LGBT discrimination

LGBTQ+ people are protected from discrimination in 49 countries.

DATE

LGBT discrimination

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

Summary

49
Protected
49 regions (25%)
Protected
71
Some protections
71 regions (36%)
Some protections
72
No protections
72 regions (36%)
No protections
6
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
6 regions (3%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
64%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
32 regions (64%)
Some protections
10 regions (20%)
No protections
6 regions (12%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (4%)
Oceania
14%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
2 regions (14%)
Some protections
10 regions (71%)
No protections
2 regions (14%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
South America
58%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
7 regions (58%)
Some protections
5 regions (42%)
No protections
regions (0%)
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
2%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
1 regions (2%)
Some protections
20 regions (37%)
No protections
33 regions (61%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
Asia
5%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Protected
2 regions (5%)
Some protections
11 regions (25%)
No protections
29 regions (66%)
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

2024

2023

2022

LGBT discrimination by Country

Illegal

LGBT discrimination is illegal in 49 regions.

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

Illegal in some contexts

LGBT discrimination is illegal in some contexts in 71 regions.

  1. Asia (11)
  2. India
  3. Israel 1992
  4. Japan 2018
  5. Pakistan 2018
  6. Philippines 2003
  7. Singapore 2019
  8. Sri Lanka 2022
  9. Taiwan 2004
  10. Thailand 2015
  11. Timor-Leste 2009
  12. Vietnam 1992
  13. Europe (10)
  14. Cyprus 2013
  15. Latvia 2006
  16. Liechtenstein 2016
  17. Lithuania 2000
  18. Monaco 2005
  19. Poland 2018
  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 2006
  39. Trinidad and Tobago 2004
  40. Africa (20)
  41. Angola 2021
  42. Benin
  43. Botswana 2010
  44. Cape Verde 2007
  45. Chad 2017
  46. Democratic Republic of the Congo 2008
  47. Djibouti 2016
  48. Gabon 2023
  49. Ghana 2012
  50. Guinea 2016
  51. Kenya 2022
  52. Lesotho 2011
  53. Liberia 2015
  54. Madagascar 2005
  55. Mauritius
  56. Mozambique 2007
  57. Sao Tome and Principe
  58. Seychelles 2006
  59. Sierra Leone 2023
  60. Zimbabwe 2020
  61. Oceania (10)
  62. Australia 1986
  63. Federated States of Micronesia 2018
  64. Kiribati 2015
  65. Nauru 2016
  66. New Zealand 1994
  67. Samoa 2007
  68. Solomon Islands 2014
  69. Tonga 2010
  70. Tuvalu 2016
  71. Vanuatu 2013
  72. South America (5)
  73. Argentina 2009
  74. Guyana 2023
  75. Paraguay 2016
  76. Suriname 2015
  77. Venezuela 2012

No protections

LGBT discrimination is no protections in 72 regions.

  1. Asia (29)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Bahrain
  4. Bangladesh
  5. Bhutan
  6. Cambodia
  7. China
  8. Indonesia
  9. Iran 1979
  10. Iraq
  11. Jordan 1952
  12. Kazakhstan 1995
  13. Kuwait
  14. Kyrgyzstan
  15. Laos 1953
  16. Lebanon
  17. Malaysia 1826
  18. Maldives
  19. Myanmar 1886
  20. North Korea 1948
  21. Oman
  22. Palestine 1992
  23. Qatar 1915
  24. Saudi Arabia
  25. Syria
  26. Tajikistan 1994
  27. Turkmenistan
  28. United Arab Emirates 1971
  29. Uzbekistan
  30. Yemen 1994
  31. Europe (6)
  32. Armenia 1995
  33. Azerbaijan
  34. Belarus
  35. Russia 1993
  36. Turkey 2016
  37. Vatican City
  38. North America (2)
  39. Haiti 1791
  40. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  41. Africa (33)
  42. Algeria
  43. Burkina Faso
  44. Burundi
  45. Cameroon 1972
  46. Central African Republic 2003
  47. Comoros
  48. Côte d’Ivoire 2000
  49. Egypt 1971
  50. Equatorial Guinea 1968
  51. Eritrea 1957
  52. Eswatini
  53. Ethiopia
  54. Gambia
  55. Guinea-Bissau
  56. Libya 1951
  57. Malawi
  58. Mali
  59. Mauritania 1991
  60. Morocco
  61. Namibia 2023
  62. Niger
  63. Nigeria
  64. Republic of the Congo
  65. Rwanda
  66. Senegal 1966
  67. Somalia
  68. South Sudan 2011
  69. Sudan 1956
  70. Tanzania 1977
  71. Togo
  72. Tunisia 1957
  73. Uganda 1904
  74. Zambia 1931
  75. Oceania (2)
  76. Palau
  77. Papua New Guinea 2002

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on lgbt discrimination is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 6 regions.

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

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