Compare LGBT Rights in China, South Korea, & Thailand

Equality Index ?
56 / 100
46 / 100
65 / 100
Legal Index ?
45 / 100
53 / 100
63 / 100
Public Opinion Index ?
66 / 100
39 / 100
67 / 100
Law
Homosexual activityLegal
Since 1997
LegalLegal
Since 1957
Same-sex marriageOther type of partnership
Since 2017
Unregistered cohabitation
Since 2023
Legal
Since 2025
Censorship of LGBT issuesState-enforced
Since 2016
No censorship
Since 2003
No censorship
Right to change legal genderLegal, but requires surgery
Since 1986
Legal, no restrictions
Since 2020
Illegal
Gender-affirming careRestrictedRestrictedLegal
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
Varies by RegionIllegal in some contexts
Since 2015
LGBT employment discriminationSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2026
Varies by RegionGender identity only
Since 2015
LGBT housing discriminationNo protectionsVaries by RegionGender identity only
Since 2015
Same-sex adoptionSingle onlyIllegalLegal
Since 2025
Intersex infant surgeryNot bannedNot bannedNot banned
Serving openly in militaryAmbiguousIllegalLegal
Since 2005
Blood donations by MSMsBanned (indefinite deferral)
Since 2012
LegalBanned (indefinite deferral)
Conversion therapyNot bannedNot bannedNot banned
Equal age of consentEqual
Since 1997
EqualEqual
Since 1957
Public Opinion
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
28% Did not mention homosexuals
71% Mentioned homosexuals
20% Did not mention homosexuals
80% Mentioned homosexuals
64% Did not mention homosexuals
36% Mentioned homosexuals
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
7% Justifiable
80% Not justifiable
3% Justifiable
61% Not justifiable
22% Justifiable
51% Not justifiable
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
63% Support
19% Against
54% Support
26% Against
Region not surveyed
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
66% Agree
30% Disagree
46% Agree
45% Disagree
Region not surveyed
Opinion on same-sex couples as parents
(World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
12% Agree
60% Disagree
23% Agree
40% Disagree
42% Agree
23% Disagree
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
Region not surveyed
44% Yes
53% No
Region not surveyed
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2010-2014)
4% Justifiable
68% Not justifiable
7% Justifiable
58% Not justifiable
5% Justifiable
65% Not justifiable
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, June, 2013)
21% Yes
57% No
39% Yes
59% 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
18% Good place
57% Not a good place
21% Good place
52% Not a good place
Full DetailsFull DetailsFull Details

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