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LGBT Rights by Country / Best and Worst Countries for LGBTQ+ Rights 2024

The acronyms LGBT, LGBTQ+, and their related forms refer to individuals with non-heterosexual sexual identities and/or non-cisgender gender identities. Many LGBTQ+ people around the world face inequality, discrimination, and in some cases, violence. Rights and protections for those who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community vary greatly by country or jurisdiction. Some countries are accepting, even gay-friendly, and have strong LGBTQ+ protections such as safeguards that preserve individuals' rights to marriage and employment. Other countries have poor LGBTQ+ rights and offer fewer protections. In the world's most homophobic countries, LGBTQI+ lifestyles may be illegal and punishable by prison sentences, lashings, or the death penalty.

The topic of LGBTQI+ rights is broad and multifaceted. Because of this breadth, determining each country's level of LGBTQI+ support requires the comparison of many indicators, ranging from whether gay marriage is legal to whether LGBTQI+ individuals are accepted by the general population or subjected to discrimination and possible vigilante violence. Three of the most reputable metrics that track LGBTQI+ rights are UCLA University's Global Acceptance Index (GAI), the Equaldex Equality Index (EEI), and the Asher & Lyric LGBTQI+ Travel Safety Index (TSI). In all three of these rankings, higher scores are preferable.

Top 10 Countries with the Best LGBTQ+ Rights:

RankGAIEEITSI
1IcelandIceland [tie 1-3]Canada
2NetherlandsCanada [tie 1-3]Sweden
3NorwayIsle of Man [tie 1-3]Netherlands
4SwedenNorway [tie 4-6]Malta
5CanadaDenmark [tie 4-6]Portugal
6SpainUruguay [tie 4-6]United Kingdom
7DenmarkNetherlands [tie 7-8]Norway
8IrelandAndorra [tie 7-8]Belgium
9United KingdomUnited Kingdom [tie 9-11]Spain
10New ZealandAustralia [tie 9-11]France
11AustraliaGermany [tie 9-11]Iceland

When examining the lower end of the rankings to seek out the worst countries for LGBTQI+ rights, it may also be worthwhile to note the possibility of capital punishment. As of 2022, six countries' legal codes specifically prescribe the death penalty for the "crime" of homosexuality and another five countries allow for the possibility of the death penalty.

Top 11 Countries with the Worst LGBTQ+ Rights:

RankGAIEEITSIDeath Penalty
1AzerbaijanYemenBruneiIran
2TajikistanBrunei [tie 2-4]NigeriaSaudi Arabia
3ZimbabweSomalia [tie 2-4]KuwaitBrunei
4SomaliaAfghanistan [tie 2-4]Saudi ArabiaMauritania
5EthiopiaMauritaniaGuyanaNigeria
6MalawiIranMalaysiaYemen
7MauritaniaLibyaMalawiUnited Arab Emirates
8SenegalNigeriaTongaAfghanistan
9JordanUnited Arab Emirates [tie 9-10]SomaliaSomalia
10MoldovaGambia [tie 9-10]LibyaQatar
11ZambiaSudan/Egypt [tie 11-12]AfghanistanPakistan

Definitions and variations of LGBT and LGBTQ+

LGBT and LGBTQ+ have several additional variations, including LGBTQ, LGBTQIA, LGBTQIA+, and 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual, with the + representing pansexual, agender, gender queer, bigender, gender variant, and pangender).

While longer variations are arguably more inclusive than shorter versions with fewer specific mentions, in actual practice all variations nearly always refer to the broadest community and tend to be largely interchangeable (i.e., a reference to the LGBT community is not confined to only LGBT individuals and can instead be assumed to include the full non-heterosexual/non-cisgender community, just as LGBTQ+, 2SLGBTQIA+, and any other variations do). LGBTQ+ communities may also be described as having diverse SOGIESC, which the United Nations defines as having "sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and/or sex characteristics that place them outside culturally mainstream categories".

