Compare LGBT Rights in China, Japan, & Taiwan

Equality Index ?
56 / 100
53 / 100
59 / 100
Legal Index ?
45 / 100
57 / 100
68 / 100
Public Opinion Index ?
66 / 100
50 / 100
51 / 100
Law
Homosexual activityLegal
Since 1997
Legal
Since 1881
Legal
Since 1947
Same-sex marriageOther type of partnership
Since 2017
Unregistered cohabitation
Since 2024
Legal
Since 2019
Censorship of LGBT issuesState-enforced
Since 2016
No censorshipNo censorship
Right to change legal genderLegal, but requires surgery
Since 1986
Legal, but requires surgery
Since 2022
Legal, but requires surgery
Since 2008
Gender-affirming careRestrictedLegal, but restricted for minors
Since 1997
Legal
Legal recognition of non-binary genderNot legally recognizedNot legally recognizedNot legally recognized
Hate crime protectionsNo protectionsNo protectionsNo protections
LGBT discriminationIllegal in some contexts
Since 2026
Illegal in some contexts
Since 2018
Illegal in some contexts
Since 2004
LGBT employment discriminationSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2026
Varies by RegionSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2007
LGBT housing discriminationNo protectionsSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2003
No protections
Same-sex adoptionSingle onlyAmbiguousLegal
Since 2023
Intersex infant surgeryNot bannedNot bannedNot banned
Since 2018
Serving openly in militaryAmbiguousLegal
Since 1947
Legal
Since 2026
Blood donations by MSMsBanned (indefinite deferral)
Since 2012
Banned (6-month deferral)
Since 2011
Banned (5-year deferral)
Since 2018
Conversion therapyNot bannedNot bannedBanned
Since 2018
Equal age of consentEqual
Since 1997
Equal
Since 1947
Equal
Since 1947
Public Opinion
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
28% Did not mention homosexuals
71% Mentioned homosexuals
71% Did not mention homosexuals
26% Mentioned homosexuals
58% Did not mention homosexuals
42% Mentioned homosexuals
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
7% Justifiable
80% Not justifiable
43% Justifiable
15% Not justifiable
17% Justifiable
41% Not justifiable
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
63% Support
19% Against
69% Support
6% Against
Region not surveyed
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
66% Agree
30% Disagree
68% Agree
20% Disagree
Region not surveyed
Opinion on same-sex couples as parents
(World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
12% Agree
60% Disagree
44% Agree
10% Disagree
51% Agree
35% Disagree
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
Region not surveyed
68% Yes
22% No
Region not surveyed
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2010-2014)
4% Justifiable
68% Not justifiable
23% Justifiable
28% Not justifiable
19% Justifiable
35% Not justifiable
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, June, 2013)
21% Yes
57% No
54% Yes
36% No
Region not surveyed
Perceptions of local area as a "good place" for gay and lesbian people
(Gallup, 2013)
14% Good place
53% Not a good place
28% Good place
39% Not a good place
39% Good place
42% Not a good place
Full DetailsFull DetailsFull Details

Full details about each issue can be found on each region's page. Data missing from the above chart? You can help! Sign up or log in to contribute information to Equaldex!

Share This Comparison