LGBT+ Rights Index in South Korea
South Korea: LGBT+ Rights Index was 2.62 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in South Korea, 1991–2025
Source: Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lgbt+ rights index in South Korea is 2.62, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in South Korea peaked at 2.62 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.2, in 1991.
South Korea ranks 80th 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.2 | — |
| 1992 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.2833 | +41.6% |
| 2000 | 0.2833 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1.78 | +529.5% |
| 2002 | 1.78 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1.78 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.78 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.78 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 2.45 | +37.4% |
| 2007 | 2.45 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 2.45 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 2.45 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 2.45 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 2.45 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 2.45 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2.45 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.45 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2.45 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.45 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2.45 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2.45 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2.45 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2.62 | +6.8% |
| 2021 | 2.62 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2.62 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2.62 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 2.62 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 2.62 | +0.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2.62 is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.11, 26% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2.62 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.25, 2.1× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.2093 | 0.2 | 0.2833 | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.9 | 0.2833 | 2.45 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.45 | 2.45 | 2.45 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.62 | 2.62 | 2.62 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More social development data for South Korea
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4,407 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 117 (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 117 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lgbt+ rights index in South Korea?
- Lgbt+ rights index in South Korea was 2.62 in 2025, according to Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lgbt+ rights index recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 2.62 in 2020.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2 in 1991.
- How does South Korea rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- South Korea ranks 80th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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.