LGBT+ Rights Index in Kenya
Kenya: LGBT+ Rights Index was -0.3976 in 2019. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in Kenya, 1991–2019
Source: Velasco (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Kenya recorded -0.3976 for lgbt+ rights index in 2019.
The figure is up 8.8% on the previous year and down 166.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Kenya peaked at 0.6024 in 1991 and was at its lowest, -0.4358, in 2010.
Kenya ranks 151st of 192 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.6024 | — |
| 1992 | 0.6024 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.5642 | -6.3% |
| 1994 | 0.6024 | +6.8% |
| 1995 | 0.5642 | -6.3% |
| 1996 | 0.6024 | +6.8% |
| 1997 | 0.6024 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.6024 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.6024 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.6024 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.6024 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.6024 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.6024 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.6024 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.6024 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.6024 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.6024 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.6024 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.6024 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | -0.4358 | -172.3% |
| 2011 | -0.3976 | -8.8% |
| 2012 | -0.4358 | +9.6% |
| 2013 | -0.4358 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -0.4358 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -0.4358 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -0.4358 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -0.4358 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -0.4358 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -0.3976 | -8.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's -0.3976 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.0719. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's -0.3976 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -0.0794, 5.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.594 | 0.5642 | 0.6024 | 9 |
| 2000s | 0.6024 | 0.6024 | 0.6024 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.4281 | -0.4358 | -0.3976 | 10 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More social development data for Kenya
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 617,125 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 13,325 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (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 13,325 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0107 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 Kenya?
- Lgbt+ rights index in Kenya was -0.3976 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 0.6024 in 1991.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.4358 in 2010.
- How does Kenya rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Kenya ranks 151st out of 192 countries with data for 2019.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 166.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.