Homosexual activity
Homosexuality is illegal in 69 countries and punishable by death in 6.
Homosexual activity
Homosexual activity refers to consensual sexual activity between individuals of the same sex. While homosexual activity is legal in most countries around the world, there are several countries — mostly in Africa and the Middle East — where it is criminalized to a varying degree. Penalties can range from imprisonment all the way up to death penalty.
Homosexuality is commonly criminalized through sodomy laws (sometimes called a "buggery law" in British territories), which are laws that define sexual acts of crimes. Sodomy laws can sometimes prevent sexual activity between two individuals of the same sex. While some of these laws are not specific to homosexual sex (such as when referring to anal sex), they are usually used to target or criminalize gay people. In practice, these laws are difficult to actually enforce.
In some countries, the language of the criminal codes specifically refers to two men, meaning that lesbian sex is technically legal.
Some sodomy laws and penal codes date back to the 1700s and 1800s. Throughout the 1900s, many countries, US states, and other regions began decriminalizing homosexuality and removing references to homosexuality or sodomy from their criminal codes. This has continued over the past few decades.
Summary
Progress over time
Recent changes
- UgandaIllegal (up to life in prison as punishment)May 3, 2021
- BhutanLegalFeb 17, 2021
- BotswanaLegalJun 11, 2019
- BruneiIllegal (death penalty as punishment)Mar 28, 2019
- AngolaLegalJan 24, 2019
- IndiaLegalSep 6, 2018
- Terengganu, MalaysiaIllegal (imprisonment as punishment)Jan 1, 2018
- ChadIllegal (imprisonment as punishment)Aug 1, 2017
- TuvaluMale illegal, female legalMay 19, 2017
- MaldivesIllegal (imprisonment as punishment)Mar 6, 2017
Homosexual activity by country
(and dependent territories)Legal
Homosexual activity is legal in 154 regions.
- Asia (22)
- Bahrain 1976
- Bhutan 2021
- Cambodia
- China 1997
- East Timor 1975
- Hong Kong 1991
- India 2018
- Israel 1988
- Japan 1881
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan 1997
- Kyrgyzstan 1997
- Laos 1990
- Macau 1995
- Mongolia 2002
- Nepal 2007
- Philippines 1900
- South Korea 2003
- Taiwan 1947
- Tajikistan 1998
- Thailand 1956
- Vietnam 1992
- Europe (50)
- Albania 1995
- Andorra 1791
- Armenia 2003
- Austria 1971
- Azerbaijan 2000
- Belarus 1994
- Belgium 1944
- Bosnia and Herzegovina 1998
- Bulgaria 1968
- Croatia 1977
- Cyprus 1998
- Czech Republic 1962
- Denmark 1933
- Estonia 1992
- Faroe Islands 1933
- Finland 1971
- France 1791
- Georgia 2000
- Germany 1969
- Greece 1951
- Hungary 1978
- Iceland 1940
- Ireland 1993
- Italy 1890
- Latvia 1992
- Liechtenstein 1989
- Lithuania 1993
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia 1996
- Malta 1973
- Moldova 1995
- Monaco 1793
- Montenegro 1977
- Netherlands 1945
- Norway 1972
- Poland 1932
- Portugal 1982
- Romania 2001
- Russia 1993
- San Marino 1865
- Serbia 1994
- Slovakia 1961
- Slovenia 1976
- Spain 1979
- Sweden 1944
- Switzerland 1942
- Turkey 1858
- Ukraine 1991
- United Kingdom 2000
- Vatican City 1929
- North America (28)
- Anguilla 2001
- Aruba
- Bahamas 1991
- Belize 2016
- Bermuda 1994
- British Virgin Islands 2001
- Canada 1969
- Cayman Islands 2001
- Costa Rica 2002
- Cuba 1997
- Curaçao
- Dominican Republic 2007
- El Salvador 1974
- Greenland 1933
- Guadeloupe 1791
- Guatemala 1871
- Haiti 1986
- Honduras 1985
- Martinique 1791
- Mexico 2001
- Montserrat 2001
- Nicaragua 2007
- Panama 2007
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon 1791
- Sint Maarten
- Trinidad and Tobago 2015
- Turks and Caicos Islands 2001
- United States 2003
- Africa (24)
- Angola 2019
- Benin 1900
- Botswana 2019
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- Burkina Faso 1996
- Cape Verde 2004
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo 1940
- Djibouti
- Equatorial Guinea 1968
- Gabon 1963
- Guinea-Bissau
- Lesotho 2012
- Madagascar 1972
- Mali 1961
- Mayotte
- Mozambique 2015
- Niger 2006
- Republic of the Congo
- Réunion 1791
- Rwanda 1980
- Saint Helena 2001
- Seychelles 2016
- South Africa 1998
- Oceania (17)
- Australia 1994
- Christmas Island
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands 1955
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji 2010
- French Polynesia
- Marshall Islands 2005
- Nauru 2016
- New Caledonia 1791
- New Zealand 1986
- Niue
- Norfolk Island 1993
- Palau 2014
- Pitcairn Islands 1967
- Tokelau
- Vanuatu
- Wallis and Futuna
Male illegal, female legal
Homosexual activity is male illegal, female legal in 13 regions.
Male illegal, female uncertain
Homosexual activity is male illegal, female uncertain in 5 regions.
- Oceania (1)
- Tonga 1988
Illegal (other penalty)
Homosexual activity is illegal (other penalty) in 1 regions.
- Asia (1)
- Qatar 1915
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Homosexual activity is illegal (imprisonment as punishment) in 39 regions.
- Asia (9)
- Bangladesh 1860
- Kuwait 1960
- Malaysia 1826
- Myanmar 1886
- Oman 1974
- Pakistan 1860
- Sri Lanka 1885
- Syria 1949
- Yemen 1994
- Africa (26)
- Algeria 1966
- Burundi 2009
- Cameroon 1967
- Central African Republic 2010
- Chad 2017
- Comoros 1982
- Egypt
- Eritrea 1957
- Ethiopia
- Gambia 2005
- Ghana 1960
- Guinea 1988
- Kenya 1930
- Liberia 1976
- Libya 1953
- Malawi 1930
- Mauritius 1838
- Morocco 1962
- Senegal 1966
- Somalia 1962
- South Sudan 2011
- Tanzania 1998
- Togo 1980
- Tunisia 1913
- Western Sahara 1975
- Zambia 1931
- Oceania (1)
- Solomon Islands 1978
Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
Homosexual activity is illegal (up to life in prison as punishment) in 5 regions.
- South America (1)
- Guyana
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Homosexual activity is illegal (death penalty as punishment) in 6 regions.
- Africa (1)
- Mauritania 1983
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
Data on homosexual activity is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 7 regions.
- Africa (1)
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Antarctica (1)
- Antarctica
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