LGBT+ Rights Index in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: LGBT+ Rights Index was -4.27 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in Saudi Arabia, 1991–2025
Source: Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, lgbt+ rights index in Saudi Arabia stood at -4.27. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in Saudi Arabia peaked at -0.6042 in 1991 and was at its lowest, -4.27, in 2022.
Saudi Arabia ranks 192nd 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -0.6042 | — |
| 1992 | -0.6042 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -0.6042 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -0.6042 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -0.6042 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -0.6042 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -0.6042 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -0.6042 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -0.6042 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -1 | +65.5% |
| 2001 | -1.6 | +60.0% |
| 2002 | -1.66 | +3.9% |
| 2003 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -1.85 | +11.3% |
| 2008 | -1.85 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -1.85 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -1.85 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -1.85 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -1.85 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -1.85 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -3.52 | +90.1% |
| 2015 | -3.52 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -3.52 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -3.52 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -3.52 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -3.52 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | -3.52 | -0.0% |
| 2021 | -3.52 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | -4.27 | +21.3% |
| 2023 | -4.27 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -4.27 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | -4.27 | -0.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's -4.27 is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.11. (64 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's -4.27 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -1.6, 2.7× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.6042 | -0.6042 | -0.6042 | 9 |
| 2000s | -1.65 | -1.85 | -1 | 10 |
| 2010s | -2.85 | -3.52 | -1.85 | 10 |
| 2020s | -4.02 | -4.27 | -3.52 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More social development data for Saudi Arabia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 448 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,368 (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 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,368 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 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 Saudi Arabia?
- Lgbt+ rights index in Saudi Arabia was -4.27 in 2025, according to Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was -0.6042 in 1991.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.27 in 2022.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 192nd out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.