LGBT+ Rights Index in Rwanda
Rwanda: LGBT+ Rights Index was -0.9281 in 2019. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in Rwanda, 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 Rwanda stood at -0.9281. That is the lowest value across all 29 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Rwanda peaked at 0.0719 in 1991 and was at its lowest, -0.9281, in 2003.
Rwanda ranks 162nd of 192 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 Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.0719 | — |
| 1992 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.0719 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | -0.9281 | -1391.3% |
| 2004 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -0.9281 | -0.0% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's -0.9281 is below the median for low income countries, which is -0.3901, 2.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's -0.9281 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -0.0794, 11.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.0719 | 0.0719 | 0.0719 | 9 |
| 2000s | -0.6281 | -0.9281 | 0.0719 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.9281 | -0.9281 | -0.9281 | 10 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
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 -0.9281 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 0.0719 in 1991.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.9281 in 2003.
- How does Rwanda rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Rwanda ranks 162nd out of 192 countries with data for 2019.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 29 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.