Hate crime protections

LGBTQ+ people are protected from hate crimes in 52 countries.

DATE

Hate crime protections

Hate-crime protections are laws that treat an offence more seriously when it is motivated by bias against someone’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. When a crime—such as assault, vandalism, or threats—is proven to be bias-motivated, prosecutors can request tougher penalties or judges can add extra time to a sentence. The aim is to recognise the broader harm these attacks inflict on the LGBTQ community and to deter would-be offenders.

The scope of these protections varies widely. Some regions limit them to violent crimes, while others include property damage, harassment, or even hateful speech. Many modern laws now list both sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics, though older statutes sometimes cover only one or the other. Enforcement remains uneven: bias can be hard to prove, victims may be reluctant to report, and police training on identifying hate crimes is inconsistent. Even so, more jurisdictions are updating their legal codes and data-collection practices, signalling a growing recognition that bias-motivated violence requires a distinct, stronger response.

Summary

52
Protected
52 regions (26%)
Protected
20
Some protections
20 regions (10%)
Some protections
58
No protections
58 regions (29%)
No protections
68
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
68 regions (34%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
50%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
25 regions (50%)
Some protections
9 regions (18%)
No protections
8 regions (16%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
8 regions (16%)
Oceania
21%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
3 regions (21%)
Some protections
1 regions (7%)
No protections
6 regions (43%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
4 regions (29%)
South America
58%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
7 regions (58%)
Some protections
1 regions (8%)
No protections
4 regions (33%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
North America
57%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
13 regions (57%)
Some protections
1 regions (4%)
No protections
7 regions (30%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (9%)
Africa
6%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
3 regions (6%)
Some protections
5 regions (9%)
No protections
17 regions (32%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
29 regions (54%)
Asia
2%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
1 regions (2%)
Some protections
3 regions (7%)
No protections
16 regions (36%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
24 regions (55%)

Timeline of hate crime protections

Number of countries to have hate crime protections over the past 61 years.

Recent & Upcoming Changes

Upcoming Changes

2025

2024

2023

Hate crime protections by Country

Sexual orientation and gender identity

Hate crime protections is sexual orientation and gender identity in 52 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Mongolia 2017
  3. Europe (25)
  4. Albania 2013
  5. Andorra 2022
  6. Belgium 2022
  7. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2016
  8. Croatia 2019
  9. Cyprus 2017
  10. Denmark 2022
  11. France
  12. Georgia 2022
  13. Germany 2024
  14. Greece 2024
  15. Hungary 2012
  16. Iceland 2022
  17. Ireland 2024
  18. Kosovo 2019
  19. Luxembourg 2023
  20. Malta 2012
  21. Moldova 2022
  22. Montenegro 2023
  23. North Macedonia 2023
  24. Norway 2020
  25. Portugal 2024
  26. Serbia 2012
  27. Spain 2022
  28. Sweden 2019
  29. North America (13)
  30. Antigua and Barbuda 2021
  31. Canada 2017
  32. Costa Rica 2022
  33. Cuba 2022
  34. Dominica 2021
  35. El Salvador 2015
  36. Grenada 2021
  37. Honduras 2013
  38. Nicaragua 2021
  39. Saint Kitts and Nevis 2021
  40. Saint Lucia 2021
  41. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2021
  42. United States 2009
  43. Africa (3)
  44. Cape Verde 2015
  45. Mozambique 2020
  46. Seychelles 2024
  47. Oceania (3)
  48. Australia 2025
  49. New Zealand 2002
  50. Samoa 2016
  51. South America (7)
  52. Argentina 2012
  53. Bolivia 2010
  54. Brazil 2019
  55. Chile 2012
  56. Ecuador 2014
  57. Peru 2017
  58. Uruguay 2003

Sexual orientation only

Hate crime protections is sexual orientation only in 17 regions.

