LGBT+ Rights Index in Lesotho
Lesotho: LGBT+ Rights Index was 2.07 in 2019. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in Lesotho, 1991–2019
Source: Velasco (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2019, lgbt+ rights index in Lesotho stood at 2.07. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.
The figure is up 826.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Lesotho peaked at 2.07 in 2010 and was at its lowest, -0.2853, in 1991.
Lesotho ranks 75th of 192 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 Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -0.2853 | — |
| 1992 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -0.2853 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 2.07 | -826.2% |
| 2011 | 2.07 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 2.07 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2.07 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.07 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2.07 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.07 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2.07 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2.07 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2.07 | +0.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 2.07 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.0719, 28.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 2.07 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -0.0794. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.2853 | -0.2853 | -0.2853 | 9 |
| 2000s | -0.2853 | -0.2853 | -0.2853 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.07 | 2.07 | 2.07 | 10 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 72 Cuba 2.94 compare
- 72 South Korea 2.94 compare
- 74 Latvia 2.92 compare
- 75 Azerbaijan 2.07 compare
- 75 Central African Republic 2.07 compare
- 75 Djibouti 2.07 compare
- 75 Equatorial Guinea 2.07 compare
- 75 Guatemala 2.07 compare
- 75 Guinea-Bissau 2.07 compare
- 75 Haiti 2.07 compare
- 75 India 2.07 compare
- 75 Jordan 2.07 compare
- 75 Kazakhstan 2.07 compare
- 75 Laos 2.07 compare
- 75 Mali 2.07 compare
- 75 Marshall Islands 2.07 compare
- 75 Micronesia (country) 2.07 compare
- 75 Nauru 2.07 compare
- 75 North Korea 2.07 compare
- 75 North Macedonia 2.07 compare
- 75 Sao Tome and Principe 2.07 compare
- 75 Suriname 2.07 compare
- 75 Tajikistan 2.07 compare
- 75 Ukraine 2.07 compare
- 75 Vanuatu 2.07 compare
- 75 Venezuela 2.07 compare
- 75 Vietnam 2.07 compare
More social development data for Lesotho
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 478 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 27 (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 27 (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 Lesotho?
- Lgbt+ rights index in Lesotho was 2.07 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 2.07 in 2010.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.2853 in 1991.
- How does Lesotho rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Lesotho ranks 75th out of 192 countries with data for 2019.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 826.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.
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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.