LGBT+ Rights Index in Nigeria
Nigeria: LGBT+ Rights Index was -3.42 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in Nigeria, 1991–2025
Source: Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lgbt+ rights index in Nigeria is -3.42, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Nigeria peaked at 0.2125 in 1991 and was at its lowest, -3.42, in 2022.
Nigeria ranks 190th 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.2125 | — |
| 1992 | 0.2125 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | -0.3875 | -282.4% |
| 1994 | -0.6375 | +64.5% |
| 1995 | -0.6375 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -0.6375 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -0.6375 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -0.6375 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -0.6531 | +2.4% |
| 2000 | -0.8 | +22.5% |
| 2001 | -0.8619 | +7.7% |
| 2002 | -0.8909 | +3.4% |
| 2003 | -0.9543 | +7.1% |
| 2004 | -0.9543 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -0.9543 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -0.9543 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -0.9543 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -0.9543 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -0.9543 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -0.9543 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -0.9543 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -0.9543 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -0.9543 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -3.35 | +251.5% |
| 2015 | -3.35 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -3.35 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -3.35 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -3.35 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -3.35 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | -3.35 | -0.0% |
| 2021 | -3.35 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | -3.42 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | -3.42 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -3.42 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | -3.42 | -0.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's -3.42 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.0521. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's -3.42 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -0.6687, 5.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.4226 | -0.6531 | 0.2125 | 9 |
| 2000s | -0.9233 | -0.9543 | -0.8 | 10 |
| 2010s | -2.39 | -3.35 | -0.9543 | 10 |
| 2020s | -3.4 | -3.42 | -3.35 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More social development data for Nigeria
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 123,848 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 478,150 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (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 0.002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 478,150 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0005 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 Nigeria?
- Lgbt+ rights index in Nigeria was -3.42 in 2025, according to Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2125 in 1991.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.42 in 2022.
- How does Nigeria rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Nigeria ranks 190th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.