
2020 Worldwide LGBTQIA+ Equality Index

The gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and all groups with non-traditional gender and sexual identities, collectively known as the LGBTQIA+ community, have been around in many forms for thousands of years. The community faced hundreds of years of persecution, targeted campaigns and gruesome convictions when prosecuted. It was not until the late 18th century that the gay movement began to gain momentum, with prominent people advocating for equality and a movement that continues today.
The LGBTQIA+ equality index focuses on the global status, rights, and legal treatment of the community. The index is compiled by reviewing the many rules and laws that directly affect and impact the community, areas such as the same-sex legal status, the right to marry, anti-discrimination laws and other key metrics











































































































































































































































- 26.1% or 52.4 million individuals live in countries in which it is illegal to carry out same-sex related acts
- 85 countries have extensive laws anti-discrimination in place
- 51 countries allow LGBTQIA+ individuals or couples to adopt
- 42% or 98 countries have laws concerning gender identity/expression
- In 2020, in terms of the worldwide equality index:
- 33% of all countries are classified as high or very high
- 38.2% of all countries are classified as medium-high or medium-low
- 28.8% of all countries are classified as low or very low
- 26.1% or 52.4 million individuals live in countries in which it is illegal to carry out same-sex related acts
- 42% or 98 countries have laws concerning gender identity/expression
- For members of the LGBTQIA+ community living in countries in which same-sex related activities are illegal if prosecuted:
- 17 countries still criminalise same-sex activities; however, they do not enforce prosecutions
- 4 countries issue penalties of up to 2 years imprisonment
- 35 countries issue penalties from 2 years to life imprisonment
- 13 countries issue death sentences
- In terms of anti-discrimination laws:
- 85 countries have extensive laws in place
- 26 countries have some laws in place
- 122 countries have no laws in place
- In terms of other key factors affecting the LGBTQIA+ community:
- 51 countries allow LGBTQIA+ individuals or couples to adopt
- 113 countries permit LGBTQIA+ individuals to serve in the military
- Angola, Botswana and Bhutan all decriminalise homosexuality
- Gabon introduced a law banning homosexuality
- Same-sex marriages were approved in Austria, Taiwan and Ecuador
- Several Methodist, Evangelical, Lutheran and National Churches now recognise the blessings of same-sex marriages
- A law allowing third gender option (‘diverse’) on official documents took effect in Germany
- A law banning hate speech based on’ transgender identity or expression’ takes effect in Sweden
- San Marino banned discrimination based on sexual orientation within the constitution
Want to learn more about how the LGBTQIA+ Equality Index was calculated? Our how guide provides explanations and in-depth scoring for each of the sections

TAKING IN PRIDE IN YOU

The LGBTQIA+ equality index focuses on the community’s global status, rights, and legal treatment. The index is compiled by reviewing the many rules and laws that directly affect and impact the community, including same-sex legal status, the right to marry, anti-discrimination laws and other key metrics. To understand all of the areas and how they contribute to the overall score, click here to view the how it was calculated page
Through the work of advocates and pioneers, many members of the LGTBQIA+ community now have the rights and freedoms to live their authentic lives or selves without fear of persecution; however, there are still inequalities and injustices occurring all over the world. Many brave individuals and groups work within those countries to change the laws and opinions, so hopefully, everyone will have the freedom and protection under the law one day.
Simply put, the higher a country scores, the lower the equality status of that country on the index. The lower the status, the worse they treat members of the LGBTQIA+ community. IMPORTANT: If you feel your life is in danger or fear persecution, visit the non-profit organisations and support groups’ pages. There are many specialist charities and groups available worldwide that can help. A link to support groups can be found in the footer of every page on the Gayther service
EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE MAKING HISTORY

Is it safe to visit a country with a low equality status?
It depends – visiting a country and living within a country are two very different things. A country with an equality status of medium to very low will typically not be treating members of the LGBTQ+ community living in that country with the same rights and protection within the law as those heterosexual people residing within that country. If you are visiting, often by being discrete for the duration of your stay, you will likely visit without any incident; however, there is still a risk, and you should carry out independent research before you travel

Why do some countries still have the death penalty in place?
In 2022, nine countries in force the death penalty; those countries are Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Eritrea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Somalia. A further six countries allow groups of individuals to attack, torture, and even murder LGBTQIA+ people living in those countries. Countries that do not have laws or police enforcement stopping vigilantes are Algeria, Cameroon, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda and Uzbekistan. All of the countries listed have elements within their societies of orthodox or traditional religious beliefs. With the majority within those countries holding strong beliefs, the governments and vigilantes target the LGBTQIA+ community, often distracting their societies from what is going on, typically corrupt governments, crippling debt, social inequality or any one of the problems these countries face

What does equality mean?
Equality means equal rights and treatment, which means not treating someone differently because of their gender or sexuality. Equality represents a belief that everyone within any given country should have the same rights and privileges enjoyed and given to the majority of people living in that country. In the example of sexuality, the majority would be individuals who identify as heterosexual. Equality would mean for the LGBTQIA+ community that people should be able to live without fear of persecution, love whomever they love, without condemnation and have the same access to education, healthcare, marry or form civil partnerships, and create loving family units
LGBTQIA+ COUNTRY & REGION GUIDES
Please select a country from the drop-down list to discover common phrases relating to equality
AFGHANISTAN
ALBANIA
ALGERIA
AMERICAN SAMOA
ANDORRA
ANGOLA
ANGUILLA
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
ARGENTINA
ARMENIA
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRIA
AZERBAIJAN
THE BAHAMAS
BAHRAIN
BANGLADESH
BARBADOS
BELARUS
BELGIUM
BELIZE
BENIN
BERMUDA
BHUTAN
BOLIVIA
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
BOTSWANA
BRAZIL
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
BULGARIA
BURKINA FASO
BURUNDI
CAMBODIA
CAMEROON
CANADA
CAPE VERDE (CABO VERDE)
CARIBBEAN NETHERLANDS
CAYMAN ISLANDS
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
CHAD
CHANNEL ISLANDS
CHILE
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
COLOMBIA
COMOROS
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
COOK ISLANDS
COSTA RICA
CROATIA
CUBA
REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS
CZECH REPUBLIC (CZECHIA)
DENMARK
DJIBOUTI
DOMINICA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
EAST TIMOR (TIMOR-LESTE)
ECUADOR
EGYPT
EL SALVADOR
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
ERITREA
ESTONIA
ETHIOPIA
FALKLAND ISLANDS (LAS MALVINAS)
FIJI
FINLAND
FRANCE
FRENCH GUIANA
FRENCH POLYNESIA
GABON
THE GAMBIA
GEORGIA
GERMANY
GHANA
GIBRALTAR
GREECE
GREENLAND
GRENADA
GUADELOUPE
GUAM
GUATEMALA
GUINEA
GUINEA-BISSAU
GUYANA
HAITI
HONDURAS
HONG KONG
HUNGARY
ICELAND
INDIA
INDONESIA
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
IRAQ
IRELAND
ISLE OF MAN
ISRAEL
ITALY
IVORY COAST (COTE D’IVOIRE)
JAMAICA
JAPAN
JORDAN
KAZAKHSTAN
KENYA
KIRIBATI
DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (NORTH)
REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH)
REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO
KUWAIT
KYRGYZSTAN
LAOS
LATVIA
LEBANON
LESOTHO
LIBERIA
LIBYA
LIECHTENSTEIN
LITHUANIA
LUXEMBOURG
MACAU
MADAGASCAR
MALAWI
MALAYSIA
MALDIVES
MALI
MALTA
MARSHALL ISLANDS
MARTINIQUE
MAURITANIA
MAURITIUS
MAYOTTE
MEXICO
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA
MOLDOVA
MONACO
MONGOLIA
MONTENEGRO
MOROCCO
MOZAMBIQUE
MYANMAR
NAMIBIA
NAURU
NEPAL
NETHERLANDS
NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
NEW CALEDONIA
NEW ZEALAND
NICARAGUA
NIGER
NIGERIA
NIUE
NORTH MACEDONIA
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
NORWAY
OMAN
PAKISTAN
PALAU
STATE OF PALESTINE
PANAMA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
PARAGUAY
PERU
PHILIPPINES
PITCAIRN ISLANDS
POLAND
PORTUGAL
PUERTO RICO
QATAR
REUNION
ROMANIA
RUSSIA
RWANDA
SAINT BARTHELEMY (BARTS)
SAINT HELENA
SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
SAINT LUCIA
SAINT MARTIN (DUTCH)
SAINT MARTIN (FRENCH)
SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
SAMOA
SAN MARINO
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
SAUDI ARABIA
SENEGAL
SERBIA
SEYCHELLES
SIERRA LEONE
SINGAPORE
SLOVAKIA
SLOVENIA
SOLOMON ISLANDS
SOMALIA
SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH SUDAN
SPAIN
SRI LANKA
SUDAN
SURINAME
SWAZILAND (ESWATINI)
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND
SYRIA
TAIWAN
TAJIKISTAN
TANZANIA
THAILAND
TOGO
TOKELAU
TONGA
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
TUNISIA
TURKEY
TURKMENISTAN
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
TUVALU
UGANDA
UKRAINE
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)
UNITED KINGDOM (UK)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)
URUGUAY
US VIRGIN ISLANDS
UZBEKISTAN
VANUATU
VATICAN CITY (HOLY SEE)
VENEZUELA
VIETNAM
WALLIS AND FUTUNA
YEMEN
ZAMBIA
ZIMBABWE
