LGBTQ+ Rights Globally
The international legal landscape for LGBTQ+ rights, from criminalization in dozens of countries to landmark gains in others.
A Deeply Divided World
No area of human rights shows a sharper global divide than LGBTQ+ rights. As of the mid-2020s, same-sex relationships are criminalized in over 60 countries, with penalties ranging from fines to life imprisonment. At least 6 countries and parts of 2 others retain the death penalty for same-sex conduct: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Mauritania, Brunei, and Uganda (where a 2023 law introduced capital punishment for 'aggravated homosexuality'). Meanwhile, over 30 countries have legalized same-sex marriage, and many others provide civil unions or partnership recognition.
The geographic pattern is stark. Western Europe, the Americas, and parts of the Asia-Pacific have moved toward legal equality, while much of Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia maintain or have strengthened criminalization. This divide does not map neatly onto any single factor; colonial-era laws, religious conservatism, political opportunism, and cultural attitudes all play roles.