LGBTQ+ Rights in the United States

The US has made significant strides in LGBTQI+ rights over the years, coding an increasing number of LGBTQI+ rights into national law. Two of the most notable advancements in LGBTQI+ rights in the US in recent decades are the legalization of gay marriage and the legalization of adoption of children by same-sex couples. Gay marriage legalization expanded from one state in 2004 to all fifty states in 2015 through federal court rulings, state court rulings, state legislation, and direct popular votes. The Supreme Court struck down all bans on same-sex adoption in 2016, legalizing it in all 50 states.

Despite these and other advancements, the United States still lags behind many other countries (especially in Northern Europe) in terms of establishing and protecting LGBTQI+ rights. One particular standout example is the United States' lack of an overarching federal law outlawing discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals. This shortcoming has enabled many forms of LGBTQI+ discrimination (employment, housing, education) to remain a concern, especially in the Southern states.

The Equality Act would amend existing civil rights laws to explicitly state sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics. By including this language, the Act would provide explicit non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people nationwide and all areas of life such as housing, education, employment, public spaces and services, and federally funded programs among other things. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been fighting for LGBTQI+ rights since 1936 and brings more LGBTQI+ cases than any other national organization.

LGQBTQ+ Rights Around the World

LGBTQ+ rights vary greatly between countries. According to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association's annual report State-Sponsored Homophobia, same-sex conduct was criminalized in 67 of the United Nations' 193 member states in 2020 and was de facto illegal in two more. In other countries, homosexuality is technically legal, but promotion of "nontraditional sexual relations", whether by organizations or individuals, is illegal.

In six countries with a strict interpretation of sharia law, consensual same-sex acts are punishable by death (usually by stoning). Moreover, another five countries have laws which are less specific in the outlawing and sentencing of homosexuality, but which leave the death penalty available.

Countries Where Consensual Same-Sex Acts Are Punishable by Death:

Explicitly PrescribedLegally Allowed
BruneiAfghanistan
IranPakistan
MauritaniaQatar
NigeriaSomalia
Saudi ArabiaUnited Arab Emirates
Yemen

Conversion therapies: legal or not?

A handful of nations have outlawed conversion therapies nationwide: Brazil, Canada (some provinces), Ecuador, Mexico (some jurisdictions), Puerto Rico, and the United States (some states). Conversion therapy is also outlawed in some subnational divisions in certain countries: some of Canada's provinces, some of Mexico's jurisdictions, and roughly 50% of US states:

States Where Conversion Therapy is Banned:

CaliforniaMichigan*Oregon
ColoradoMinnesotaPennsylvania
ConnecticutNevadaRhode Island
DelawareNew HampshireUtah
HawaiiNew JerseyVermont
IllinoisNew MexicoVirginia
MaineNew YorkWashington
MarylandNorth Carolina*Wisconsin*
Massachusetts

Note: * indicates a state in which state-funded conversion therapy is banned, but therapy may still be funded privately.

Laws against discrimination based upon sexual orientation

A growing number of countries are passing legal protections to prevent discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals. 81 United Nations member states (42%), including most of Europe and South America, have taken steps to tackle sexual orientation-based discrimination in the workplace, and 57 UN members (30%) have passed broad anti-discrimination laws. Thus far, 6% of UN members (11 states) and one non-member territory have coded GLBTQI+ anti-discrimination protections into their constitutions: Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Fiji, Kosovo, Malta, Mexico, Nepal, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa, Sweden

Laws regarding same-sex adoptions

As of 2020, 28 UN member states (14%, largely in North America and Europe) had legally established the right of same-sex GLBTQI+ couples to adopt children. Four additional member countries had authorized "second parent" adoption by same-sex couples (second parent adoptions are those in which one member of a same-sex couple adopts the child of the other member).

