What is human rights index in India?

Human rights index in India was 0.534 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest human rights index recorded in India?

The highest recorded value was 0.76 in 1996.

What is the lowest human rights index recorded in India?

The lowest recorded value was 0.206 in 1857.

How does India rank for human rights index?

India ranks 117th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is human rights index rising or falling in India?

Over the last ten years it is down 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this India 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.

Human Rights Index in India

Name: Human Rights Index in India
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

India: Human Rights Index was 0.534 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.534

Change on year

down 0.2%

World rank

117th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.76

in 1996

All-time low

0.206

in 1857

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Human Rights Index in India, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, human rights index in India stood at 0.534.

That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 19.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, human rights index in India peaked at 0.76 in 1996 and was at its lowest, 0.206, in 1857.

That places India 117th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

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	0.211	0.211	0.211	1
1790s	0.2131	0.211	0.214	10
1800s	0.214	0.214	0.214	10
1810s	0.2144	0.214	0.216	10
1820s	0.216	0.216	0.216	10
1830s	0.219	0.216	0.231	10
1840s	0.231	0.231	0.231	10
1850s	0.231	0.206	0.267	10
1860s	0.292	0.292	0.292	10
1870s	0.2949	0.279	0.312	10
1880s	0.3016	0.279	0.31	10
1890s	0.31	0.31	0.31	10
1900s	0.311	0.31	0.312	10
1910s	0.312	0.312	0.312	10
1920s	0.312	0.312	0.312	10
1930s	0.322	0.312	0.332	10
1940s	0.4201	0.331	0.717	10
1950s	0.7344	0.734	0.735	10
1960s	0.7319	0.729	0.735	10
1970s	0.6862	0.555	0.738	10
1980s	0.7076	0.679	0.733	10
1990s	0.7508	0.731	0.76	10
2000s	0.7382	0.731	0.751	10
2010s	0.6696	0.563	0.733	10
2020s	0.5457	0.529	0.588	6

Countries ranked near India

114 Ukraine 0.578 compare
115 Philippines 0.561 compare
116 Guinea-Bissau 0.557 compare
118 Iraq 0.521 compare
119 Kazakhstan 0.513 compare
119 Mauritania 0.513 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for India

Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 238,643 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 42,610 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.377 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.458 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.586 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.377 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.246 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.26 (2025)

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is human rights index in India?: Human rights index in India was 0.534 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest human rights index recorded in India?: The highest recorded value was 0.76 in 1996.
What is the lowest human rights index recorded in India?: The lowest recorded value was 0.206 in 1857.
How does India rank for human rights index?: India ranks 117th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is human rights index rising or falling in India?: Over the last ten years it is down 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this India 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

CSV · JSON — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Human Rights Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,202 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.