LGBT+ Rights Index in Rwanda
Rwanda: LGBT+ Rights Index was 0.8333 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in Rwanda, 1991–2025
Source: Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, lgbt+ rights index in Rwanda stood at 0.8333.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Rwanda peaked at 1 in 2012 and was at its lowest, -0.7375, in 2003.
Rwanda ranks 117th 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 Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -0.4875 | — |
| 1992 | -0.4875 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -0.4875 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -0.4875 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -0.4875 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -0.4875 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -0.4875 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -0.4875 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -0.4875 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -0.4875 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -0.4875 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -0.4875 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -0.7375 | +51.3% |
| 2004 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -0.7375 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 1 | -235.6% |
| 2013 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.8333 | -16.7% |
| 2021 | 0.8333 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.8333 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.8333 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.8333 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.8333 | +0.0% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 0.8333 is above the median for low income countries, which is -1.52. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 0.8333 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -0.6687. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.4875 | -0.4875 | -0.4875 | 9 |
| 2000s | -0.6625 | -0.7375 | -0.4875 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.6525 | -0.7375 | 1 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8333 | 0.8333 | 0.8333 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 115 Saint Lucia 0.9625 compare
- 116 Georgia 0.8958 compare
- 118 Indonesia 0.5253 compare
- 119 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0.3375 compare
- 120 Eswatini 0.3125 compare
More social development data for Rwanda
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 115,794 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 244,415 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0168 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 244,415 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0079 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 Rwanda?
- Lgbt+ rights index in Rwanda was 0.8333 in 2025, according to Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 1 in 2012.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.7375 in 2003.
- How does Rwanda rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Rwanda ranks 117th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.
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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.