- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- Unknown
- Donating Blood
- Unknown
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
Niger is lacking public opinion data.
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Suggest Public Opinion DataHistory
Homosexual activity in Niger is illegal (death penalty as punishment).
Current status
Since May 4, 2000
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
The Penal Code (Amendment) Law 2000 took effect in Niger on May 4th, 2000. Unlike most other Nigerian states, Niger enacted the Penal Code (Amendment) Law (2000) to reform its existing Penal Code, instead of adopting a whole new Sharia Penal Code. The amendment added Section 68A. Under this, Islamic criminal law is applied as found in the basic and classical sources: the Qur’an, the Hadith, and the fiqh, thereby punishing consensual same-sex sexual acts between adults (liwat) with death by stoning.
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity. It came into effect in September of 1960.
Section 284 of the Penal Code states "Whoever has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine."
Section 284 of the Penal Code states "Whoever has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine."
Censorship of LGBT issues in Niger is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Imprisonment as punishment under federal Nigeria law
In addition to criminalizing homosexuality, Nigeria has enacted legislation that would make it illegal for heterosexual family members, allies and friends of LGBT people to be supportive. According to Nigerian law, a heterosexual ally "who administers, witnesses, abets or aids" any form of gender non-conforming and homosexual activity could receive a 10-year jail sentence.
Right to change legal gender in Niger is illegal.
Current status
Illegal under federal Nigeria law
Legally no way to change gender, crossdressing is illegal in 12 states in northern Nigeria.
Gender-affirming care in Niger is restricted.
Current status
Restricted under federal Nigeria law
In Nigeria, surgical procedures like orchiectomy, penectomy, phalloplasty and metoidioplasty are not available. Other gender-affirming care services such as laser hair removal, hormone therapy and trachea shave, are accessible in Nigeria, however are often too expensive for the people who need them.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Niger is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized under federal Nigeria law
You cannot legally identify as non-binary in Nigeria.
LGBT discrimination in Niger is no protections.
Current status
No protections under federal Nigeria law
Section 17(2)(a) in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states "every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law." However, there are no explicit discrimination protections regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria.
LGBT employment discrimination in Niger is no protections.
Current status
No protections under federal Nigeria law
Section 17(2)(a) in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states "every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law." However, there are no explicit discrimination protections in regards to employment discrimination regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria.
LGBT housing discrimination in Niger is no protections.
Current status
No protections under federal Nigeria law
Section 17(2)(a) in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states "every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law." However, there are no explicit discrimination protections in regards to housing discrimination regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria.
Same-sex adoption in Niger is single only.
Current status
Single only under federal Nigeria law
Information regarding same-sex individuals adopting children is very limited. According to the US Department of State, same-sex married couples are explicitly not allowed to adopt children in Nigeria. However, they do not mention anything about single gay people adopting children. According to Adoptive Families, single people may adopt a child of the same sex. Regarding same-sex adoption, they say that it is not expressly prohibited, but it is not clear where the government stands.
Intersex infant surgery in Niger is not banned.
Current status
Not banned under federal Nigeria law
There is no ban on surgeries performed on intersex infants in Nigeria.
Serving openly in military in Niger is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Conversion therapy in Niger is not banned.
Current status
Equal age of consent in Niger is n/a.
Current status
Since Jun 1, 1916
N/A under federal Nigeria law
Homosexuality is illegal, so there is no age of consent.
Legal Rights
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This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Niger to help improve its accuracy.
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Niger LGBT Organizations
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