▸ 

LGBT discrimination

LGBTQ+ people are protected from discrimination in 89 countries and territories.

Loading map of LGBT rights...
  • Illegal
  • No protections
  • Illegal in some contexts
  • Unknown, N/A, or ambiguous

Recent Changes

  • Feb 1 2023Became Illegal in Netherlands
  • Jul 5 2022Became Illegal in Antigua and Barbuda
  • Jul 1 2022Became Illegal in some contexts in Kenya
  • Mar 8 2022Became Illegal in some contexts in Saint Lucia
  • Jan 1 2022Became Illegal in some contexts in Kazakhstan
  • Jan 1 2022Became Illegal in some contexts in Nebraska
  • Oct 21 2021Became Illegal in some contexts in Namibia
  • Sep 1 2020Became Illegal in some contexts in Dominica

LGBT discrimination

Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Summary

89
Protected
89 regions (38%)
Protected
56
Some protections
56 regions (24%)
Some protections
85
No protections
85 regions (37%)
No protections
2
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (1%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
Europe
75%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
39 regions (75%)
Some protections
9 regions (17%)
No protections
4 regions (8%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
Oceania
42%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
10 regions (42%)
Some protections
9 regions (38%)
No protections
5 regions (21%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
South America
64%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
9 regions (64%)
Some protections
4 regions (29%)
No protections
1 regions (7%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
North America
44%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
16 regions (44%)
Some protections
10 regions (28%)
No protections
9 regions (25%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (3%)
Africa
15%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
9 regions (15%)
Some protections
14 regions (24%)
No protections
36 regions (61%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
Asia
13%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
6 regions (13%)
Some protections
10 regions (22%)
No protections
30 regions (65%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)

Progress over time

Number of countries with equality for lgbt discrimination over the past 60 years.

Recent changes

LGBT discrimination by country

(and dependent territories)

Illegal

LGBT discrimination is illegal in 89 regions.

  1. Asia (6)
  2. India 2018
  3. Israel 1992
  4. Japan 2018
  5. Mongolia 2017
  6. Taiwan 2007
  7. Thailand
  8. Europe (39)
  9. Albania 2010
  10. Andorra 2005
  11. Austria 2004
  12. Belgium 2003
  13. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2009
  14. Bulgaria 2003
  15. Croatia 2003
  16. Czech Republic 2009
  17. Denmark 1996
  18. Estonia 2009
  19. Faroe Islands 2006
  20. Finland 2004
  21. France 2004
  22. Georgia 2012
  23. Germany 2006
  24. Greece 2015
  25. Hungary 1998
  26. Iceland
  27. Ireland 2015
  28. Isle of Man 2019
  29. Kosovo 2013
  30. Liechtenstein 2016
  31. Lithuania 2009
  32. Luxembourg 2006
  33. Malta 2012
  34. Montenegro 2010
  35. Netherlands 2023
  36. North Macedonia 2010
  37. Norway 1981
  38. Portugal 2004
  39. Romania 2000
  40. San Marino 2008
  41. Serbia 2009
  42. Slovakia 2013
  43. Slovenia 1995
  44. Spain 1995
  45. Sweden 2009
  46. Turkey 2016
  47. United Kingdom 2010
  48. North America (16)
  49. Antigua and Barbuda 2022
  50. Belize 2016
  51. Bermuda 2013
  52. British Virgin Islands 2007
  53. Canada 2017
  54. Cuba 2019
  55. El Salvador 2018
  56. Greenland
  57. Guadeloupe
  58. Honduras 2013
  59. Martinique
  60. Mexico 2003
  61. Montserrat 2014
  62. Nicaragua 2007
  63. Saint Pierre and Miquelon 2005
  64. Turks and Caicos Islands 2011
  65. Africa (9)
  66. Angola 2013
  67. Botswana 2019
  68. British Indian Ocean Territory
  69. Cape Verde 2007
  70. Mauritius
  71. Mayotte 2005
  72. Réunion 2003
  73. Saint Helena 2009
  74. South Africa 1996
  75. Oceania (10)
  76. Christmas Island 2013
  77. Cocos
  78. Fiji 2009
  79. French Polynesia
  80. New Caledonia 2005
  81. Niue
  82. Norfolk Island
  83. Pitcairn Islands 2010
  84. Vanuatu 2013
  85. Wallis and Futuna
  86. South America (9)
  87. Bolivia 2010
  88. Brazil 2019
  89. Chile 2012
  90. Colombia 2011
  91. Ecuador 1998
  92. Falkland Islands 2008
  93. French Guiana 2004
  94. Peru 2017
  95. Uruguay 2003

No protections

LGBT discrimination is no protections in 85 regions.

