LGBT+ Rights Index in China
China: LGBT+ Rights Index was -1.73 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in China, 1991–2025
Source: Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, lgbt+ rights index in China stood at -1.73. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 108.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in China peaked at 1.25 in 1997 and was at its lowest, -1.73, in 2022.
China ranks 165th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
LGBT+ Rights Index in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -1.6 | — |
| 1992 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -1.6 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 1.25 | -178.1% |
| 1998 | 0.25 | -80.0% |
| 1999 | 0.25 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.25 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.25 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.9167 | +266.7% |
| 2003 | 0.9167 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.9167 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.9167 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.9167 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.9167 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.9167 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | -0.3333 | -136.4% |
| 2010 | -0.3333 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -0.3333 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -0.3333 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -0.3333 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -0.3333 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -0.8333 | +150.0% |
| 2016 | -1.13 | +35.5% |
| 2017 | -1.65 | +46.1% |
| 2018 | -1.65 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -1.65 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | -1.65 | -0.0% |
| 2021 | -1.65 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | -1.73 | +5.0% |
| 2023 | -1.73 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -1.73 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | -1.73 | -0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's -1.73 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2. (58 countries reporting)
- China's -1.73 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.25. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.8722 | -1.6 | 1.25 | 9 |
| 2000s | 0.6584 | -0.3333 | 0.9167 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.8579 | -1.65 | -0.3333 | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.71 | -1.73 | -1.65 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More social development data for China
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 230 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 153,962 (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 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 153,962 (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 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lgbt+ rights index in China?
- Lgbt+ rights index in China was -1.73 in 2025, according to Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lgbt+ rights index recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.25 in 1997.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.73 in 2022.
- How does China rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- China ranks 165th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 108.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.