LGBT discrimination

LGBTQ+ people are protected from discrimination in 55 countries.

DATE

LGBT discrimination

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

Summary

55
Protected
55 regions (28%)
Protected
59
Some protections
59 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
64%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
32 regions (64%)
Some protections
11 regions (22%)
No protections
6 regions (12%)
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
15 regions (65%)
No protections
2 regions (9%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (4%)
Africa
6%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
3 regions (6%)
Some protections
12 regions (22%)
No protections
38 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 55 regions.

  1. Asia (5)
  2. Kazakhstan 1995
  3. Mongolia 2017
  4. Nepal 2015
  5. Taiwan 2004
  6. Thailand 2015
  7. Europe (32)
  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. Iceland
  24. Ireland 2015
  25. Kosovo 2015
  26. Luxembourg 2006
  27. Malta 2014
  28. Moldova 2023
  29. Montenegro 2010
  30. Netherlands 2023
  31. North Macedonia 2020
  32. Norway 1981
  33. Portugal 2008
  34. Serbia 2009
  35. Slovakia 2013
  36. Slovenia 2016
  37. Spain 1995
  38. Sweden 2009
  39. United Kingdom 2010
  40. North America (5)
  41. Antigua and Barbuda 2022
  42. Canada 2017
  43. Cuba 2019
  44. Honduras 2013
  45. Mexico 2003
  46. Africa (3)
  47. Angola 2021
  48. Botswana 2019
  49. South Africa 1996
  50. Oceania (3)
  51. Fiji 2013
  52. Marshall Islands 2019
  53. Vanuatu 2013
  54. South America (7)
  55. Bolivia 2010
  56. Brazil 2019
  57. Chile 2012
  58. Colombia 2011
  59. Ecuador 1998
  60. Peru 2017
  61. Uruguay 2003

Illegal in some contexts

LGBT discrimination is illegal in some contexts in 59 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 (11)
  13. Cyprus 2013
  14. Georgia 2012
  15. Latvia 2006
  16. Liechtenstein 2016
  17. Lithuania 2000
  18. Monaco 2005
  19. Poland
  20. Romania 2000
  21. San Marino 2019
  22. Switzerland 2020
  23. Ukraine 2015
  24. North America (15)
  25. Bahamas 2003
  26. Barbados
  27. Belize
  28. Costa Rica 2015
  29. Dominica 2020
  30. Dominican Republic 2000
  31. El Salvador 2009
  32. Grenada 2013
  33. Guatemala 2021
  34. Jamaica 2008
  35. Nicaragua 2008
  36. Panama 2002
  37. Saint Kitts and Nevis 2020
  38. Saint Lucia 2022
  39. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  40. Africa (12)
  41. Cape Verde 2007
  42. Chad 2017
  43. Kenya 2022
  44. Lesotho 2011
  45. Liberia
  46. Madagascar
  47. Mauritius
  48. Mozambique 2007
  49. Namibia 2021
  50. Sao Tome and Principe
  51. Seychelles 2006
  52. Sierra Leone
  53. Oceania (7)
  54. Australia 1986
  55. Federated States of Micronesia 2018
  56. Kiribati 2015
  57. Nauru 2016
  58. New Zealand 1994
  59. Samoa 2013
  60. Tonga
  61. South America (4)
  62. Argentina 2009
  63. Paraguay 2016
  64. Suriname 2015
  65. 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 (6)
  31. Armenia 1995
  32. Azerbaijan
  33. Belarus 1991
  34. Russia 1993
  35. Turkey 2016
  36. Vatican City
  37. North America (2)
  38. Haiti 1791
  39. Trinidad and Tobago 2001
  40. Africa (38)
  41. Algeria
  42. Benin 1900
  43. Burundi
  44. Cameroon 1972
  45. Central African Republic 2003
  46. Comoros
  47. Côte d’Ivoire 2000
  48. Democratic Republic of the Congo 1960
  49. Djibouti
  50. Egypt 1971
  51. Equatorial Guinea 1968
  52. Eritrea 1957
  53. Eswatini 1907
  54. Ethiopia
  55. Gabon
  56. Gambia
  57. Ghana 1992
  58. Guinea 1988
  59. Guinea-Bissau
  60. Libya 1951
  61. Malawi
  62. Mali
  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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