LGBT+ Rights Index in India
India: LGBT+ Rights Index was 5.68 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in India, 1991–2025
Source: Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
India recorded 5.68 for lgbt+ rights index in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 271.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in India peaked at 5.68 in 2022 and was at its lowest, -0.95, in 2001.
India ranks 63rd of 194 countries on this measure, 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 India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -0.7625 | — |
| 1992 | -0.7625 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -0.7625 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -0.7625 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -0.7625 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -0.7625 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -0.7625 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -0.7625 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -0.7625 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -0.7625 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -0.95 | +24.6% |
| 2002 | -0.95 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -0.95 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.95 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -0.95 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -0.95 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -0.95 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -0.95 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -0.2 | -78.9% |
| 2010 | -0.2 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -0.2 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -0.2 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -0.2 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 1.53 | -864.6% |
| 2015 | 1.53 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.53 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.5292 | -65.4% |
| 2018 | 3.42 | +545.6% |
| 2019 | 4.47 | +30.7% |
| 2020 | 4.8 | +7.5% |
| 2021 | 4.8 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 5.68 | +18.2% |
| 2023 | 5.68 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 5.68 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 5.68 | +0.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 5.68 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.0521, 108.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 5.68 is above the median for South Asia, which is 0.45, 12.6× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.7625 | -0.7625 | -0.7625 | 9 |
| 2000s | -0.8562 | -0.95 | -0.2 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.22 | -0.2 | 4.47 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.38 | 4.8 | 5.68 | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More social development data for India
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 238,643 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 42,610 (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 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 42,610 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0002 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 India?
- Lgbt+ rights index in India was 5.68 in 2025, according to Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lgbt+ rights index recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 5.68 in 2022.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.95 in 2001.
- How does India rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- India ranks 63rd out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 271.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.