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LGBT discrimination

LGBTQ+ people are protected from discrimination in 83 countries.

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

Recent Changes

  • Oct 21 2021Became Illegal in some contexts in Namibia
  • Jun 15 2020Became Illegal in some contexts in United States
  • Jun 13 2019Became Illegal in Brazil
  • Jan 1 2019Became Illegal in Isle of Man
  • Jan 1 2019Became Illegal in Cuba
  • Jan 1 2019Became Illegal in Botswana
  • Sep 6 2018Became Illegal in India
  • Jun 11 2018Became No protections in South Dakota

LGBT discrimination

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

Summary

83
Protected
83 regions (36%)
Protected
51
Some protections
51 regions (22%)
Some protections
93
No protections
93 regions (40%)
No protections
5
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
5 regions (2%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
Europe
67%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
35 regions (67%)
Some protections
12 regions (23%)
No protections
5 regions (10%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
Oceania
50%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
12 regions (50%)
Some protections
6 regions (25%)
No protections
6 regions (25%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
South America
57%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
8 regions (57%)
Some protections
2 regions (14%)
No protections
4 regions (29%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
North America
44%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
16 regions (44%)
Some protections
7 regions (19%)
No protections
13 regions (36%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
Africa
15%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
9 regions (15%)
Some protections
13 regions (22%)
No protections
36 regions (61%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Asia
7%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
3 regions (7%)
Some protections
11 regions (24%)
No protections
29 regions (63%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (7%)

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 83 regions.

  1. Asia (3)
  2. India 2018
  3. Israel 1992
  4. Mongolia 2017
  5. Europe (35)
  6. Albania 2010
  7. Andorra 2005
  8. Austria 2004
  9. Belgium 2003
  10. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2009
  11. Bulgaria 2003
  12. Croatia 2003
  13. Cyprus 2013
  14. Czech Republic 2009
  15. Faroe Islands 2006
  16. Finland 2004
  17. France 2004
  18. Georgia 2012
  19. Germany 2006
  20. Greece 2015
  21. Hungary 1998
  22. Iceland
  23. Ireland 2015
  24. Isle of Man 2019
  25. Kosovo 2013
  26. Liechtenstein 2016
  27. Luxembourg 2006
  28. Malta 2012
  29. Montenegro 2010
  30. Netherlands 1993
  31. Norway
  32. Portugal 2004
  33. Romania 2002
  34. San Marino 2008
  35. Serbia 2009
  36. Slovenia 1995
  37. Spain 1995
  38. Sweden 2009
  39. Switzerland 1999
  40. United Kingdom 2010
  41. North America (16)
  42. Belize 2016
  43. Bermuda 2013
  44. British Virgin Islands 2007
  45. Canada 2017
  46. Cuba 2019
  47. Dominican Republic
  48. Greenland
  49. Guadeloupe
  50. Honduras 2013
  51. Martinique
  52. Mexico 2003
  53. Montserrat 2014
  54. Nicaragua 2007
  55. Saint Lucia 2006
  56. Saint Pierre and Miquelon 2005
  57. Turks and Caicos Islands 2011
  58. Africa (9)
  59. Angola 2013
  60. Botswana 2019
  61. British Indian Ocean Territory
  62. Cape Verde 2007
  63. Mauritius
  64. Mayotte 2005
  65. Réunion 2003
  66. Saint Helena 2009
  67. South Africa 1996
  68. Oceania (12)
  69. Australia 1986
  70. Christmas Island 2013
  71. Cocos (Keeling) Islands
  72. Fiji 2009
  73. French Polynesia
  74. New Caledonia 2005
  75. New Zealand 1994
  76. Niue
  77. Norfolk Island
  78. Pitcairn Islands 2010
  79. Vanuatu 2013
  80. Wallis and Futuna
  81. South America (8)
  82. Bolivia 2010
  83. Brazil 2019
  84. Chile 2012
  85. Colombia 2011
  86. Ecuador 1998
  87. Falkland Islands 2008
  88. French Guiana 2004
  89. Uruguay 2003

No protections

LGBT discrimination is no protections in 93 regions.