  1. Asia (30)
  2. Afghanistan 1919
  3. Bahrain 1976
  4. Bangladesh
  5. Bhutan 2006
  6. Brunei 1951
  7. Cambodia
  8. China
  9. Iran 1979
  10. Iraq
  11. Jordan 1952
  12. Kuwait 1960
  13. Kyrgyzstan 1991
  14. Laos 1953
  15. Lebanon
  16. Malaysia 1826
  17. Maldives 2017
  18. Myanmar 1886
  19. North Korea 1948
  20. Oman 1996
  21. Palestine 1992
  22. Qatar 1915
  23. Saudi Arabia 1932
  24. Sri Lanka 2014
  25. Syria 1964
  26. Tajikistan 1994
  27. Turkmenistan 1992
  28. United Arab Emirates 1971
  29. Uzbekistan 1992
  30. Vietnam 1992
  31. Yemen 1994
  32. Europe (4)
  33. Armenia 1995
  34. Azerbaijan
  35. Belarus 1991
  36. Russia 2013
  37. North America (9)
  38. Anguilla 2001
  39. Aruba
  40. Cayman Islands
  41. Curaçao
  42. Haiti 1987
  43. Jamaica 1962
  44. Panama 1972
  45. Sint Maarten
  46. Trinidad and Tobago 2001
  47. Africa (36)
  48. Algeria 1966
  49. Benin 1900
  50. Cameroon 1972
  51. Central African Republic 2003
  52. Comoros
  53. Côte d’Ivoire 2000
  54. Democratic Republic of the Congo 1960
  55. Djibouti
  56. Egypt 1971
  57. Equatorial Guinea 1968
  58. Eritrea 1957
  59. Eswatini 1907
  60. Ethiopia
  61. Gabon
  62. Gambia
  63. Ghana 1992
  64. Guinea 1988
  65. Guinea-Bissau
  66. Libya 1951
  67. Mali 1960
  68. Mauritania 1991
  69. Morocco
  70. Niger
  71. Nigeria 1999
  72. Republic of the Congo
  73. Senegal 1966
  74. Somalia 1962
  75. South Sudan 2011
  76. Sudan 1956
  77. Tanzania 1977
  78. Togo 1980
  79. Tunisia 1957
  80. Uganda 1904
  81. Western Sahara
  82. Zambia 1931
  83. Zimbabwe 1980
  84. Oceania (5)
  85. Palau
  86. Papua New Guinea 2002
  87. Solomon Islands 1978
  88. Tokelau
  89. Tuvalu
  90. South America (1)
  91. Guyana 1980

Illegal in some contexts

LGBT discrimination is illegal in some contexts in 56 regions.

  1. Asia (10)
  2. Hong Kong
  3. Indonesia 2015
  4. Kazakhstan 2022
  5. Macau 2008
  6. Nepal 2007
  7. Pakistan 2018
  8. Philippines 2003
  9. Singapore 2019
  10. South Korea 1948
  11. Timor-Leste 2009
  12. Europe (9)
  13. Cyprus 2013
  14. Italy 2003
  15. Latvia 2006
  16. Moldova 2013
  17. Monaco 2005
  18. Poland 2003
  19. Switzerland 2020
  20. Ukraine 2015
  21. Vatican City
  22. North America (10)
  23. Bahamas
  24. Barbados
  25. Costa Rica 2015
  26. Dominica 2020
  27. Dominican Republic 2000
  28. Grenada
  29. Guatemala 1997
  30. Saint Kitts and Nevis 2020
  31. Saint Lucia 2022
  32. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  33. Africa (14)
  34. Burkina Faso 1991
  35. Burundi 2001
  36. Chad 2017
  37. Kenya 2022
  38. Lesotho 2012
  39. Liberia
  40. Madagascar
  41. Malawi
  42. Mozambique 2007
  43. Namibia 2021
  44. Rwanda
  45. Sao Tome and Principe
  46. Seychelles
  47. Sierra Leone
  48. Oceania (9)
  49. Australia 1986
  50. Cook Islands 2013
  51. Federated States of Micronesia 2018
  52. Kiribati 2015
  53. Marshall Islands
  54. Nauru 2016
  55. New Zealand 1994
  56. Samoa 2013
  57. Tonga
  58. South America (4)
  59. Argentina 2009
  60. Paraguay 2016
  61. Suriname 2015
  62. Venezuela 2012

No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous

Data on lgbt discrimination is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 2 regions.

  1. North America (1)
  2. United States
  3. Antarctica (1)
  4. Antarctica

Spot an error? Visit the region and select "Accurate?: No" so Equaldex's editors can review it.