LGBT+ Rights Index in Bhutan
Bhutan: LGBT+ Rights Index was -0.3355 in 2019. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in Bhutan, 1991–2019
Source: Velasco (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lgbt+ rights index in Bhutan is -0.3355, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 29 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Bhutan peaked at 0.0719 in 1991 and was at its lowest, -0.3355, in 2004.
That places Bhutan 138th out of 192 countries with data for 2019, 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 | 0.0719 | — |
| 1992 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.3355 | -566.8% |
| 2005 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -0.3355 | -0.0% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's -0.3355 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.0719. (46 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's -0.3355 is above the median for South Asia, which is -0.3628, 92% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.0719 | 0.0719 | 0.0719 | 9 |
| 2000s | -0.1726 | -0.3355 | 0.0719 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.3355 | -0.3355 | -0.3355 | 10 |
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 -0.3355 in 2019, according to Velasco (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 0.0719 in 1991.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.3355 in 2004.
- How does Bhutan rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Bhutan ranks 138th out of 192 countries with data for 2019.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from Velasco (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – 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
CSV · JSON — 29 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The LGBT+ Policy Index measures a country’s LGBT+ policy landscape by capturing the implementation of 18 different LGBT+ policies. Policies included in the index are limited to those adopted across at least three countries or are explicitly advocated for by transnational activists.