  1. Asia (29)
  2. Afghanistan 1919
  3. Bahrain 1976
  4. Bhutan 2006
  5. Brunei 1951
  6. Cambodia
  7. China
  8. Iran 1979
  9. Iraq
  10. Japan 1947
  11. Jordan 1952
  12. Kazakhstan 1991
  13. Kuwait 1960
  14. Kyrgyzstan 1991
  15. Laos 1953
  16. Lebanon
  17. Malaysia 1826
  18. Maldives 2017
  19. Myanmar 1886
  20. Oman 1996
  21. Qatar 1915
  22. Saudi Arabia 1932
  23. Singapore
  24. South Korea 1948
  25. Syria 1964
  26. Tajikistan 1994
  27. Turkmenistan 1992
  28. United Arab Emirates 1971
  29. Uzbekistan 1992
  30. Yemen 1994
  31. Europe (5)
  32. Armenia 1995
  33. Azerbaijan
  34. Belarus 1991
  35. Russia 2013
  36. Turkey 1858
  37. North America (13)
  38. Anguilla 2001
  39. Antigua and Barbuda
  40. Aruba
  41. Barbados
  42. Cayman Islands
  43. Curaçao
  44. Dominica
  45. Haiti 1987
  46. Jamaica 1962
  47. Panama 1972
  48. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  49. Sint Maarten
  50. Trinidad and Tobago 2001
  51. Africa (36)
  52. Algeria 1966
  53. Benin 1900
  54. Cameroon 1972
  55. Central African Republic 2003
  56. Chad 1958
  57. Côte d’Ivoire 2000
  58. Democratic Republic of the Congo 1960
  59. Egypt 1971
  60. Equatorial Guinea 1968
  61. Eritrea 1957
  62. Eswatini 1907
  63. Ethiopia
  64. Gambia
  65. Ghana 1960
  66. Guinea 1988
  67. Guinea-Bissau
  68. Kenya 1930
  69. Libya 1951
  70. Mali 1960
  71. Mauritania 1991
  72. Morocco
  73. Niger
  74. Nigeria 1999
  75. Republic of the Congo
  76. Sao Tome and Principe
  77. Senegal 1966
  78. Somalia 1962
  79. South Sudan 2011
  80. Sudan 1956
  81. Tanzania 1977
  82. Togo 1980
  83. Tunisia 1957
  84. Uganda 1904
  85. Western Sahara
  86. Zambia 1931
  87. Zimbabwe 1980
  88. Oceania (6)
  89. Federated States of Micronesia
  90. Nauru 2016
  91. Papua New Guinea 2002
  92. Solomon Islands 1978
  93. Tokelau
  94. Tuvalu
  95. South America (4)
  96. Guyana 1980
  97. Paraguay 1992
  98. Peru 1993
  99. Suriname 1975

Illegal in some contexts

LGBT discrimination is illegal in some contexts in 51 regions.

  1. Asia (11)
  2. Hong Kong
  3. Indonesia 2015
  4. Macau 2008
  5. Nepal 2007
  6. Pakistan 2018
  7. Palestine 1992
  8. Philippines 2003
  9. Taiwan 2007
  10. Thailand
  11. Timor-Leste 2009
  12. Vietnam 1992
  13. Europe (12)
  14. Denmark 1996
  15. Estonia 2009
  16. Italy 2003
  17. Latvia 2006
  18. Lithuania 2009
  19. Moldova 2013
  20. Monaco 2005
  21. North Macedonia 2010
  22. Poland 2003
  23. Slovakia 2013
  24. Ukraine 2015
  25. Vatican City
  26. North America (7)
  27. Bahamas
  28. Costa Rica 2015
  29. El Salvador
  30. Grenada
  31. Guatemala 1997
  32. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  33. United States 2020
  34. Africa (13)
  35. Burkina Faso 1991
  36. Burundi 2001
  37. Djibouti
  38. Gabon 2016
  39. Lesotho 2012
  40. Liberia
  41. Madagascar
  42. Malawi
  43. Mozambique 2007
  44. Namibia 2021
  45. Rwanda
  46. Seychelles
  47. Sierra Leone
  48. Oceania (6)
  49. Cook Islands 2013
  50. Kiribati 2015
  51. Marshall Islands
  52. Palau
  53. Samoa 2013
  54. Tonga
  55. South America (2)
  56. Argentina 2009
  57. Venezuela 2012

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

Data on lgbt discrimination is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 5 regions.

  1. Asia (3)
  2. Bangladesh
  3. North Korea
  4. Sri Lanka
  5. Africa (1)
  6. Comoros
  7. Antarctica (1)
  8. Antarctica

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