The I–C index, based on Akaliyski et al. (2025), ranges from 0 to 100, where higher values indicate more individualistic societies and lower values indicate more collectivistic ones. These scores should be understood as reflecting the cultural “center of gravity” of a society (see Akaliyski et al., 2021), not the characteristics of individuals. Differences between countries are typically gradual rather than categorical: even relatively small gaps (e.g., 10–15 points) can reflect meaningful differences in how societies organize social relations, institutions, and norms. The index captures three interrelated facets of individualism—freedom, tolerance, and equality—so higher-scoring societies tend to place greater emphasis on personal autonomy, acceptance of diversity, and equal treatment regardless of group membership. Importantly, individualism in this sense does not imply selfishness or weak social ties; rather, it reflects a shift from group-based obligations toward more universalistic forms of cooperation and social organization.

The index is constructed from six subindices, each capturing a specific aspect of how individuals relate to norms, groups, and social boundaries:

1. Childrearing for Self-Direction (vs. Obedience) – preference for raising independent rather than obedient children

2. Distancing From (vs. Prioritizing) Traditional Duties – weaker emphasis on traditional family, religious, and social obligations

3. Egalitarian (vs. Discriminatory) Beliefs – support for equal rights and opportunities across social groups

4. Equal (vs. Group-Based) Trust – extending trust beyond one’s in-group to society at large

5. Accepting (vs. Excluding) Diverse Others – openness towards out-groups such as people of another race, immigrants, and homosexuals

6. Accepting (vs. Condemning) Diverse Life Choices – tolerance of behaviors such as divorce, abortion, and homosexuality

Together, these subindices form a coherent measure of societal I-C, capturing the extent to which people are treated as autonomous individuals rather than as members of bounded groups.