LGBT discrimination

LGBTQ+ people are protected from discrimination in 44 countries.

DATE

LGBT discrimination

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

Summary

44
Protected
44 regions (22%)
Protected
103
Some protections
103 regions (52%)
Some protections
43
No protections
43 regions (22%)
No protections
8
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
8 regions (4%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
56%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
28 regions (56%)
Some protections
14 regions (28%)
No protections
6 regions (12%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (4%)
Oceania
29%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
4 regions (29%)
Some protections
10 regions (71%)
No protections
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
South America
50%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
6 regions (50%)
Some protections
5 regions (42%)
No protections
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (8%)
North America
13%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
3 regions (13%)
Some protections
18 regions (78%)
No protections
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (9%)
Africa
2%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
1 regions (2%)
Some protections
40 regions (74%)
No protections
13 regions (24%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
Asia
5%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
2 regions (5%)
Some protections
16 regions (36%)
No protections
24 regions (55%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (5%)

Timeline of lgbt discrimination

Number of countries to ban lgbtq+ discrimination over the past 61 years.

Recent Changes

2026

2025

2024

LGBT discrimination by Country

Illegal

LGBT discrimination is illegal in 44 regions.

  1. Asia (2)
  2. Mongolia 2017
  3. Nepal 2015
  4. Europe (28)
  5. Albania 2010
  6. Andorra 2019
  7. Belgium 2003
  8. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2016
  9. Bulgaria 2023
  10. Croatia 2009
  11. Czechia 2009
  12. Denmark 1996
  13. Finland 2004
  14. France 2004
  15. Georgia 2014
  16. Germany 2006
  17. Greece 2024
  18. Iceland
  19. Kosovo 2015
  20. Luxembourg 2006
  21. Malta 2014
  22. Moldova 2023
  23. Montenegro 2010
  24. Netherlands 2023
  25. North Macedonia 2020
  26. Norway 1981
  27. Portugal 2008
  28. Serbia 2009
  29. Slovakia 2013
  30. Slovenia 2016
  31. Spain 2022
  32. Sweden 2009
  33. North America (3)
  34. Antigua and Barbuda 2022
  35. Canada 2017
  36. Cuba 2019
  37. Africa (1)
  38. South Africa 1996
  39. Oceania (4)
  40. Australia 2013
  41. Fiji 2013
  42. Marshall Islands 2019
  43. New Zealand 1994
  44. South America (6)
  45. Bolivia 2010
  46. Brazil 2019
  47. Chile 2012
  48. Ecuador 2008
  49. Peru 2017
  50. Uruguay 2004

Illegal in some contexts

LGBT discrimination is illegal in some contexts in 103 regions.

  1. Asia (16)
  2. Bhutan 2018
  3. China 2026
  4. India
  5. Indonesia 2012
  6. Israel 1992
  7. Japan 2018
  8. Laos 2017
  9. Myanmar 2019
  10. Pakistan 2018
  11. Palestine
  12. Singapore 2019
  13. Sri Lanka 2022
  14. Taiwan 2004
  15. Thailand 2015
  16. Timor-Leste 2002
  17. Vietnam 2022
  18. Europe (14)
  19. Austria 2004
  20. Cyprus 2013
  21. Estonia 2009
  22. Hungary 2025
  23. Ireland 2015
  24. Latvia 2006
  25. Liechtenstein 2016
  26. Lithuania 2000
  27. Monaco 2005
  28. Poland 2018
  29. Romania 2000
  30. San Marino 2019
  31. Switzerland 2020
  32. Ukraine 2015
  33. North America (18)
  34. Bahamas 2003
  35. Barbados
  36. Belize 2019
  37. Costa Rica 2015
  38. Dominica 2020
  39. Dominican Republic 2000
  40. El Salvador 2009
  41. Grenada 2013
  42. Guatemala 2021
  43. Haiti 2014
  44. Honduras 2013
  45. Jamaica 2008
  46. Nicaragua 2008
  47. Panama 2002
  48. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  49. Saint Lucia 2006
  50. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2010
  51. Trinidad and Tobago 2004
  52. Africa (40)
  53. Angola 2021
  54. Benin
  55. Botswana 2010
  56. Burkina Faso 2019
  57. Cameroon 2024
  58. Cape Verde 2007
  59. Central African Republic 2016
  60. Chad 2017
  61. Comoros 2015
  62. Côte d’Ivoire 2014
  63. Democratic Republic of the Congo 2008
  64. Djibouti 2016
  65. Equatorial Guinea 2016
  66. Eswatini 2017
  67. Gabon 2023
  68. Ghana 2008
  69. Guinea 2016
  70. Guinea-Bissau 2014
  71. Kenya 2009
  72. Lesotho 2012
  73. Liberia 2015
  74. Madagascar 2005
  75. Malawi 2018
  76. Mali 2013
  77. Mauritius 2012
  78. Mozambique 2007
  79. Namibia 2018
  80. Niger 2015
  81. Nigeria 2019
  82. Republic of the Congo 2019
  83. Rwanda 2018
  84. Sao Tome and Principe 2012
  85. Senegal 2008
  86. Seychelles 2006
  87. Sierra Leone 2023
  88. South Sudan 2020
  89. Tanzania 2018
  90. Togo 2020
  91. Zambia 2002
  92. Zimbabwe 2020
  93. Oceania (10)
  94. Federated States of Micronesia 2018
  95. Kiribati 2015
  96. Nauru 2016
  97. Palau 2011
  98. Papua New Guinea 2013
  99. Samoa 2007
  100. Solomon Islands 2014
  101. Tonga 2010
  102. Tuvalu 2016
  103. Vanuatu 2014
  104. South America (5)
  105. Colombia 2000
  106. Guyana 2008
  107. Paraguay 2017
  108. Suriname 2015
  109. Venezuela 2011

No protections

LGBT discrimination is no protections in 43 regions.

  1. Asia (24)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Bahrain
  4. Bangladesh
  5. Brunei
  6. Cambodia
  7. Iran
  8. Iraq
  9. Jordan
  10. Kazakhstan
  11. Kuwait
  12. Kyrgyzstan
  13. Lebanon
  14. Malaysia
  15. Maldives
  16. North Korea
  17. Oman
  18. Qatar
  19. Saudi Arabia
  20. Syria
  21. Tajikistan
  22. Turkmenistan
  23. United Arab Emirates
  24. Uzbekistan
  25. Yemen
  26. Europe (6)
  27. Armenia
  28. Azerbaijan 2006
  29. Belarus
  30. Russia
  31. Turkey 2016
  32. Vatican City
  33. Africa (13)
  34. Algeria
  35. Burundi
  36. Egypt
  37. Eritrea
  38. Ethiopia
  39. Gambia
  40. Libya
  41. Mauritania
  42. Morocco
  43. Somalia
  44. Sudan
  45. Tunisia
  46. Uganda

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on lgbt discrimination is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 8 regions.

  1. Asia (2)
  2. Philippines Varies by Region
  3. South Korea Varies by Region
  4. Europe (2)
  5. Italy Varies by Region
  6. United Kingdom Varies by Region
  7. North America (2)
  8. Mexico Varies by Region
  9. United States Varies by Region
  10. South America (1)
  11. Argentina Varies by Region
  12. Antarctica (1)
  13. Antarctica N/A

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