LGBT+ Rights Index in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: LGBT+ Rights Index was -3.48 in 2019. ▼ Falling
LGBT+ Rights Index in Saudi Arabia, 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 Saudi Arabia stood at -3.48.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Saudi Arabia peaked at -2.55 in 1991 and was at its lowest, -3.51, in 2001.
Saudi Arabia ranks 191st of 192 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 29 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -2.58 | -2.59 | -2.55 | 9 |
| 2000s | -3.4 | -3.51 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 2010s | -3.51 | -3.51 | -3.48 | 10 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More social development data for Saudi Arabia
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 448 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 2,368 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.016 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.092 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.026 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.016 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.026 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.047 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lgbt+ rights index in Saudi Arabia?
- Lgbt+ rights index in Saudi Arabia was -3.48 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was -2.55 in 1991.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.51 in 2001.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 191st out of 192 countries with data for 2019.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.