LGBT+ Rights Index in United States
United States: LGBT+ Rights Index was 10.67 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
LGBT+ Rights Index in United States, 1991–2025
Source: Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, lgbt+ rights index in United States stood at 10.67.
The figure is down 23.4% on the previous year and up 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lgbt+ rights index in United States peaked at 13.95 in 2023 and was at its lowest, -1.2, in 1996.
United States ranks 40th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
LGBT+ Rights Index in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -0.9413 | — |
| 1992 | -0.9937 | +5.6% |
| 1993 | -0.9371 | -5.7% |
| 1994 | -0.9426 | +0.6% |
| 1995 | -0.8755 | -7.1% |
| 1996 | -1.2 | +36.9% |
| 1997 | -1.17 | -2.7% |
| 1998 | -1.08 | -7.0% |
| 1999 | -0.9031 | -16.7% |
| 2000 | -0.8171 | -9.5% |
| 2001 | -0.387 | -52.6% |
| 2002 | -0.115 | -70.3% |
| 2003 | 1.06 | -1024.7% |
| 2004 | 1.13 | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 1.6 | +42.1% |
| 2006 | 1.76 | +10.1% |
| 2007 | 1.89 | +7.5% |
| 2008 | 1.72 | -9.0% |
| 2009 | 3.13 | +81.4% |
| 2010 | 4.87 | +55.7% |
| 2011 | 5.37 | +10.3% |
| 2012 | 5.5 | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 6.11 | +11.1% |
| 2014 | 7.06 | +15.6% |
| 2015 | 8.24 | +16.7% |
| 2016 | 9.42 | +14.3% |
| 2017 | 9.69 | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 9.79 | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 9.98 | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 11.4 | +14.3% |
| 2021 | 11.94 | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 12.27 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 13.95 | +13.6% |
| 2024 | 13.92 | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 10.67 | -23.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 10.67 is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.11, 1.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where LGBT+ Rights Index in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +1024.7% | -0.115 | 1.06 |
| 2009 | +81.4% | 1.72 | 3.13 |
| 2002 | +70.3% | -0.387 | -0.115 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -1 | -1.2 | -0.8755 | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.1 | -0.8171 | 3.13 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.6 | 4.87 | 9.98 | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.36 | 10.67 | 13.95 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 37 Serbia 11.58 compare
- 38 Albania 11.33 compare
- 39 Montenegro 11.27 compare
- 41 New Zealand 10.61 compare
- 42 San Marino 10.58 compare
- 43 Honduras 10.42 compare
More social development data for United States
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 457,647 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,667 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (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 3,667 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0013 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 United States?
- Lgbt+ rights index in United States was 10.67 in 2025, according to Velasco (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lgbt+ rights index recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 13.95 in 2023.
- What is the lowest lgbt+ rights index recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.2 in 1996.
- How does United States rank for lgbt+ rights index?
- United States ranks 40th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lgbt+ rights index rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.