Same-sex marriage

in 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. As of 2022, nearly 50 countries have followed suit, the most recent of which being Switzerland in 2022. Same-sex marriage is most often legalized in the Americas and Western Europe, and is less likely to be legal in Africa and Asia. A number of these states also recognize same-sex civil unions, including Peru, Greece, and Italy. Additionally, some countries do not allow their own GLBTQI+ citizens to marry, but do legally acknowledge same-sex marriages performed in other countries.

The World's Safest Countries for LGBTQ+ People

According to the LGBTQ+ Danger Index, below are the ten best and safest countries in the world for LGBTQ+ people. The index is created by compiling country-level data on a wide range of metrics related to LGBT rights, from the legality of same-sex marriage to propaganda laws and murder rates of transsexual individuals.

Canada

2022's friendliest nation for LGBTQ+ travelers is Canada, the first country outside of Europe (and the fourth country in the world) to legalize gay marriage, which it did on July 20, 2005. Same-sex couples can adopt children in Canada, same-sex marriage is legal, and the country has constitutional protections against discrimination of LGBTQ+ people. Canada has robust protections against multiple forms of discrimination the basis of sexual orientation, and only a few countries have a more progressive stance on legal recognition of gender identity.

Sweden

Another of the world's most gay-friendly countries, Sweden has legalized both marriage and adoption for same-sex couples, installed anti-discrimination protections for both gender identity and sexual orientation, encoded constitutional protections against discrimination, and criminalized violence against LGBTQ+ people.

Netherlands

Like Sweden and Canada, the Netherlands has one of the world's most inclusive and progressive attitudes regarding LGBTQI+ rights. Same-sex marriage and adoption are both legal, anti-discrimination rules are written into the constitution, and employment protections defend against discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBTQI+ individuals can change their government-registered gender without undergoing gender reassignment surgery.

Malta

Same-sex couples in Malta are free to marry and adopt children, hate crimes against LGBTQI+ people are illegal, and more than 75% of all LGBTQI+ individuals surveyed feel the country is a good place for them to live. Malta is also one of very few countries with a trans murder rate of less than 0.1 per million residents.

Portugal

Portugal became the sixth European country and the eighth country in the world to legalize gay marriage on May 17, 2010. In 2016, same-sex couples became eligible to adopt. Additionally, gays, lesbians, and bisexuals are all allowed to join the Portuguese military. The LGBTQ+ has constitutional protections against discrimination as well as worker protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity.

United Kingdom

On March 29, 2014, the UK legalized same-sex marriage. Laws to allow same-sex couples to adopt passed in England and Wales in 2005 and Scotland in 2009. Since 2000, LGBT people have been allowed to openly serve in the military and discrimination based on sexual orientation has been prohibited since 2010. The British military also grants same-sex couples the same rights to housing and allowances that opposite-sex couples enjoy.

Belgium

Belgium was the second country in the world to legalize gay marriage (after the Netherlands). Same-sex couples have the same adoption rights as opposite-sex couples and LGBTQI+ individuals are not banned from the military. Belgium offers broad protections for LGBTQ+ people against discrimination and has worker protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.

Norway

Norway has legalized gay marriage and has worker protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity. Norway has broad protections for discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, rather than constitutional protections, and has criminalized hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community. Like Sweden and Canada, Norway allows for joint and second-parent adoption for same-sex couples.

Spain

Finishing the top ten list of the most LGBTQ+-friendly countries is Spain. In 2005, Spain legalized both same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption. Spain has nationwide worker protections for sexual orientation only; however, some autonomous communities in Spain have banned discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity. Additionally, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people may serve openly in the Spanish Armed Forces.

France

On May 18, 2013, France became the 13th country to legalize gay marriage. Same-sex couples have also been legally able to adopt since the same-sex marriage law took effect. France offers worker protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals are allowed to serve openly in the military. In 2004, the National Assembly approved an amendment to existing anti-discrimination laws to include homophobic comments as illegal.

