Compare LGBT Rights in Netherlands, Norway, & Sweden

Equality Index ?
76 / 100
87 / 100
75 / 100
Legal Index ?
87 / 100
88 / 100
85 / 100
Public Opinion Index ?
65 / 100
87 / 100
65 / 100
Law
Homosexual activityLegal
Since 1945
Legal
Since 1972
Legal
Since 1944
Same-sex marriageLegal
Since 2001
Legal
Since 2009
Legal
Since 2009
Censorship of LGBT issuesNo censorshipNo censorshipNo censorship
Right to change legal genderLegal, but requires medical diagnosis
Since 2013
Legal, no restrictions
Since 2016
Legal, no restrictions
Since 2025
Gender-affirming careLegal
Since 1979
LegalLegal, but restricted for minors
Since 2022
Legal recognition of non-binary genderRecognized
Since 2018
Not legally recognizedNot legally recognized
Hate crime protectionsSexual orientation only
Since 2025
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2020
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2019
LGBT discriminationIllegal
Since 2023
Illegal
Since 1981
Illegal
Since 2009
LGBT employment discriminationSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2019
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Since 1981
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Since 1999
LGBT housing discriminationSexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2019
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Since 1981
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Since 2009
Same-sex adoptionLegal
Since 2000
Legal
Since 2009
Legal
Since 2002
Intersex infant surgeryNot bannedNot bannedNot banned
Serving openly in militaryLegal
Since 1974
Legal
Since 2001
Legal
Since 2009
Blood donations by MSMsLegal
Since 2024
Banned (6-month deferral)
Since 2024
Banned (6-month deferral)
Since 2021
Conversion therapyNot bannedBanned
Since 2023
Not banned
Equal age of consentEqual
Since 1978
Equal
Since 1972
Equal
Since 1978
Public Opinion
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
94% Did not mention homosexuals
3% Mentioned homosexuals
96% Did not mention homosexuals
3% Mentioned homosexuals
96% Did not mention homosexuals
2% Mentioned homosexuals
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2017-2022)
75% Justifiable
5% Not justifiable
76% Justifiable
10% Not justifiable
80% Justifiable
8% Not justifiable
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
89% Support
3% Against
Region not surveyed
89% Support
3% Against
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
(Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
83% Agree
12% Disagree
Region not surveyed
79% Agree
17% Disagree
Opinion on same-sex couples as parents
(World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
66% Agree
12% Disagree
70% Agree
16% Disagree
75% Agree
10% Disagree
"Should society accept homosexuality?"
(Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
92% Yes
8% No
Region not surveyed
94% Yes
5% No
Perceived prevalence of discrimination against sexual orientation (European Union)
(Eurobarometer, May 2019)
37% Rare
60% Widespread
Region not surveyed
55% Rare
42% Widespread
Perceived prevalence of discrimination against transgender people (European Union)
(Eurobarometer, May 2019)
32% Rare
54% Widespread
Region not surveyed
32% Rare
57% Widespread
Acceptance of same-sex relationships (European Union)
(Eurobarometer, May 2019)
92% Agree
8% Disagree
Region not surveyed
95% Agree
5% Disagree
Support for transgender people changing legal gender (European Union)
(Eurobarometer, May 2019)
82% Yes
14% No
Region not surveyed
69% Yes
22% No
Justifiability of homosexuality
(World Values Survey, 2010-2014)
67% Justifiable
14% Not justifiable
Region not surveyed
69% Justifiable
11% Not justifiable
Perceptions of local area as a "good place" for gay and lesbian people
(Gallup, 2013)
83% Good place
11% Not a good place
Region not surveyed
69% Good place
8% 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