Human Rights Index in Cuba
Cuba: Human Rights Index was 0.302 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.302
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
150th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.725
in 1944
All-time low
0.114
in 1868
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Human Rights Index in Cuba, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Cuba recorded 0.302 for human rights index in 2025.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, human rights index in Cuba peaked at 0.725 in 1944 and was at its lowest, 0.114, in 1868.
That places Cuba 150th 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.
Human Rights Index in Cuba, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.186 | — |
| 1790 | 0.18 | -3.2% |
| 1791 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.17 | -5.6% |
| 1813 | 0.179 | +5.3% |
| 1814 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.179 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.163 | -8.9% |
| 1836 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.163 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.118 | -27.6% |
| 1845 | 0.183 | +55.1% |
| 1846 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.183 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.114 | -37.7% |
| 1869 | 0.115 | +0.9% |
| 1870 | 0.115 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.115 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.115 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.115 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.115 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.115 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.115 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.115 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.119 | +3.5% |
| 1879 | 0.151 | +26.9% |
| 1880 | 0.151 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.184 | +21.9% |
| 1882 | 0.184 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.184 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.184 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.184 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.184 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.212 | +15.2% |
| 1888 | 0.219 | +3.3% |
| 1889 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.243 | +11.0% |
| 1891 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.158 | -35.0% |
| 1896 | 0.157 | -0.6% |
| 1897 | 0.157 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.475 | +202.5% |
| 1899 | 0.638 | +34.3% |
| 1900 | 0.649 | +1.7% |
| 1901 | 0.649 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.651 | +0.3% |
| 1903 | 0.653 | +0.3% |
| 1904 | 0.653 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.653 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.645 | -1.2% |
| 1907 | 0.654 | +1.4% |
| 1908 | 0.654 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.654 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.65 | -0.6% |
| 1911 | 0.65 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.628 | -3.4% |
| 1913 | 0.65 | +3.5% |
| 1914 | 0.65 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.65 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.645 | -0.8% |
| 1917 | 0.645 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.645 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.645 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.607 | -5.9% |
| 1921 | 0.601 | -1.0% |
| 1922 | 0.605 | +0.7% |
| 1923 | 0.605 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.605 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.59 | -2.5% |
| 1926 | 0.592 | +0.3% |
| 1927 | 0.591 | -0.2% |
| 1928 | 0.58 | -1.9% |
| 1929 | 0.472 | -18.6% |
| 1930 | 0.472 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.487 | +3.2% |
| 1932 | 0.525 | +7.8% |
| 1933 | 0.542 | +3.2% |
| 1934 | 0.628 | +15.9% |
| 1935 | 0.631 | +0.5% |
| 1936 | 0.635 | +0.6% |
| 1937 | 0.635 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.635 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.641 | +0.9% |
| 1940 | 0.72 | +12.3% |
| 1941 | 0.72 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.72 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.72 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.725 | +0.7% |
| 1945 | 0.725 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.721 | -0.6% |
| 1947 | 0.721 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.721 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.724 | +0.4% |
| 1950 | 0.722 | -0.3% |
| 1951 | 0.709 | -1.8% |
| 1952 | 0.535 | -24.5% |
| 1953 | 0.457 | -14.6% |
| 1954 | 0.459 | +0.4% |
| 1955 | 0.459 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.459 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.455 | -0.9% |
| 1958 | 0.455 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.489 | +7.5% |
| 1960 | 0.269 | -45.0% |
| 1961 | 0.247 | -8.2% |
| 1962 | 0.233 | -5.7% |
| 1963 | 0.236 | +1.3% |
| 1964 | 0.236 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.231 | -2.1% |
| 1966 | 0.235 | +1.7% |
| 1967 | 0.235 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.231 | -1.7% |
| 1969 | 0.239 | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 0.245 | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.244 | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 0.244 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.244 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.244 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.244 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.244 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.244 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.268 | +9.8% |
| 1980 | 0.226 | -15.7% |
| 1981 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.227 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 0.227 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.227 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.227 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.227 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.234 | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 0.234 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.234 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.238 | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 0.242 | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 0.245 | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 0.25 | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 0.251 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 0.252 | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 0.266 | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 0.266 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.266 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.266 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.27 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 0.271 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 0.27 | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 0.258 | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 0.272 | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 0.285 | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 0.287 | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 0.296 | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 0.333 | +12.5% |
| 2014 | 0.337 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 0.337 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.309 | -8.3% |
| 2017 | 0.343 | +11.0% |
| 2018 | 0.321 | -6.4% |
| 2019 | 0.319 | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 0.317 | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 0.271 | -14.5% |
| 2022 | 0.275 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 0.293 | +6.5% |
| 2024 | 0.3 | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 0.302 | +0.7% |
Cuba compared with similar countries
- Cuba's 0.302 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.7345, 41% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Cuba's 0.302 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 0.819, 37% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.186 | 0.186 | 0.186 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.18 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.18 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.1783 | 0.17 | 0.18 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.179 | 0.179 | 0.179 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.171 | 0.163 | 0.179 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.1685 | 0.118 | 0.183 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.183 | 0.183 | 0.183 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.1693 | 0.114 | 0.183 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.119 | 0.115 | 0.151 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.1905 | 0.151 | 0.219 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.28 | 0.157 | 0.638 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.6515 | 0.645 | 0.654 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.6458 | 0.628 | 0.65 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.5848 | 0.472 | 0.607 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.5831 | 0.472 | 0.641 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.7217 | 0.72 | 0.725 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.5199 | 0.455 | 0.722 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.2392 | 0.231 | 0.269 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2466 | 0.244 | 0.268 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2263 | 0.226 | 0.227 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2382 | 0.227 | 0.251 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2657 | 0.252 | 0.272 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3167 | 0.285 | 0.343 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.293 | 0.271 | 0.317 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cuba
More social development data for Cuba
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 115 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 29,395 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0027 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 29,395 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is human rights index in Cuba?
- Human rights index in Cuba was 0.302 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest human rights index recorded in Cuba?
- The highest recorded value was 0.725 in 1944.
- What is the lowest human rights index recorded in Cuba?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.114 in 1868.
- How does Cuba rank for human rights index?
- Cuba ranks 150th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is human rights index rising or falling in Cuba?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cuba data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Human Rights Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which people are free from government torture, political killings, and forced labor, they have property rights, and enjoy the freedoms of movement, religion, expression, and association.