Finland

Same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption have been legal in Finland since March 1, 2017. Finland has worker protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity and has broad protections against discrimination.

Iceland

Same-sex marriage was legalized in Iceland in 2010 by a unanimous vote to define marriage as between two individuals (with no specific gender requirements). Since 2006, same-sex couples have had equal access to adoption and IVF (in vitro fertilization) as opposite-sex couples. In 2018, Iceland passed a law banning employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics.

Table Notes:

  • Global Acceptance Index (GAI) is a measure of overall LGBTQ+ acceptance. GAI was devised by researchers at the Williams Institute at UCLA University. Higher scores are preferable.
  • Equaldex Equality Index (EEI) is a combined metric that calculated ""the current status of LGBT rights, laws, and freedoms as well as public attitudes towards LGBT people."" Higher scores are preferable.
  • The LGBTQI+ Travel Safety Index (TSI) combines several factors in ten categories. Higher scores are preferable.
  • Maximum penalties listed are those outlined by legal code. Individuals arrested for homosexual conduct are often subjected to additional mistreatment, from torture and forced anal exams by shady law enforcement officials to oversized sentences or extended pre-trial incarceration that can last for years.
  • Years listed indicate the first year the first protection was put in place. For example, Andorra has passed employment protections in 2003, 2009, and 2018, so 2003 is listed.
  • Countries that have not legalized same-sex marriage may still acknowledge same-sex marriages performed in other countries.
  • Countries marked ""varied"" include a wide range of regulations depending upon which state, province, or other subdivision one is evaluating.
  • Second-parent adoptions are those in which one member of a partnership adopts the child of the other member, thereby becoming the ""second parent
Note: See bottom of article text (above) for notes about this table.

