Explore the progress of
LGBTQ+
Lesbian,
Gay,
Bisexual,
Transgender,
Questioning,
Intersex...
rights across the world.
  • Equality Index
  • Homosexuality
  • Gay Marriage
  • Censorship
  • Changing Gender
  • Gender-Affirming CareJust Added
  • Non-Binary Gender Recognition
  • Discrimination
  • Employment Discrimination
  • Housing Discrimination
  • Adoption
  • Intersex Infant SurgeryJust Added
  • Military
  • Donating Blood
  • Conversion Therapy
  • Age of Consent
Equality Index ?
0 (Less Equal)
100 (More Equal)

Today in LGBTQ+ History

Upcoming LGBTQ+ Law Changes

Recent LGBTQ+ Laws Changed

LGBTQ+ Rights by Country

Select an issue to view a further breakdown.

Homosexual activity

132
Legal
59
Illegal
Legal
132 regions (67%)
Illegal
59 regions (30%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
5 regions (3%)
Legal
49 regions (98%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Legal
8 regions (57%)
Illegal
6 regions (43%)
Oceania
Legal
11 regions (92%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
South America
Legal
19 regions (83%)
Illegal
4 regions (17%)
North America
Legal
23 regions (43%)
Illegal
29 regions (55%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Africa
Legal
22 regions (50%)
Illegal
19 regions (43%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (7%)
Asia

Same-sex marriage

37
Legal
77
Somewhere in between
79
Illegal
Legal
37 regions (19%)
Somewhere in between
77 regions (39%)
Illegal
79 regions (40%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (2%)
Legal
21 regions (42%)
Somewhere in between
18 regions (36%)
Illegal
11 regions (22%)
Europe
Legal
2 regions (14%)
Somewhere in between
6 regions (43%)
Illegal
6 regions (43%)
Oceania
Legal
6 regions (50%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (17%)
Illegal
4 regions (33%)
South America
Legal
5 regions (22%)
Somewhere in between
12 regions (52%)
Illegal
5 regions (22%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (4%)
North America
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
21 regions (40%)
Illegal
31 regions (58%)
Africa
Legal
2 regions (5%)
Somewhere in between
18 regions (41%)
Illegal
22 regions (50%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (5%)
Asia

Censorship of LGBT issues

138
No censorship
48
Censorship exists
No censorship
138 regions (70%)
Censorship exists
48 regions (24%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
10 regions (5%)
No censorship
43 regions (86%)
Censorship exists
6 regions (12%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Europe
No censorship
14 regions (100%)
Oceania
No censorship
11 regions (92%)
Censorship exists
1 regions (8%)
South America
No censorship
21 regions (91%)
Censorship exists
1 regions (4%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (4%)
North America
No censorship
32 regions (60%)
Censorship exists
17 regions (32%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (8%)
Africa
No censorship
17 regions (39%)
Censorship exists
23 regions (52%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (9%)
Asia

Right to change legal gender

32
Legal
55
Somewhere in between
96
Illegal
Legal
32 regions (16%)
Somewhere in between
55 regions (28%)
Illegal
96 regions (49%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
13 regions (7%)
Legal
16 regions (32%)
Somewhere in between
26 regions (52%)
Illegal
7 regions (14%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Legal
1 regions (7%)
Illegal
11 regions (79%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (14%)
Oceania
Legal
7 regions (58%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (8%)
Illegal
4 regions (33%)
South America
Legal
3 regions (13%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (9%)
Illegal
16 regions (70%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (9%)
North America
Legal
2 regions (4%)
Somewhere in between
6 regions (11%)
Illegal
41 regions (77%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (8%)
Africa
Legal
3 regions (7%)
Somewhere in between
20 regions (45%)
Illegal
17 regions (39%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (9%)
Asia

Gender-affirming care

110
Legal
47
Somewhere in between
18
Banned
Legal
110 regions (56%)
Somewhere in between
47 regions (24%)
Banned
18 regions (9%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
21 regions (11%)
Legal
35 regions (70%)
Somewhere in between
10 regions (20%)
Banned
3 regions (6%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (4%)
Europe
Legal
5 regions (36%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (7%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
8 regions (57%)
Oceania
Legal
12 regions (100%)
South America
Legal
21 regions (91%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (9%)
North America
Legal
10 regions (19%)
Somewhere in between
26 regions (49%)
Banned
10 regions (19%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
7 regions (13%)
Africa
Legal
27 regions (61%)
Somewhere in between
10 regions (23%)
Banned
5 regions (11%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (5%)
Asia

Legal recognition of non-binary gender

17
Recognized
4
Some recognition
172
Not recognized
Recognized
17 regions (9%)
Some recognition
4 regions (2%)
Not recognized
172 regions (88%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (2%)
Recognized
4 regions (8%)
Some recognition
2 regions (4%)
Not recognized
43 regions (86%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Recognized
2 regions (14%)
Not recognized
12 regions (86%)
Oceania
Recognized
3 regions (25%)
Some recognition
1 regions (8%)
Not recognized
8 regions (67%)
South America
Recognized
4 regions (17%)
Not recognized
19 regions (83%)
North America
Some recognition
1 regions (2%)
Not recognized
51 regions (96%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Africa
Recognized
4 regions (9%)
Not recognized
39 regions (89%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Asia

LGBT discrimination

54
Protected
59
Some protections
79
No protections
Protected
54 regions (28%)
Some protections
59 regions (30%)
No protections
79 regions (40%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (2%)
Protected
31 regions (62%)
Some protections
13 regions (26%)
No protections
5 regions (10%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Protected
3 regions (21%)
Some protections
7 regions (50%)
No protections
4 regions (29%)
Oceania
Protected
7 regions (58%)
Some protections
4 regions (33%)
No protections
1 regions (8%)
South America
Protected
5 regions (22%)
Some protections
13 regions (57%)
No protections
4 regions (17%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (4%)
North America
Protected
3 regions (6%)
Some protections
12 regions (23%)
No protections
37 regions (70%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Africa
Protected
5 regions (11%)
Some protections
10 regions (23%)
No protections
28 regions (64%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Asia

LGBT employment discrimination

62
Protected
32
Some protections
92
No protections
Protected
62 regions (32%)
Some protections
32 regions (16%)
No protections
92 regions (47%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
10 regions (5%)
Protected
36 regions (72%)
Some protections
6 regions (12%)
No protections
8 regions (16%)
Europe
Protected
5 regions (36%)
Some protections
4 regions (29%)
No protections
5 regions (36%)
Oceania
Protected
7 regions (58%)
Some protections
3 regions (25%)
No protections
2 regions (17%)
South America
Protected
6 regions (26%)
Some protections
6 regions (26%)
No protections
7 regions (30%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (17%)
North America
Protected
3 regions (6%)
Some protections
8 regions (15%)
No protections
39 regions (74%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (6%)
Africa
Protected
5 regions (11%)
Some protections
5 regions (11%)
No protections
31 regions (70%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (7%)
Asia

LGBT housing discrimination

52
Protected
14
Some protections
111
No protections
Protected
52 regions (27%)
Some protections
14 regions (7%)
No protections
111 regions (57%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
19 regions (10%)
Protected
33 regions (66%)
Some protections
3 regions (6%)
No protections
12 regions (24%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (4%)
Europe
Protected
3 regions (21%)
Some protections
2 regions (14%)
No protections
7 regions (50%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (14%)
Oceania
Protected
7 regions (58%)
Some protections
1 regions (8%)
No protections
3 regions (25%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (8%)
South America
Protected
3 regions (13%)
Some protections
2 regions (9%)
No protections
16 regions (70%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (9%)
North America
Protected
2 regions (4%)
Some protections
3 regions (6%)
No protections
43 regions (81%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
5 regions (9%)
Africa
Protected
4 regions (9%)
Some protections
3 regions (7%)
No protections
30 regions (68%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
7 regions (16%)
Asia

Same-sex adoption

39
Legal
104
Somewhere in between
43
Illegal
Legal
39 regions (20%)
Somewhere in between
104 regions (53%)
Illegal
43 regions (22%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
10 regions (5%)
Legal
23 regions (46%)
Somewhere in between
20 regions (40%)
Illegal
6 regions (12%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Legal
2 regions (14%)
Somewhere in between
9 regions (64%)
Illegal
2 regions (14%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (7%)
Oceania
Legal
6 regions (50%)
Somewhere in between
5 regions (42%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
South America
Legal
4 regions (17%)
Somewhere in between
16 regions (70%)
Illegal
1 regions (4%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (9%)
North America
Legal
2 regions (4%)
Somewhere in between
37 regions (70%)
Illegal
14 regions (26%)
Africa
Legal
2 regions (5%)
Somewhere in between
17 regions (39%)
Illegal
19 regions (43%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
6 regions (14%)
Asia

Intersex infant surgery

12
Banned
5
Somewhere in between
76
Not banned
Banned
12 regions (6%)
Somewhere in between
5 regions (3%)
Not banned
76 regions (39%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
103 regions (53%)
Banned
8 regions (16%)
Somewhere in between
3 regions (6%)
Not banned
39 regions (78%)
Europe
Not banned
1 regions (7%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
13 regions (93%)
Oceania
Banned
3 regions (25%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (8%)
Not banned
8 regions (67%)
South America
Not banned
4 regions (17%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
19 regions (83%)
North America
Banned
1 regions (2%)
Not banned
12 regions (23%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
40 regions (75%)
Africa
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Not banned
12 regions (27%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
31 regions (70%)
Asia

Serving openly in military

59
Legal
53
Somewhere in between
48
Illegal
Legal
59 regions (30%)
Somewhere in between
53 regions (27%)
Illegal
48 regions (24%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
36 regions (18%)
Legal
26 regions (52%)
Somewhere in between
19 regions (38%)
Illegal
1 regions (2%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (8%)
Europe
Legal
5 regions (36%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
9 regions (64%)
Oceania
Legal
10 regions (83%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (17%)
South America
Legal
8 regions (35%)
Somewhere in between
4 regions (17%)
Illegal
2 regions (9%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
9 regions (39%)
North America
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
18 regions (34%)
Illegal
26 regions (49%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
8 regions (15%)
Africa
Legal
9 regions (20%)
Somewhere in between
10 regions (23%)
Illegal
19 regions (43%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
6 regions (14%)
Asia

Blood donations by MSMs

116
Legal
3
Somewhere in between
56
Illegal
Legal
116 regions (59%)
Somewhere in between
3 regions (2%)
Illegal
56 regions (29%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
21 regions (11%)
Legal
36 regions (72%)
Illegal
12 regions (24%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (4%)
Europe
Legal
9 regions (64%)
Illegal
4 regions (29%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (7%)
Oceania
Legal
10 regions (83%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (8%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
South America
Legal
17 regions (74%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (4%)
Illegal
3 regions (13%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (9%)
North America
Legal
31 regions (58%)
Illegal
11 regions (21%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
11 regions (21%)
Africa
Legal
13 regions (30%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
25 regions (57%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
5 regions (11%)
Asia

Conversion therapy

26
Banned
3
Partially banned
155
Not banned
Banned
26 regions (13%)
Partially banned
3 regions (2%)
Not banned
155 regions (79%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
12 regions (6%)
Banned
11 regions (22%)
Not banned
36 regions (72%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (6%)
Europe
Banned
2 regions (14%)
Partially banned
2 regions (14%)
Not banned
9 regions (64%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (7%)
Oceania
Banned
7 regions (58%)
Not banned
5 regions (42%)
South America
Banned
2 regions (9%)
Not banned
18 regions (78%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (13%)
North America
Not banned
52 regions (98%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Africa
Banned
4 regions (9%)
Partially banned
1 regions (2%)
Not banned
35 regions (80%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (9%)
Asia

Equal age of consent

133
Equal
9
Unequal
Equal
133 regions (68%)
Unequal
9 regions (5%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
54 regions (28%)
Equal
49 regions (98%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Europe
Equal
11 regions (79%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (21%)
Oceania
Equal
9 regions (75%)
Unequal
2 regions (17%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (8%)
South America
Equal
20 regions (87%)
Unequal
1 regions (4%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (9%)
North America
Equal
20 regions (38%)
Unequal
6 regions (11%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
27 regions (51%)
Africa
Equal
24 regions (55%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
20 regions (45%)
Asia

Equaldex is tracking
11,759 LGBTQ-related laws.

53
LawS changed
this year
174
LawS changed
last year
51
LawS added
this week

Monthly Top Contributors

514 contributions
95 contributions
26 contributions
23 contributions
19 contributions
View More

Recent Edits

chiaralnl added an entry.
Intersex infant surgery in Chad
chiaralnl added an entry.
Intersex infant surgery in Niger
chiaralnl added an entry.
Intersex infant surgery in Mauritania
chiaralnl added an entry.
Intersex infant surgery in Egypt
View More

LGBT Travel Guide

Explore the status and timelines of LGBT rights in each country, state, province, and region. Equaldex includes the legal status of same-sex marriage, adoption, serving openly in the military, discrimination protections, age of consent differences, blood donation restrictions, gender changing restrictions, and gay conversion therapy bans.

Highlighted regions are frequently visited

LGBT Rights in Asia

46 Regions

LGBT Rights in Europe

54 Regions

LGBT Rights in North America

36 Regions

LGBT Rights in Africa

59 Regions

LGBT Rights in Oceania

24 Regions

LGBT Rights in South America

14 Regions

Recommended & Referenced by

Equaldex has been recommended or used as a reference by the following publications, organizations, and educational institutions.


New York Times

Forbes

National Geographic

Vox

Lifehacker

Cosmopolitan

Salon

DatingNews.com

Harvard University

Stanford

University of Texas

NYU

Dartmouth

Southwestern

Penn State

UC Santa Barbara

University of Notre Dame

University of Florida

Columbia University

University of Virginia

University of Michigan

Cal Poly

University of North Carolina

University of Colorado

St. John's

New York Law Institute

World Economic Forum

Amnesty International

GOV.UK

Parliament of the United Kingdom

United Nations Globe

U.S Department of State

Google Pride
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