LGBT+ Rights Index in Bhutan
Bhutan: LGBT+ Rights Index was 1 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in Bhutan, 1991–2025
Source: Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lgbt+ rights index in Bhutan is 1, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 164.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Bhutan peaked at 2 in 1991 and was at its lowest, -1.74, in 2020.
That places Bhutan 108th out of 194 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.
LGBT+ Rights Index in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2 | — |
| 1992 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.45 | -77.5% |
| 2005 | 0.45 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.45 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.45 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.45 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.45 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.45 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.45 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.45 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | -1.55 | -444.4% |
| 2014 | -1.55 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -1.55 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -1.55 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -1.55 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -1.55 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -1.55 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | -1.74 | +12.1% |
| 2021 | 1 | -157.6% |
| 2022 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 1 | +0.0% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 1 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.0521, 19.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 1 is above the median for South Asia, which is 0.45, 2.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.07 | 0.45 | 2 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.95 | -1.55 | 0.45 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5438 | -1.74 | 1 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More social development data for Bhutan
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 7,257 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0091 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 7,257 (2025)
- Sovereign state gleditsch ward, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -2.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lgbt+ rights index in Bhutan?
- Lgbt+ rights index in Bhutan was 1 in 2025, according to Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 2 in 1991.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.74 in 2020.
- How does Bhutan rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Bhutan ranks 108th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 164.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of LGBT+ Rights Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Summary measure of a country's LGBTI-related laws, calculated by subtracting the sum of its regressive policy scores from the sum of its progressive policy scores.