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Country
GAI
EEI
TSI
Consensual Same-Sex Acts
Death Penalty
Max Penalty
Same-Sex Unions
Same-Sex Marriages
Same-Sex Adoptions
Afghanistan3.322-147Illegal - 2018Possible2 yrs prison to deathNoNoNo
Albania2.6538141Legalized 1995NoNoNoNo
Algeria4.2816-75Illegal - 1966No2 yrs prison + finesNoNoNo
American SamoaLegalized 1980NoNoNoNo
Andorra7.4885175Legalized 1990NoLegalized 2005NoLegalized 2014
Angola3.6662213Legalized 2021NoNoNoNo
AnguillaLegalized 2001NoNoNoNo
Antigua and Barbuda3.5235-67Illegal - 1995No15 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Argentina7.0782260Legalized 1903NoLegalized 2002Legalized 2010Legalized 2010
Armenia2.173464Legalized 2003NoNoNoNo
Aruba138Legalized 1869NoLegalized 2016NoNo
Australia8.0384307Legalized 1975-1997NoVariedLegalized 2017Legalized 2002-2018
Austria7.274305Legalized 1971NoLegalized 2010Legalized 2019Legalized 2016
Azerbaijan1.4224Legalized 2000NoNoNoNo
Bahamas4.095150Legalized 1991NoNoNoNo
Bahrain5.7344-15Legalized 1976NoNoNoNo
Bangladesh3.6923-9Illegal - 1860NoLife in prisonNoNoNo
Barbados4.4356-93Illegal - 1992NoLife in prisonNoNoNo
Belarus3.383853Legalized 1994NoNoNoNo
Belgium7.9577343Legalized 1795NoLegalized 1998Legalized 2003Legalized 2006
Belize4.1466-12Legalized 2016NoNoNoNo
Benin3.883610Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
BermudaLegalized 1994NoNoNoLegalized 2015
Bhutan4.185716Illegal - 2004No1 yr prisonNoNoNo
Bolivia5.2460223Legalized 1832NoNoNoNo
Bosnia and Herzegovina2.8743123Legalized 1991-2003NoNoNoNo
Botswana4.35698Legalized 2019NoNoNoNo
Brazil7.2282223Legalized 1831NoLegalized 2011Legalized 2013Legalized 2010
Brunei2-200Illegal - 2019Yes10 yrs prison to deathNoNoNo
Bulgaria4.1955128Legalized 1968NoNoNoNo
Burkina Faso2.963923Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
Burundi3.321-45Illegal - 2009No2 yrs prison + finesNoNoNo
Cambodia4.964094Legal - never illegalNoNoPendingNo
Cameroon2.7918Illegal - 2016No5 yrs prison + finesNoNoNo
Canada9.0290383Legalized 1969NoLegalized 1999Legalized 2005Legalized (1996-2011)
Cape Verde6.7869125Legalized 2004NoNoNoNo
Cayman Islands59Legalized 2001NoLegalized 2020NoNo
Central African Republic2.6255-52Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
Chad2.7215-58Illegal - 2017No2 yrs prison + finesNoNoNo
Chile6.8379312Legalized 1999NoLegalized 2015PendingPending
China3.694531Legalized 1997NoPendingNoNo
Colombia6.169241Legalized 1981NoLegalized 2011Legalized 2016Legalized 2015
Comoros3.4722-56Illegal - 1981No5 yrs prison + finesNoNoNo
Cook IslandsIllegal - 1969NovariesNoNoNo
Costa Rica6.3572197Legalized 1971NoNoLegalized 2020Legalized 2020
Croatia5.0558254Legalized 1977NoLegalized 2014NoLimited
Cuba5.881176Legalized 1979NoNoNoNo
Curacao50Legalized 1869NoNoNoNo
Cyprus5.1659192Legalized 1998NoLegalized 2015NoNo
Czech Republic5.8767185Legalized 1962NoLegalized 2006NoLimited
Denmark8.6986307Legalized 1933NoReplacedLegalized 2012Legalized 2010
Djibouti2.894315Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
Dominica3.5627-57Illegal - 1998No10 yrs + mental hospitalNoNoNo
Dominican Republic4.98401Legalized 1822NoNoNoNo
DR Congo3.3252-27Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
Ecuador5.4764228Legalized 1997NoLegalized 2008Legalized 2019No
Egypt2.4811-96Illegal (as "debauchery") - 1961No6 yrs prisonNoNoNo
El Salvador5.224818Legalized 1826NoNoNoNo
Equatorial Guinea6440Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
