LGBT+ Rights Index in Russia
Russia: LGBT+ Rights Index was -2.22 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in Russia, 1991–2025
Source: Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Russia recorded -2.22 for lgbt+ rights index in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 327.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Russia peaked at 2.16 in 2008 and was at its lowest, -2.22, in 2023.
Russia ranks 171st 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 Russia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -1.73 | — |
| 1992 | -1.48 | -14.5% |
| 1993 | -0.4125 | -72.0% |
| 1994 | -0.4125 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -1.41 | +242.4% |
| 1996 | -0.0833 | -94.1% |
| 1997 | 1 | -1300.5% |
| 1998 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.1667 | -83.3% |
| 2004 | 0.1667 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.1667 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.1619 | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 0.1619 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 2.16 | +1235.3% |
| 2009 | 2.16 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 2.16 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 2.16 | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 1.58 | -26.9% |
| 2013 | 0.975 | -38.2% |
| 2014 | 0.975 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.975 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.975 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.8083 | -17.1% |
| 2018 | 0.8083 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.8083 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.6417 | -20.6% |
| 2021 | 0.6417 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.5167 | -19.5% |
| 2023 | -2.22 | -529.0% |
| 2024 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's -2.22 is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.11. (64 countries reporting)
- Russia's -2.22 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10.28. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.2801 | -1.73 | 1 | 9 |
| 2000s | 0.8147 | 0.1619 | 2.16 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.22 | 0.8083 | 2.16 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.8083 | -2.22 | 0.6417 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Russia
More social development data for Russia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 11,811 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 99,360 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0007 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 99,360 (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 Russia?
- Lgbt+ rights index in Russia was -2.22 in 2025, according to Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.16 in 2008.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.22 in 2023.
- How does Russia rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Russia ranks 171st out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 327.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Russia 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.