Data Review of the Indices of Social Development

The Indices of Social Development (ISD), developed by the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), provide a comprehensive dataset for assessing social development across 222 countries from 1990 to 2020 (as of August 2025). By aggregating 275 indicators from 30 sources, the ISD capture six key dimensions: 1) Civic Activism, 2) Clubs and Associations, 3) Intergroup Cohesion, 4) Interpersonal Safety and Trust, 5) Gender Equality, and 6) Inclusion of Minorities. Using the nonparametric matching percentiles method, the ISD mitigate biases from small samples and incomplete data, while applying five-year averages to reduce outlier effects. Despite innovations, limitations remain, including reliance on national-level data, multi-year smoothing, and single-source dependencies in some indices. Recent updates expand coverage and integrate digital activism, but structural challenges persist. The ISD offer valuable, publicly accessible tools for comparative and longitudinal analysis, while requiring critical reflection on data completeness and interpretative limits.