  1. Asia (2)
  2. Israel 2004
  3. Timor-Leste 2009
  4. Europe (9)
  5. Austria 2016
  6. Bulgaria 2023
  7. Finland 2011
  8. Lithuania 2022
  9. Monaco 2020
  10. Romania 2006
  11. San Marino 2016
  12. Slovakia 2006
  13. Slovenia 2008
  14. North America (1)
  15. Belize 2024
  16. Africa (4)
  17. Angola 2021
  18. Kenya 2023
  19. Sao Tome and Principe 2012
  20. Tanzania 2023
  21. South America (1)
  22. Colombia 2001

Protected in some contexts

Hate crime protections is protected in some contexts in 3 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Bhutan 2015
  3. Africa (1)
  4. Chad 2017
  5. Oceania (1)
  6. Vanuatu

No protections

Hate crime protections is no protections in 58 regions.

  1. Asia (16)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Cambodia
  4. India
  5. Iran
  6. Japan
  7. Kazakhstan
  8. Kyrgyzstan
  9. Myanmar
  10. Nepal
  11. North Korea
  12. Taiwan
  13. Tajikistan
  14. Thailand
  15. Turkmenistan
  16. Uzbekistan
  17. Vietnam
  18. Europe (8)
  19. Azerbaijan
  20. Czechia
  21. Estonia
  22. Latvia
  23. Netherlands
  24. Poland
  25. Switzerland
  26. Turkey
  27. North America (7)
  28. Barbados
  29. Dominican Republic
  30. Guatemala
  31. Haiti
  32. Jamaica
  33. Panama
  34. Trinidad and Tobago
  35. Africa (17)
  36. Algeria
  37. Botswana
  38. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  39. Ethiopia
  40. Gabon
  41. Guinea-Bissau
  42. Lesotho
  43. Liberia
  44. Libya
  45. Mali
  46. Morocco
  47. Senegal
  48. Somalia
  49. South Africa
  50. South Sudan
  51. Sudan
  52. Tunisia
  53. Oceania (6)
  54. Federated States of Micronesia
  55. Fiji
  56. Marshall Islands
  57. Nauru
  58. Tonga
  59. Tuvalu
  60. South America (4)
  61. Guyana
  62. Paraguay
  63. Suriname
  64. Venezuela

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on hate crime protections is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 68 regions.

  1. Asia (24)
  2. Bahrain
  3. Bangladesh
  4. Brunei
  5. China
  6. Indonesia
  7. Iraq
  8. Jordan
  9. Kuwait
  10. Laos
  11. Lebanon
  12. Malaysia
  13. Maldives
  14. Oman
  15. Pakistan Varies by Region
  16. Palestine
  17. Philippines Varies by Region
  18. Qatar
  19. Saudi Arabia
  20. Singapore
  21. South Korea
  22. Sri Lanka
  23. Syria
  24. United Arab Emirates
  25. Yemen
  26. Europe (8)
  27. Armenia Ambiguous
  28. Belarus Ambiguous
  29. Italy Ambiguous
  30. Liechtenstein Ambiguous
  31. Russia Ambiguous
  32. Ukraine Ambiguous
  33. United Kingdom Varies by Region
  34. Vatican City
  35. North America (2)
  36. Bahamas
  37. Mexico Varies by Region
  38. Africa (29)
  39. Benin
  40. Burkina Faso
  41. Burundi
  42. Cameroon
  43. Central African Republic
  44. Comoros
  45. Côte d’Ivoire
  46. Djibouti
  47. Egypt
  48. Equatorial Guinea Ambiguous
  49. Eritrea
  50. Eswatini
  51. Gambia
  52. Ghana
  53. Guinea
  54. Madagascar
  55. Malawi
  56. Mauritania
  57. Mauritius
  58. Namibia
  59. Niger
  60. Nigeria Varies by Region
  61. Republic of the Congo
  62. Rwanda
  63. Sierra Leone
  64. Togo
  65. Uganda
  66. Zambia
  67. Zimbabwe
  68. Oceania (4)
  69. Kiribati
  70. Palau
  71. Papua New Guinea
  72. Solomon Islands
  73. Antarctica (1)
  74. Antarctica N/A

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