010s	0.0442	0.029	0.073	10
2020s	0.0422	0.021	0.073	6

Countries ranked near United States

158 Estonia 0.037 compare
159 Japan 0.036 compare
160 Belgium 0.033 compare
162 Netherlands 0.023 compare
164 Australia 0.02 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for United States

Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 457,647 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 3,667 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.735 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.729 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.913 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.735 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.51 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.571 (2025)

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is public sector corruption index in United States?: Public sector corruption index in United States was 0.029 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest public sector corruption index recorded in United States?: The highest recorded value was 0.17 in 1789.
What is the lowest public sector corruption index recorded in United States?: The lowest recorded value was 0.021 in 2023.
How does United States rank for public sector corruption index?: United States ranks 161st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is public sector corruption index rising or falling in United States?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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 Public Sector Corruption 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: Public Sector Corruption Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 25,541 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Data by V-Dem. Expert estimates of the extent to which public sector employees engage in bribery and theft. The index ranges from 0 to 1 (highly corrupt).