LGBT+ Rights Index in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: LGBT+ Rights Index was 8.9 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in Bulgaria, 1991–2025
Source: Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lgbt+ rights index in Bulgaria is 8.9, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Bulgaria peaked at 9.58 in 2023 and was at its lowest, -0.7375, in 1991.
That places Bulgaria 51st 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 Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -0.7375 | — |
| 1992 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.0958 | -113.0% |
| 2001 | 0.0958 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.02 | +965.6% |
| 2003 | 3.02 | +195.9% |
| 2004 | 5.67 | +87.6% |
| 2005 | 5.67 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 5.67 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 5.75 | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 5.75 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 5.75 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 5.75 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 5.75 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 5.75 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 5.75 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 5.75 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 8.58 | +49.3% |
| 2016 | 8.42 | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 8.58 | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 8.58 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 8.58 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 8.42 | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 8.42 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 8.42 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 9.58 | +13.9% |
| 2024 | 8.9 | -7.2% |
| 2025 | 8.9 | +0.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 8.9 is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.11, 88% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 8.9 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10.28, 87% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.7375 | -0.7375 | -0.7375 | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.85 | 0.0958 | 5.75 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.15 | 5.75 | 8.58 | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.77 | 8.42 | 9.58 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More social development data for Bulgaria
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 105,596 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 533 (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 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 533 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0164 units per person (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 Bulgaria?
- Lgbt+ rights index in Bulgaria was 8.9 in 2025, according to Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 9.58 in 2023.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.7375 in 1991.
- How does Bulgaria rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Bulgaria ranks 51st out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria 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.
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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.