Eritrea14-75Illegal - 1957 (updated 2015)No3 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Estonia5.2559206Legalized 1992NoLegalized 2016NoSecond-parent only
Eswatini3.0232-46Illegal - 1907NoUnclearNoNoNo
Ethiopia1.6314-93Illegal - 1957 (updated 2004)No3 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Falkland IslandsLegalized 1989NoLegalized 2017Legalized 2017Legalized 2017
Faroe IslandsLegalized 1933NoNoLegalized 2017Legalized 2017
Fiji8086Legalized 2010NoNoNoNo
Finland7.9674299Legalized 1971NoReplacedLegalized 2017Legalized 2017
France7.7378338Legalized 1791NoLegalized 1999Legalized 2013Legalized 2013
French GuianaLegalized 1817NoLegalized 1999Legalized 2013Legalized 2013
French PolynesiaLegal - never illegalNoNoLegalized 2013Legalized 2013
Gabon2.84420Legalized 2020NoNoNoNo
Gambia2.4410-139Illegal - 1934 (updated 2014)NoUnclearNoNoNo
Georgia2.9444122Legalized 2000NoNoNoNo
Germany7.7384259Legalized 1968-1969NoReplacedLegalized 2017Legalized 2017
Ghana2.6821-49Illegal - 1960 (updated 2003)No3 yrs prisonNoNoNo
GibraltarLegalized 1993NoLegalized 2014Legalized 2016Legalized 2014
Greece5.4462189Legalized 1951NoLegalized 2015NoLimited
GreenlandLegalized 1933NoReplacedLegalized 2016Legalized 2016
Grenada3.883833Illegal - 1958No10 yrs prisonNoNoNo
GuadeloupeLegalized 1816NoLegalized 1999Legalized 2013Legalized 2013
Guam289Legalized 1977NoNoLegalized 2015Legalized 2015
Guatemala4.7151-6Legalized 1834NoNoNoNo
Guinea3.0616-80Illegal - 2016No3 yrs prison + finesNoNoNo
Guinea Bissau60Legalized 1993NoNoNoNo
Guyana4.3628-175Illegal - 1893No10 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Haiti3.323388Legalized 1791NoNoNoNo
Honduras5.154915Legalized NoNoNoNo
Hong Kong6.3899Legalized 1991NoNoNoNo
Hungary5.0851136Legalized 1962NoLegalized 2009NoNo
Iceland9.7890330Legalized 1940NoNoLegalized 2010Legalized 2006
India5.286377Legalized 2018NoNoNoNo
Indonesia2.79343VariedNovariesNoNoNo
Iran2.116-104Illegal - 2003YesDeathNoNoNo
Iraq3.8115-28UnclearNoUnclearNoNoNo
Ireland8.4173294Legalized 1993NoReplacedLegalized 2015Legalized 2015
Isle of Man90Legalized 1992NoLegalized 2010Legalized 2016Legalized 2011
Israel5.6969220Legalized 1988NoLegalized 1994NoLegalized 2008
Italy6.9465168Legalized 1890NoLegalized 2016NoNo
Ivory Coast3.5526-25Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
Jamaica3.8330-132Illegal - 2009No7 yrs w/w-out hard laborNoNoNo
Japan5.266483Legalized 1882NoVariedVariedNo
Jordan1.8724-30Legalized 1951NoNoNoNo
Kazakhstan2.69353Legalized 1998NoNoNoNo
Kenya3.6223-87Illegal - 1930 (updated 2003)No14 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Kiribati43-70Illegal - 1977No14 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Kuwait3.6121-180Illegal - 1960No7 yrs + deportationNoNoNo
Kyrgyzstan2.163932Legalized 1998NoNoNoNo
Laos4.895945Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
Latvia4.4254109Legalized 1992NoNoNoNo
Lebanon3.6319-58Illegal - 1943No1 yr prisonNoNoNo
Lesotho4.184380Legalized 2012NoNoNoNo
Liberia2.6523-39Illegal - 1978No1 yr prison + finesNoNoNo
Libya3.787-150Illegal - 1953 (updated 1976)No5 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Liechtenstein80217Legalized 1989NoLegalized 2011NoNo
Lithuania4.3850145Legalized 1993NoPendingNoNo
Luxembourg7.8278269Legalized 1795NoLegalized 2004Legalized 2015Legalized 2015
Macau4.0140Legalized 1996NoNoNoNo
Madagascar3.363826Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
Malawi1.7519-163Illegal - 2011No14 yrs + forced laborNoNoNo
Malaysia3.4813-165Illegal - 1936No20 yrs + whippingNoNoNo
