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
97
Some protections
97 regions (49%)
Some protections
49
No protections
49 regions (25%)
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
15 regions (65%)
No protections
3 regions (13%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (9%)
Africa
2%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
1 regions (2%)
Some protections
38 regions (70%)
No protections
15 regions (28%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
Asia
5%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
2 regions (5%)
Some protections
15 regions (34%)
No protections
25 regions (57%)
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 & Upcoming Changes

Upcoming Changes

2026

2025

2024

2023

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 97 regions.

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

No protections

LGBT discrimination is no protections in 49 regions.

  1. Asia (25)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Bahrain
  4. Bangladesh
  5. Brunei
  6. Cambodia
  7. Iran
  8. Iraq
  9. Jordan
  10. Kazakhstan
  11. Kuwait
  12. Kyrgyzstan
  13. Laos
  14. Lebanon
  15. Malaysia
  16. Maldives
  17. North Korea
  18. Oman
  19. Qatar
  20. Saudi Arabia
  21. Syria
  22. Tajikistan
  23. Turkmenistan
  24. United Arab Emirates
  25. Uzbekistan
  26. Yemen
  27. Europe (6)
  28. Armenia
  29. Azerbaijan 2006
  30. Belarus
  31. Russia
  32. Turkey 2016
  33. Vatican City
  34. North America (3)
  35. Grenada
  36. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  37. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2020
  38. Africa (15)
  39. Algeria
  40. Burundi
  41. Cameroon
  42. Chad
  43. Egypt
  44. Eritrea
  45. Ethiopia
  46. Gambia
  47. Libya
  48. Mauritania
  49. Morocco
  50. Somalia
  51. Sudan
  52. Tunisia
  53. 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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