LGBT discrimination

LGBTQ+ people are protected from discrimination in 53 countries.

DATE

LGBT discrimination

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

Summary

53
Protected
53 regions (27%)
Protected
60
Some protections
60 regions (30%)
Some protections
79
No protections
79 regions (40%)
No protections
5
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
5 regions (3%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
60%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
30 regions (60%)
Some protections
14 regions (28%)
No protections
5 regions (10%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Oceania
21%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
3 regions (21%)
Some protections
7 regions (50%)
No protections
4 regions (29%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
South America
58%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
7 regions (58%)
Some protections
4 regions (33%)
No protections
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
North America
22%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
5 regions (22%)
Some protections
13 regions (57%)
No protections
4 regions (17%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (4%)
Africa
6%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
3 regions (6%)
Some protections
12 regions (23%)
No protections
37 regions (70%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Asia
11%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
5 regions (11%)
Some protections
10 regions (23%)
No protections
28 regions (64%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)

Timeline of lgbt discrimination

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

Recent Changes

2024

2023

2022

2021

LGBT discrimination by Country

Illegal

LGBT discrimination is illegal in 53 regions.

  1. Asia (5)
  2. Kazakhstan 1995
  3. Mongolia 2017
  4. Nepal 2015
  5. Taiwan 2004
  6. Thailand 2015
  7. Europe (30)
  8. Albania 2010
  9. Andorra 2005
  10. Austria 2004
  11. Belgium 2003
  12. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2016
  13. Bulgaria 2023
  14. Croatia 2009
  15. Czech Republic 2009
  16. Denmark 1996
  17. Estonia 2009
  18. Finland 2004
  19. France 2004
  20. Germany 2006
  21. Greece 2024
  22. Hungary 1998
  23. Ireland 2015
  24. Kosovo 2015
  25. Luxembourg 2006
  26. Malta 2014
  27. Moldova 2023
  28. Montenegro 2010
  29. Netherlands 2023
  30. North Macedonia 2020
  31. Norway 1981
  32. Portugal 2008
  33. Serbia 2009
  34. Slovakia 2013
  35. Slovenia 2016
  36. Spain 1995
  37. Sweden 2009
  38. North America (5)
  39. Antigua and Barbuda 2022
  40. Canada 2017
  41. Cuba 2019
  42. Honduras 2013
  43. Mexico 2003
  44. Africa (3)
  45. Angola 2021
  46. Botswana 2019
  47. South Africa 1996
  48. Oceania (3)
  49. Fiji 2013
  50. Marshall Islands 2019
  51. Vanuatu 2013
  52. South America (7)
  53. Bolivia 2010
  54. Brazil 2019
  55. Chile 2012
  56. Colombia 2011
  57. Ecuador 1998
  58. Peru 2017
  59. Uruguay 2003

Illegal in some contexts

LGBT discrimination is illegal in some contexts in 60 regions.

  1. Asia (10)
  2. India
  3. Indonesia 2015
  4. Israel 1992
  5. Japan 2018
  6. Pakistan 2018
  7. Philippines 2003
  8. Singapore 2019
  9. Timor-Leste 2009
  10. Turkmenistan 2009
  11. Vietnam 1992
  12. Europe (14)
  13. Cyprus 2013
  14. Georgia 2012
  15. Iceland
  16. Latvia 2006
  17. Liechtenstein 2016
  18. Lithuania 2000
  19. Monaco 2005
  20. Poland
  21. Romania 2000
  22. San Marino 2019
  23. Switzerland 2020
  24. Turkey 2016
  25. Ukraine 2015
  26. United Kingdom 2010
  27. North America (13)
  28. Bahamas 2003
  29. Barbados
  30. Belize
  31. Costa Rica 2015
  32. Dominica 2020
  33. Dominican Republic 2000
  34. El Salvador 2009
  35. Grenada
  36. Jamaica 2008
  37. Nicaragua 2008
  38. Saint Kitts and Nevis 2020
  39. Saint Lucia 2022
  40. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  41. Africa (12)
  42. Cape Verde 2007
  43. Chad 2017
  44. Kenya 2022
  45. Lesotho 2011
  46. Liberia
  47. Madagascar
  48. Mauritius
  49. Mozambique 2007
  50. Namibia 2021
  51. Sao Tome and Principe
  52. Seychelles 2006
  53. Sierra Leone
  54. Oceania (7)
  55. Australia 1986
  56. Federated States of Micronesia 2018
  57. Kiribati 2015
  58. Nauru 2016
  59. New Zealand 1994
  60. Samoa 2013
  61. Tonga
  62. South America (4)
  63. Argentina 2009
  64. Paraguay 2016
  65. Suriname 2015
  66. Venezuela 2012

No protections

LGBT discrimination is no protections in 79 regions.

  1. Asia (28)
  2. Afghanistan 1919
  3. Bahrain 1976
  4. Bangladesh
  5. Bhutan
  6. Brunei 1951
  7. Cambodia
  8. China
  9. Iran 1979
  10. Iraq
  11. Jordan 1952
  12. Kuwait
  13. Kyrgyzstan 1991
  14. Laos 1953
  15. Lebanon
  16. Malaysia 1826
  17. Maldives 2017
  18. Myanmar 1886
  19. North Korea 1948
  20. Oman
  21. Palestine 1992
  22. Qatar 1915
  23. Saudi Arabia
  24. Sri Lanka 2014
  25. Syria
  26. Tajikistan 1994
  27. United Arab Emirates 1971
  28. Uzbekistan 1992
  29. Yemen 1994
  30. Europe (5)
  31. Armenia 1995
  32. Azerbaijan
  33. Belarus 1991
  34. Russia 1993
  35. Vatican City
  36. North America (4)
  37. Guatemala
  38. Haiti 1791
  39. Panama 2018
  40. Trinidad and Tobago 2001
  41. Africa (37)
  42. Algeria
  43. Benin 1900
  44. Burundi
  45. Cameroon 1972
  46. Central African Republic 2003
  47. Comoros
  48. Côte d’Ivoire 2000
  49. Democratic Republic of the Congo 1960
  50. Djibouti
  51. Egypt 1971
  52. Equatorial Guinea 1968
  53. Eritrea 1957
  54. Eswatini 1907
  55. Ethiopia
  56. Gabon
  57. Gambia
  58. Ghana 1992
  59. Guinea 1988
  60. Guinea-Bissau
  61. Libya 1951
  62. Malawi
  63. Mauritania 1991
  64. Morocco
  65. Niger
  66. Nigeria
  67. Republic of the Congo
  68. Rwanda
  69. Senegal 1966
  70. Somalia 1962
  71. South Sudan 2011
  72. Sudan 1956
  73. Tanzania 1977
  74. Togo 1980
  75. Tunisia 1957
  76. Uganda 1904
  77. Zambia 1931
  78. Zimbabwe 1980
  79. Oceania (4)
  80. Palau
  81. Papua New Guinea 2002
  82. Solomon Islands 1978
  83. Tuvalu
  84. South America (1)
  85. Guyana 1980

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

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

  1. Asia (1)
  2. South Korea Varies by Region
  3. Europe (1)
  4. Italy Varies by Region
  5. North America (1)
  6. United States Varies by Region
  7. Africa (1)
  8. Burkina Faso
  9. Antarctica (1)
  10. Antarctica N/A

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