Maldives31-100Illegal - 2014No8 yrs + 100 lashesNoNoNo
Mali2.743412Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
Malta8.0182369Legalized 1973NoLegalized 2014Legalized 2017Legalized 2014
Marshall Islands66110Legalized 2005NoNoNoNo
MartiniqueLegalized 1815NoLegalized 1999Legalized 2013Legalized 2013
Mauritania1.773-96Illegal - 1983Yes2 yrs + fines or deathNoNoNo
Mauritius5.345815Illegal - 1838No5 yrs penal servitudeNoNoNo
MayotteLegal - never illegalNoLegalized 2006Legalized 2013Legalized 2013
Mexico6.578173Legalized 1872NoVariedVariedVaried
Micronesia58100Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
Moldova1.9137110Legalized 1995NoNoNoNo
Monaco6861Legalized 1793NoLegalized 2020NoNo
Mongolia2.7142117Legalized 1961NoNoNoNo
Montenegro3.5348141Legalized 1977NoLegalized 2021NoNo
MontserratLegalized 2001NoNoNoNo
Morocco3.3922-89Illegal - 1963No3 yrs prison + finesNoNoNo
Mozambique4.926087Legalized 2015NoNoNoNo
Myanmar4.1122-118Illegal - 1860No10 yrs prison + finesNoNoNo
Namibia4.935548Illegal - 2004NoUnclearNoNoNo
Nauru58Legalized 2016NoNoNoNo
Nepal7.8469181Legalized 2007NoNoNoNo
Netherlands9.4685374Legalized 1811NoLegalized 1998Legalized 2001Legalized 2001
New CaledoniaLegal - never illegalNoLegalized 2009Legalized 2013Legalized 2013
New Zealand8.2378323Legalized 1986NoLegalized 2005Legalized 2013Legalized 2013
Nicaragua5.5751122Legalized 2008NoNoNoNo
Niger2.972914Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
Nigeria2.189-190Illegal - 1959 (updated 2017)Yes14 yrs + fines or deathNoNoNo
NiueLegalized 2007NoNoNoNo
North KoreaLegal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
North Macedonia3.1342113Legalized 1996NoNoNoNo
Northern Mariana Islands85Legalized 1983NoNoLegalized 2015Legalized 2015
Norway9.3886343Legalized 1972NoReplacedLegalized 2009Legalized 2001
Oman13-145Illegal - 2018No3 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Pakistan3.6634-93Illegal - 1860Possible3 mos + fines, possibly deathNoNoNo
Palau68Legalized 2014NoNoNoNo
Palestine3.216-106VariedNo10 yrs prison (Gaza only)NoNoNo
Panama5.284353Legalized 2008NoNoNoNo
Papua New Guinea41-80Illegal - 1974No14 yrs + counseling/public serviceNoNoNo
Paraguay4.744029Legalized 1990NoNoNoNo
Peru5.1554207Legalized 1924NoLimitedNoNo
Philippines6.065847Legalized 1870NoNoNoNo
Poland5.154982Legalized 1932NoPendingNoNo
Portugal6.8769358Legalized 1983NoLegalized 2001Legalized 2010Legalized 2016
Puerto Rico7.52210Legalized 2003NoNoLegalized 2016Legalized 2018
Qatar3.5414-137Illegal - 2004Possible7-10 yrs, possible deathNoNoNo
Republic of the Congo3.273416Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
ReunionLegalized 1791NoLegalized 1999Legalized 2013Legalized 2013
Romania4.149137Legalized 1996NoNoNoNo
Russia3.2832-2Legalized 1993NoNoNoNo
Rwanda2.7734-29Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
Saint BarthelemyLegalized 1878NoLegalized 1999Legalized 2013Legalized 2013
Saint Kitts and Nevis3.7134-52Illegal - 2002No10 yrs w/w-out hard laborNoNoNo
Saint Lucia3.836-75Illegal - 2004No10 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Saint MartinLegalized 1791NoLegalized 1999Legalized 2013Legalized 2013
Saint Pierre and MiquelonLegalized 1814NoNoLegalized 2013Legalized 2013
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines3.0421-70Illegal - 1988No10 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Samoa6148Illegal - 2013NovariesNoNoNo
San Marino81238Legalized 2004NoLegalized 2018NoSecond-parent only
