LGBT+ Rights Index in Iran
Iran: LGBT+ Rights Index was -2.5 in 2019. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in Iran, 1991–2019
Source: Velasco (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Iran recorded -2.5 for lgbt+ rights index in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 52.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Iran peaked at -0.6317 in 1993 and was at its lowest, -2.54, in 2013.
That places Iran 188th out of 192 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.6529 | -0.6699 | -0.6317 | 9 |
| 2000s | -0.7598 | -1.64 | -0.6317 | 10 |
| 2010s | -2.26 | -2.54 | -1.61 | 10 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More social development data for Iran
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 770,514 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 157,912 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.159 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.166 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.093 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.159 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.042 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.103 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lgbt+ rights index in Iran?
- Lgbt+ rights index in Iran was -2.5 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was -0.6317 in 1993.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.54 in 2013.
- How does Iran rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Iran ranks 188th out of 192 countries with data for 2019.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 52.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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.