LGBT+ Rights Index in Iraq
Iraq: LGBT+ Rights Index was -4.44 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in Iraq, 1991–2025
Source: Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lgbt+ rights index in Iraq is -4.44, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1,340.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Iraq peaked at 1.25 in 1991 and was at its lowest, -4.44, in 2024.
Iraq ranks 193rd 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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.25 | — |
| 1992 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.525 | -58.0% |
| 2008 | 0.525 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.3583 | -31.8% |
| 2010 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.3583 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | -4.44 | -1340.0% |
| 2025 | -4.44 | -0.0% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's -4.44 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's -4.44 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -1.6, 2.8× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.25 | 1.25 | 1.25 | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.02 | 0.3583 | 1.25 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3583 | 0.3583 | 0.3583 | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.24 | -4.44 | 0.3583 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More social development data for Iraq
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 322,345 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 270,671 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 5 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0058 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 270,671 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0069 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 Iraq?
- Lgbt+ rights index in Iraq was -4.44 in 2025, according to Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 1.25 in 1991.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.44 in 2024.
- How does Iraq rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Iraq ranks 193rd out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1,340.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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.