Sao Tome and Principe3.1551Legalized 2012NoNoNoNo
Saudi Arabia3.613-177IllegalYesDeathNoNoNo
Senegal1.8514-67Illegal - 1965No5 yrs prison + finesNoNoNo
Serbia3.7144172Legalized 1994NoNoNoNo
Seychelles6875Legalized 2016NoNoNoNo
Sierra Leone2.9726-63Illegal - 1861NoLife in prisonNoNoNo
Singapore5.865218Illegal - 1938No2 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Sint Maarten75Legalized 1869NoNoNoNo
Slovakia4.8256186Legalized 1962NoNoNoNo
Slovenia6.2166242Legalized 1977NoLegalized 2005NoNo
Solomon Islands31-85Illegal - 1963No14 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Somalia1.592-150Illegal - 1964Possiblevaries (3yrs to death)NoNoNo
South Africa6.0176292Legalized 1998NoLegalized 2006Legalized 2006Legalized 2002
South Korea4.535497Legal - never illegalNo2 yrs + labor (military only)NoNoNo
South Sudan2.7322-126Illegal - 2008 (updated No10 yrs prison + finesNoNoNo
Spain8.7782341Legalized 1979NoLegalized 2011Legalized 2005Legalized 2005
Sri Lanka3.2338-91Illegal - 1995No10 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Sudan2.9911-109Illegal - 2020NoLife in prisonNoNoNo
Suriname4.6459171Legalized 1869NoNoNoNo
Sweden9.1881378Legalized 1944NoNoLegalized 2009Legalized 2003
Switzerland878325Legalized 1942NoLegalized 2007Legalized 2022Second-parent only
Syria5.2229Illegal - 1949No3 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Taiwan5.7466188Legalized 1912NoLegalized 2015Legalized 2019Related & second-parent only
Tajikistan1.565225Legalized 1998NoNoNoNo
Tanzania3.2717-120Illegal - 1998NoLife in prisonNoNoNo
Thailand5.8152131Legalized 1957NoPendingNoPending
Timor Leste3310Legalized 1975NoNoNoNo
Togo3.1518-45Illegal - 2015No3 yrs prisonNoNoNo
TokelauLegalized 2007NoNoNoNo
Tonga47-155Illegal - 1988No10 yrs or whippingNoNoNo
Trinidad and Tobago4.73771Legalized 2018NoNoNoNo
Tunisia3.3819-91Illegal - 2010No3 yrs prison + finesNoNoNo
Turkey3.943240Legalized 1858NoNoNoNo
Turkmenistan36-65Illegal - 2019No5 yrs + psych treatmentNoNoNo
Turks and Caicos Islands50Legalized 2001NoNoNoNo
Tuvalu36-75Illegal - 1965No14 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Uganda3.6313-92Illegal - 2000NoUnclearNoNoNo
Ukraine2.914780Legalized 1991NoNoNoNo
United Arab Emirates10-134Illegal - 1987 (updated 2016)Possiblevaries (14 yrs to death)NoNoNo
United Kingdom8.3484347Legalized (various 1967-1982)NoLegalized 2005Legalized 2014Legalized 2005-2013
United States7.4282267Legalized (various 1962-2003)NoVariedLegalized 2015Legalized 2015
United States Virgin Islands264Legalized 1985NoNoLegalized 2015Legalized 2015
Uruguay7.986306Legalized 1934NoLegalized 2008Legalized 2013Legalized 2009
Uzbekistan3.6840-65Illegal - 1994No3 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Vanuatu71Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
Vatican City56Legalized 1890NoNoNoNo
Venezuela5.515034Legalized 1836NoNoNoNo
Vietnam4.995254Legal - never illegalNoNoNoNo
Wallis and FutunaLegal - never illegalNoLegalized 2009Legalized 2013Legalized 2013
Yemen3.41-128Illegal - 1994YesDeath (males), 3 yrs (females)NoNoNo
Zambia2.0418-104Illegal - 1933No14 yrs prisonNoNoNo
Zimbabwe1.5727-52Illegal - 2004No1 yr prison + finesNoNoNo
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Which countries are the most gay-friendly?

Iceland is the most accepting of LGBT people on both the Global Acceptance Index and the Equaldex Equality Index. The Travel Safety Index places Canada as the most gay-friendly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources