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Spartacus GTI 2024 (Total Score)

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

Gay-Friendly Countries / GLBTQ+ Friendly Countries 2024

A country is considered gay-friendly based on how accepeting they are to the gay community and whether or not the laws in their community are supportive of gay issues. While a country may legally support gay individuals, laws alone are not a sole indicator of being gay-friendly.

Some key factors that determine whether or not a country is considered gay-friendly are:

  • The political views toward gay issues
  • LGBTQ+-friendly laws
  • Whether or not gay marriage is legal
  • Available quality healthcare for the LGBTQ community
  • LGBTQ+-friendly recreation and social activities

Additionally, gay-friendly countries are ranked based on how members of the gay experience their lives in the nation.

The Most Gay-Friendly Countries in 2022

The most gay-friendly countries in 2022 are as follows:

Country
Spartacus GTI 2024 (Total Score)
Spain12
Canada12
Portugal12
New Zealand12
Malta12
Australia11
Switzerland11
Germany10
Denmark10
Norway10

Canada

Canada was one of the first countries to pass significant anti-discrimination laws to protect gay individuals. The cities of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouer are home to the largest gay and queer population in North America. Canadian citizens also have a welcoming attitude towards the gay community, with 91.8% stating that they would be comfortable with a gay neighbor according to a 2019 Gallup poll.

New Zealand

New Zealand was one of the first countries to offer gay friendly travel ceritfications for the hospitality industry in 1998. The country has also embraced gay-frienly legislation, providing the right to gay marriage, the right for gay couples to adopt, the right to serve openly in the military, and equal housing and employment protections.

Iceland

In 1940, a law in Iceland criminalizing homosexual acts was repealed. Over the decades that followed, Iceland has passed several gay-friendly laws such as those that target anti-discriminiation, fair adoption, equal age of consent, and gay marriage. Iceland’s Parliament voted unanimously to redefine marriage as between two individuals rather than a man and a woman.

Greece

Greece has a long history of homosexuality, both culturally and in their mythology. That tradition has carried over into the modern world making Greece and welcome destination for the LGBTQ+ community, Mykonos in particular along with several other major cities and islands are the centers of Grecian gay nightlife.

Malta

In the last 10 years, Malta has become one of the most progressive countries in terms of LGBTQ Rights. While the island nation is traditionally Roman Catholoc, in 2014 progressive leadership ushered in pro-LGBTQ legislation including criminializing conversion therapy and several trans-rights bills. According to a 2019 Eurobarometer poll, by 2019 67% of the population agree with same-sex marriage.

France

France has always embraced unconventional lifestyles and when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community, they are leagues ahead of the rest of Europe. Since the 1970’s, Paris has welcomed the lifestyle as well as other major cities like Lyon and Marseille. The country has strong anti-discrimination laws, legal same-sex marriage and adoption.

Portugal

Portugal is one of the most nonchalant countries when it comes to same-sex PDA and is very progressive when it comes to gay marriage and gender identity. In 2010, Portugal became the 8th country to allow same-sex marriage, making it a popular desitnation for members if the LGBTQ+ community. A 2019 Eurobarometer poll showed that 80% of Portugal’s population support equal rights for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

Australia

In the early 2000’s Australia became one of leaders of gay and lesbian rights and acceptance. 79% of people in Australia feel society should accept homosexuality, making it the fifth mosy accepting country in the world. Sydney sports one of the biggest pride events in the world along with Melbourne and Brisbane.

Thailand

Thailand exudes a welcoming philosophy when it comes to tourism and hospitality and helps LGBTQ+ travelers to feel welcome. Bangkok is one of the most welcoming to gay travelers cities in Asia. While Thailand is a fantastic destination for same-sex weddings, locals are not able to get married or have the legal rights of partnership. In spite of that, there are a number of anti-discrimination laws regarding employment and housing.

Argentina

In 2010, Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage and in 2012, the Gender Identity Law passed granting rights to transgender individuals. Argentina opened Latin America’s first trans community center, making it the LGBTQ+ center of South America.

  • The Williams Institute's Global Acceptance Index (GAI) measures the extent to which LGBTI people are seen in ways that are positive and inclusive, both with respect to an individual’s opinions about LGBTI people and with regard to an individual’s position on LGBTI policies.
  • The Spartacus International Gay Guide publishes the Gay Travel Index (GTI), a ranking of gay-friendly countries. Higher scores are preferable. Points are added to countries for anti-discrimination legislation, equal marriage, partnership and adoption laws, and LGBT marketing. Meanwhile, points are subtracted for anti-LGBT laws, HIV travel restrictions, religious influence, and prosecution, murders, and death sentences. Not all categories are displayed.
  • The GIA score for United Kingdom pertains only to Great Britain. The Spartacus score for China includes Hong Kong.

208 Rows

Country
Spartacus GTI 2024 (Total Score)
GTI Anti-Discrimination Legislation 2024
GTI Marriage and Civil Partnership 2024
GTI Adoption Allowed 2024
GTI Transgender Rights 2024
GTI Homosexuality Illegal 2024
GTI Locals Hostile 2024
GTI Murders 2024
GTI Death Sentences 2024
Global Acceptance Index 2017-2020
Spartacus GTI 2023 (Total Score)
GTI Anti-Discrimination Legislation 2023
GTI Marriage and Civil Partnership 2023
GTI Adoption Allowed 2023
GTI Transgender Rights 2023
GTI Homosexuality Illegal 2023
GTI Locals Hostile 2023
GTI Murders 2023
GTI Death Sentences 2023
Spain1222238.77102222
Canada12322219.021232221
Portugal1232236.87113223
New Zealand12222318.231122211
Malta122223-18.01132223NaN
Australia11222218.031122221
Switzerland1132238123223
Germany102221-17.73102221NaN
Denmark10222318.691122231
Norway10222319.38822231
Uruguay102223-17.9112223NaN
Iceland1022239.781022231
Colombia922231-16.192223NaN
Taiwan932215.7493211
Chile92223-16.8362223NaN
Sweden9322219.18832211
Austria922227.292222
Finland932237.9663221
Ireland9222318.41822231
Luxembourg932237.8272232
United Kingdom832228.341032221
France822227.7382222
Argentina81223-17.0791223NaN
Netherlands822229.4672222
Belgium822237.9582223
Reunion8222282222
Andorra832237.4873223NaN
Greenland8122381223
Costa Rica72223-16.3552223NaN
New Caledonia72222-172222NaN
French Polynesia722272222
Brazil62223-1-27.2252223NaNNaN
Cuba632225.863222
Slovenia632226.2153221
Estonia622225.252211
Guadeloupe62222-162222NaN
Martinique62222-162222NaN
South Africa53221-16.0153221NaN
Greece5212-15.445212NaN
Israel521125.6962112
United States4122-17.425122NaN
Mexico43212-1-26.553212NaNNaN
Puerto Rico41222-1-27.5251222NaNNaN
India3211-15.284211NaN
Ecuador3322-1-15.474322NaNNaN
Guam3122131221
Gibraltar3222-13222NaN
Croatia22121-15.0512121NaN
Nepal131-17.84-13NaNNaN
Czech Republic12115.871211
United States Virgin Islands1222-1-1122NaN-1
Liechtenstein1112-11111NaN1
San Marino1311-11311NaN
Vietnam-1-14.99-1NaN
Italy-1111-16.94111NaN
Bosnia and Herzegovina-12-11-12.87-12NaN1NaN
Latvia-1111-14.42-1111NaN
Cyprus-111-15.16-311NaN
Montenegro-1211-13.53-1211NaN
South Korea-21-14.53-3NaN1NaN
Ukraine-21-122.91-41NaN2NaN
Singapore-21-11-15.86-31NaN1
Slovakia-22-14.82-22NaN
Albania-22-1-2-12.65-22NaNNaNNaN
Bhutan-2-14.18-1NaN1
Japan-3-115.26-2NaN1
Angola-31-13.66-31NaN
Romania-32-11-14.1-32NaN1NaN
Laos-3-11-14.89-3NaN1NaN
Serbia-32-12-13.71-22NaN2NaN
Mongolia-31-11-12.71-41NaNNaN
North Macedonia-32-11-13.13-32NaN1NaN
Fiji-33-1-1-1-33NaNNaNNaN
Belize-33-1-14.14-33NaNNaN
Curacao-31-1-41NaN
Antigua and Barbuda-31-13.52-31NaN
Sint Maarten-31-21
Monaco-31-1-31NaN
Cambodia-4-14.96-5NaNNaN
Lithuania-42-1-12-14.38-32NaNNaN2NaN
Botswana-41-1-14.3-41NaNNaN
Macau-41-1-1-14.01-41NaNNaNNaN
Cape Verde-41-1-16.78-41NaNNaN
Barbados-41-14.43-41NaN
Saint Lucia-41-1-13.8
China-5-11-13.69-3NaN1
Mozambique-51-1-1-14.92-21NaN
Peru-51-12-1-25.15-51NaN2NaNNaN
Niger-5-1-12.97-5NaNNaN
Kazakhstan-5-11-22.69-5NaNNaN1NaN
Hungary-521-1-1-15.08-421NaNNaNNaN
Bulgaria-52-1-1-14.19-32NaN1NaN
El Salvador-52-1-1-15.22-42NaNNaNNaN
Panama-5-1-115.28-4NaNNaN1
Moldova-52-1-11.91-61NaNNaN
Lesotho-5-1-14.18-5NaNNaN
Mauritius-51-1-15.34-71NaNNaNNaN
Suriname-51-1-14.64-51NaNNaN
Samoa-51-1-1-1-41NaNNaNNaN
Seychelles-51-1-1-1-51NaNNaNNaN
British Virgin Islands-53-1-1-1-53NaNNaNNaN
Mali-6-1-1-12.74-5NaNNaNNaN
Sri Lanka-61-1-11-13.23-61NaNNaN1NaNNaN
Benin-6-1-1-13.88-5NaNNaN
Georgia-62-11-1-12.94-52NaN1NaNNaN
Armenia-6-1-12.17-6NaNNaN
Guinea Bissau-6-1-1-1-6NaNNaNNaN
Vanuatu-6-1-1-1-6NaNNaNNaN
Sao Tome and Principe-6-1-1-13.15
Cook Islands-61-1-1-81NaNNaNNaN
Pakistan-71-12-1-1-1-13.66-51NaN2NaNNaNNaNNaN
Philippines-7-1-1-16.06-6NaNNaNNaN
Poland-71-1-25.15-91NaNNaN
Honduras-72-1-1-2-15.15-72NaNNaNNaNNaN
Kyrgyzstan-7-11-22.16-6NaN1NaN
Trinidad and Tobago-7-1-1-1-14.7-7NaNNaNNaNNaN
Saint Kitts and Nevis-7-1-13.71
Palau-7-1-1-1
Venezuela-81NaNNaNNaN5.51-81NaNNaNNaN
Burkina Faso-8-1-22.96-8NaNNaN
Paraguay-8NaNNaNNaNNaN4.74-8NaNNaNNaNNaN
Nicaragua-81NaNNaNNaNNaN5.57-81NaNNaNNaNNaN
Lebanon-8NaN1NaNNaN3.63-8NaN1NaNNaN
Namibia-8NaNNaNNaNNaN4.93-7NaNNaNNaN
Gabon-8NaNNaNNaN2.8-6NaNNaN
Grenada-8NaNNaNNaNNaN3.88-9NaNNaNNaNNaN
Tuvalu-81NaNNaNNaNNaN
Vatican City-8NaNNaN-8NaNNaN
Bangladesh-9NaN1NaNNaNNaN3.69-8NaN1NaNNaNNaN
Guatemala-9NaNNaNNaNNaN4.71-9NaNNaNNaNNaN
Guinea-9NaNNaNNaNNaN3.06
Tajikistan-9NaN1NaN1.56-8NaN1NaN
Bahrain-9NaN1NaN5.73-9NaNNaN
Tonga-9NaNNaNNaNNaN-9NaNNaNNaNNaN
DR Congo-10NaNNaNNaN3.32-10NaNNaNNaN
Turkey-10NaN1NaNNaN3.94-8NaN1NaNNaN
Kenya-10NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.62-10NaNNaNNaNNaN
Myanmar-10NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN4.11-8NaNNaNNaNNaN
Rwanda-10NaNNaNNaN2.77-9NaNNaNNaN
Burundi-10NaNNaNNaNNaN3.3-9NaNNaNNaNNaN
Haiti-10NaNNaNNaNNaN3.32-10NaNNaNNaNNaN
Jordan-10NaNNaNNaN1.87-7NaN1NaN
Papua New Guinea-10NaNNaNNaNNaN-10NaNNaNNaNNaN
Azerbaijan-10NaNNaNNaN1.42-10NaNNaNNaN
Togo-10NaNNaNNaNNaN3.15-10NaNNaNNaNNaN
Sierra Leone-10NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN2.97-10NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Republic of the Congo-10NaNNaNNaN3.27-10NaNNaNNaN
Central African Republic-10NaNNaNNaN2.62-10NaNNaNNaNNaN
Equatorial Guinea-10NaNNaNNaN-8NaNNaNNaN
Comoros-10NaNNaNNaNNaN3.47-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Guyana-10NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN4.36-10NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Bahamas-10NaNNaNNaNNaN4.09-10NaNNaNNaNNaN
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines-10NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.04
Uzbekistan-11NaN1NaNNaN3.68-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Madagascar-11NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.36-9NaNNaNNaN
North Korea-11NaNNaNNaNNaN-10NaNNaNNaNNaN
Chad-11NaNNaNNaNNaN2.72-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Dominican Republic-11NaNNaNNaNNaN4.98-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Belarus-11NaNNaN3.38-10NaNNaN
Liberia-11NaNNaNNaNNaN2.65-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Gambia-11NaNNaNNaNNaN2.44-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Djibouti-11NaNNaNNaNNaN2.89-10NaNNaNNaNNaN
Solomon Islands-11NaNNaNNaNNaN-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Maldives-11NaNNaNNaNNaN-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Dominica-11NaNNaNNaNNaN3.56-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Sudan-12NaNNaNNaNNaN2.99-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Algeria-12NaNNaNNaNNaN4.28-10NaNNaNNaNNaN
Ghana-12NaNNaNNaNNaN2.68-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Ivory Coast-12NaNNaNNaNNaN3.55-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Zambia-12NaNNaNNaNNaN2.04-10NaNNaNNaN
Zimbabwe-12NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN1.57-12NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Oman-12NaNNaNNaNNaN-10NaNNaNNaNNaN
Mauritania-12NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN1.77-12NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Jamaica-12NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.83-12NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Eswatini-12NaNNaNNaNNaN-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Indonesia-13NaNNaNNaNNaN2.79-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Cameroon-13NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN2.79-13NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Syria-13NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN5.22-11NaN1NaNNaNNaNNaN
Senegal-13NaNNaNNaNNaN1.85-11NaNNaNNaNNaN
Eritrea-13NaNNaNNaNNaN-12NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Ethiopia-14NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN1.63-12NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Egypt-14NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN2.48-14NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Iraq-14NaNNaNNaNNaN3.81-12NaNNaNNaNNaN
Morocco-14NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.39-12NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Malawi-14NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN1.75-13NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Tunisia-14NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.38-10NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
South Sudan-14NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN2.73
Turkmenistan-14NaNNaNNaNNaN-11NaNNaNNaN
Brunei-14NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN-11NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Tanzania-15NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.27-12NaNNaNNaN
Malaysia-15NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.48-13NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
United Arab Emirates-16NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN-14NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Libya-16NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.78-14NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Kuwait-16NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.61-14NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Qatar-16NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.54-14NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Nigeria-17NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN2.18-14NaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Russia-17NaNNaNNaNNaN3.28-12NaN1NaNNaN
Uganda-18NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.63-12NaNNaNNaNNaN
Somalia-18NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN-18NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Yemen-19NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.41-17NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Iran-21NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN2.11-19NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Afghanistan-21NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.32-19NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Saudi Arabia-21NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN3.6-19NaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaNNaN
Thailand2-15.812NaN
Bolivia2111-1-15.24-221NaNNaN
Palestine3.2
Aruba11-211
Bermuda122-1-1122NaNNaN

Which countries are the most friendly to gay people?

Canada is the most friendly to gay people, it has several antidiscrimination laws and 91.8% of citizens would feel comfortable with a gay neighbor. Several countries shared the top score in the 2024 Spartacus Gay Travel Index, including not only Canada but also Malta, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources