Best countries for LGBTQ+ legal protection

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Ranked on LGBTQ+ legal protection. Public attitudes and women's inclusion are shown as separate scores and do not affect the rank.

Last updated: October 24, 2026

This tab ranks countries only on published legal protection for LGBTQ+ people, so the order reflects laws and policies rather than how welcoming a place feels. Every ranked country has same-sex relations decriminalized, at least two legal index readings, and a legal score of 40 or higher.

Countries that are decriminalized but score below 40 are listed separately, because decriminalization is not the same as legal protection. Public attitudes and women's inclusion are shown as separate scores and never folded into the rank.

Countries that criminalize same-sex relations are listed below for context, with death-penalty jurisdictions marked. Index figures are published by Equaldex, ILGA-Europe, the Spartacus Gay Travel Index and Georgetown's Women, Peace and Security Index.

Laws change, so check the current text with the official source before you act on this list.

This tab ranks published legal indices. Travel advisories do not change the order.

Read the full method

Inclusion ranking

Women's inclusion scores come from the Georgetown WPS Index and are currently unverified.

1

Chile

98.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 60.0 · Women's inclusion 73.9*
2

Uruguay

98.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 74.0 · Women's inclusion 82.2*
3

New Zealand

95.6LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 65.0 · Women's inclusion 89.8*
4

Canada

95.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 61.0 · Women's inclusion 88.5*
5

Spain

95.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 67.0 · Women's inclusion 86.2*
6

Australia

95.1LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 61.0 · Women's inclusion 89.6*
7

Malta

95.1LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 61.0 · Women's inclusion 84.1*
8

Iceland

92.8LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 90.0 · Women's inclusion 93.2*
9

Colombia

92.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 50.0 · Women's inclusion 55.1*
10

Cuba

91.8LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 66.0 · Women's inclusion Not enough data
11

Belgium

91.7LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 61.0 · Women's inclusion 91.2*
12

Denmark

90.3LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 69.0 · Women's inclusion 93.9*
13

Brazil

89.9LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 56.0 · Women's inclusion 63.2*
14

Argentina

87.9LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 61.0 · Women's inclusion 79.1*
15

Germany

87.3LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 60.0 · Women's inclusion 86.9*
16

Mexico

85.9LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 57.0 · Women's inclusion 55.8*
17

Ecuador

84.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 42.0 · Women's inclusion 61.2*
18

Bolivia

84.2LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 38.0 · Women's inclusion 70.1*
19

Portugal

84.1LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 60.0 · Women's inclusion 86.1*
20

Costa Rica

83.8LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 54.0 · Women's inclusion 82.4*
21

Norway

83.0LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 87.0 · Women's inclusion 92.4*
22

Greece

82.3LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 40.0 · Women's inclusion 75.2*
23

Finland

81.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 66.0 · Women's inclusion 92.1*
24

Sweden

81.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 65.0 · Women's inclusion 92.4*
25

Netherlands

80.3LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 64.0 · Women's inclusion 90.5*
26

France

79.1LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 58.0 · Women's inclusion 86.4*
27

Luxembourg

78.7LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 52.0 · Women's inclusion 91.8*
28

Nepal

77.9LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 68.0 · Women's inclusion 63.1*
29

South Africa

77.6LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 57.0 · Women's inclusion 64.8*
30

Israel

76.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 51.0 · Women's inclusion 69.7*
31

United States

76.2LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 56.0 · Women's inclusion 84.0*
32

Austria

75.9LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 60.0 · Women's inclusion 89.8*
33

Taiwan

75.2LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 51.0 · Women's inclusion 85.4*
34

Ireland

74.3LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 59.0 · Women's inclusion 89.1*
35

Slovenia

69.9LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 48.0 · Women's inclusion 88.9*
36

Switzerland

69.8LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 64.0 · Women's inclusion 87.7*
37

Andorra

68.7LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 74.0 · Women's inclusion Not enough data
38

Croatia

67.7LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 33.0 · Women's inclusion 78.8*
39

Thailand

67.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 67.0 · Women's inclusion 76.1*
40

Montenegro

66.2LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 35.0 · Women's inclusion 74.3*
41

Czechia

64.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 64.0 · Women's inclusion 83.2*
42

United Kingdom

64.3LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 55.0 · Women's inclusion 86.4*
43

Estonia

63.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 44.0 · Women's inclusion 89.6*
44

Suriname

63.1LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 23.0 · Women's inclusion 77.9*
45

Japan

62.4LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 50.0 · Women's inclusion 86.6*
46

Antigua and Barbuda

62.1LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 17.0 · Women's inclusion Not enough data
  • Attitudes based on fewer than 3 surveys
47

India

62.0LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 53.0 · Women's inclusion 60.7*
48

Peru

61.4LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 44.0 · Women's inclusion 70.1*
49

Mongolia

60.1LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 17.0 · Women's inclusion 79.9*
50

Lesotho

59.4LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 32.0 · Women's inclusion 61.4*
51

Botswana

58.7LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 51.0 · Women's inclusion 65.8*
52

Vietnam

58.4LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 53.0 · Women's inclusion 72.1*
53

Belize

57.4LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 44.0 · Women's inclusion 66.7*
54

Cape Verde

57.4LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 80.0 · Women's inclusion 74.1*
55

Albania

56.8LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 28.0 · Women's inclusion 73.1*
56

Bhutan

56.7LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 50.0 · Women's inclusion 67.3*
  • Attitudes based on fewer than 3 surveys
57

Fiji

56.7LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes Not enough data · Women's inclusion 73.1*
58

Seychelles

56.7LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 66.0 · Women's inclusion 81.0*
  • Attitudes based on fewer than 3 surveys
59

Mauritius

56.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 52.0 · Women's inclusion 67.9*
60

Namibia

56.1LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 33.0 · Women's inclusion 60.8*
61

Cyprus

55.3LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 36.0 · Women's inclusion 77.0*
62

Liechtenstein

55.3LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 68.0 · Women's inclusion Not enough data
63

Honduras

55.2LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 33.0 · Women's inclusion 56.1*
64

South Korea

55.1LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 39.0 · Women's inclusion 81.5*
65

Bosnia and Herzegovina

54.7LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 38.0 · Women's inclusion 75.3*
66

Serbia

54.0LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 33.0 · Women's inclusion 84.4*
67

Italy

53.8LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 59.0 · Women's inclusion 81.1*
68

Moldova

53.2LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 8.0 · Women's inclusion 82.1*
69

Kosovo

51.9LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 30.0 · Women's inclusion 70.0*
70

Timor-Leste

51.9LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 60.0 · Women's inclusion 66.8*
71

Saint Lucia

51.8LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 17.0 · Women's inclusion Not enough data
  • Attitudes based on fewer than 3 surveys
72

San Marino

51.7LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 71.0 · Women's inclusion Not enough data
  • Attitudes based on fewer than 3 surveys
73

Saint Kitts and Nevis

51.2LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 15.0 · Women's inclusion Not enough data
  • Attitudes based on fewer than 3 surveys
74

Lithuania

51.0LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 28.0 · Women's inclusion 88.7*
75

Latvia

50.6LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 35.0 · Women's inclusion 88.4*
76

Marshall Islands

50.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes Not enough data · Women's inclusion 67.0*
77

Cambodia

50.1LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 51.0 · Women's inclusion 66.7*
78

North Macedonia

50.0LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 33.0 · Women's inclusion 78.7*
79

China

49.9LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 66.0 · Women's inclusion 68.5*
80

Angola

49.8LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 35.0 · Women's inclusion 60.1*
81

El Salvador

49.8LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 35.0 · Women's inclusion 69.1*
82

Mozambique

49.8LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 47.0 · Women's inclusion 54.8*
83

Venezuela

49.8LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 56.0 · Women's inclusion 63.8*
84

Micronesia

49.4LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes Not enough data · Women's inclusion 64.8*
85

São Tomé and Príncipe

48.8LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 44.0 · Women's inclusion 62.0*
86

Barbados

48.7LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 71.0 · Women's inclusion 80.7*
87

Singapore

48.7LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 49.0 · Women's inclusion 88.4*
88

Philippines

47.8LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 59.0 · Women's inclusion 60.7*
89

Panama

47.4LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 34.0 · Women's inclusion 69.6*
90

Poland

47.0LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 43.0 · Women's inclusion 85.4*
91

Nicaragua

46.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 40.0 · Women's inclusion 65.9*
92

Romania

45.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 33.0 · Women's inclusion 80.1*
93

Laos

45.2LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 50.0 · Women's inclusion 69.8*
94

Slovakia

45.2LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 33.0 · Women's inclusion 79.7*
95

Vanuatu

44.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 34.0 · Women's inclusion 64.6*
  • Attitudes based on fewer than 3 surveys
96

Ukraine

44.4LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 39.0 · Women's inclusion 64.5*
97

Haiti

43.8LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 11.0 · Women's inclusion 39.9*
98

Hungary

43.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 40.0 · Women's inclusion 83.2*
  • Rainbow Map reading unverified
99

Dominica

43.4LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 14.0 · Women's inclusion Not enough data
  • Attitudes based on fewer than 3 surveys
100

Bulgaria

43.3LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 27.0 · Women's inclusion 81.4*
101

Guinea-Bissau

43.2LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 37.0 · Women's inclusion 50.8*
  • Attitudes based on fewer than 3 surveys
102

Bahamas

42.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 16.0 · Women's inclusion Not enough data
103

Benin

42.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 16.0 · Women's inclusion 58.7*
104

Dominican Republic

42.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 33.0 · Women's inclusion 67.5*
105

Palau

42.5LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 16.0 · Women's inclusion 73.9*
  • Attitudes based on fewer than 3 surveys
106

Monaco

42.4LGBTQ+ legal protection score, out of 100
Attitudes 51.0 · Women's inclusion Not enough data
  • Attitudes based on fewer than 3 surveys

Ranked on LGBTQ+ legal protection. Attitudes and women's inclusion are shown beside it for context and do not change the order.

Decriminalized, but limited legal protection

Decriminalization is not the same as legal protection. These countries have no criminal penalty but score low on published legal indices.

  • GuatemalaLegal protection 39.8 · Attitudes 31.0 · Women's inclusion 56.1*
  • Equatorial GuineaLegal protection 39.1 · Attitudes Not enough data · Women's inclusion Not enough data
  • ParaguayLegal protection 38.5 · Attitudes 31.0 · Women's inclusion 76.8*
  • RwandaLegal protection 38.5 · Attitudes 32.0 · Women's inclusion 62.4*
  • GabonLegal protection 37.8 · Attitudes 13.0 · Women's inclusion 67.9*
  • North KoreaLegal protection 37.8 · Attitudes Not enough data · Women's inclusion Not enough data
  • TajikistanLegal protection 36.7 · Attitudes Not enough data · Women's inclusion 68.5*
  • KazakhstanLegal protection 36.5 · Attitudes 11.0 · Women's inclusion 72.2*
  • MadagascarLegal protection 34.7 · Attitudes 22.0 · Women's inclusion 46.6*
  • BahrainLegal protection 34.5 · Attitudes 42.0 · Women's inclusion 76.5*
  • Democratic Republic of the CongoLegal protection 34.0 · Attitudes 8.0 · Women's inclusion 40.5*
  • ArmeniaLegal protection 32.5 · Attitudes 5.0 · Women's inclusion 76.2*
  • Central African RepublicLegal protection 32.5 · Attitudes Not enough data · Women's inclusion 36.2*
  • KyrgyzstanLegal protection 30.2 · Attitudes 10.0 · Women's inclusion 69.7*
  • GeorgiaLegal protection 29.3 · Attitudes 13.0 · Women's inclusion 79.8*
  • DjiboutiLegal protection 28.3 · Attitudes Not enough data · Women's inclusion 56.0*
  • BelarusLegal protection 24.7 · Attitudes 16.0 · Women's inclusion 73.9*
  • TurkeyLegal protection 21.6 · Attitudes 33.0 · Women's inclusion 66.4*
  • JordanLegal protection 20.2 · Attitudes 6.0 · Women's inclusion 68.6*
  • AzerbaijanLegal protection 18.2 · Attitudes 5.0 · Women's inclusion 65.3*
  • RussiaLegal protection 16.2 · Attitudes 19.0 · Women's inclusion 71.8*

Sources

Index data retrieved October 24, 2026.

Countries where same-sex relations are criminalized

These countries are not ranked. They criminalize same-sex relations, and the list is shown for context only. Jurisdictions where capital punishment is possible are marked.

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