Countries map

Countries

Asia

Brunei

Criminalisation:
  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males
  • Criminalises sexual activity between females
  • Criminalises the gender expression of trans people
  • Imposes the death penalty
Maximum punishment:

Death by stoning

More info

Indonesia

Criminalisation:
  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males
  • Criminalises sexual activity between females
  • Criminalises the gender expression of trans people
  • Maintains discriminatory age of consent
Maximum punishment:

Eight years imprisonment and 100 lashes

More info

Lebanon

Criminalisation:
  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males
  • Criminalises the gender expression of trans people
Maximum punishment:

Six years imprisonment

More info

Malaysia

Criminalisation:
  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males
  • Criminalises sexual activity between females
  • Criminalises the gender expression of trans people
Maximum punishment:

Twenty years imprisonment and whipping

More info

Myanmar

Criminalisation:
  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males
  • Criminalises the gender expression of trans people
Maximum punishment:

Ten years imprisonment

More info

Oman

Criminalisation:
  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males
  • Criminalises sexual activity between females
  • Criminalises the gender expression of trans people
Maximum punishment:

Three years imprisonment

More info

Saudi Arabia

Criminalisation:
  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males
  • Criminalises sexual activity between females
  • Criminalises the gender expression of trans people
  • Imposes the death penalty
Maximum punishment:

Death penalty

More info

Sri Lanka

Criminalisation:
  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males
  • Criminalises sexual activity between females
  • Criminalises the gender expression of trans people
Maximum punishment:

Ten years imprisonment and a fine

More info

United Arab Emirates

Criminalisation:
  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males
  • Criminalises sexual activity between females
  • Criminalises the gender expression of trans people
  • Imposes the death penalty
Maximum punishment:

Death penalty

More info

Africa

Malawi

Criminalisation:
  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males
  • Criminalises sexual activity between females
  • Criminalises the gender expression of trans people
Maximum punishment:

Fourteen years imprisonment with corporal punishment

More info

Nigeria

Criminalisation:
  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males
  • Criminalises sexual activity between females
  • Criminalises the gender expression of trans people
  • Imposes the death penalty
Maximum punishment:

Death by stoning

More info

South Sudan

Criminalisation:
  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males
  • Criminalises the gender expression of trans people
Maximum punishment:

Fourteen years imprisonment and a fine

More info

The Gambia

Criminalisation:
  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males
  • Criminalises sexual activity between females
  • Criminalises the gender expression of trans people
Maximum punishment:

Life imprisonment

More info

Key Facts

  • 65

    jurisdictions criminalise private, consensual, same-sex sexual activity. The majority of these jurisdictions explicitly criminalise sex between men via ‘sodomy’, ‘buggery’ and ‘unnatural offences’ laws. Almost half of them are Commonwealth jurisdictions.

  • 41

    countries criminalise private, consensual sexual activity between women using laws against ‘lesbianism’, ‘sexual relations with a person of the same sex’ and ‘gross indecency’. Even in jurisdictions that do not explicitly criminalise women, lesbians and bisexual women have been subjected to arrest or threat of arrest.

  • 12

    countries have jurisdictions in which the death penalty is imposed or at least a possibility for private, consensual same-sex sexual activity. At least 6 of these implement the death penalty – Iran, Northern Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen – and the death penalty is a legal possibility in Afghanistan, Brunei, Mauritania, Pakistan, Qatar, UAE and Uganda.

  • 14

    countries criminalise the gender identity and/or expression of transgender people, using so-called ‘cross-dressing’, ‘impersonation’ and ‘disguise’ laws. In many more countries transgender people are targeted by a range of laws that criminalise same-sex activity and vagrancy, hooliganism and public order offences.

Support our Work

65 countries have jurisdictions that still criminalise LGBT people. Together, we can bring this number down. A donation today will help continue our vital support for LGBT people and governments seeking to change laws around the world.

Donate

Sign up to receive updates

Join our newsletter to receive regular updates about decriminalisation efforts around the world, including breaking news on key legal cases, hot off the press reports, invitations to events and messages from our Chief Executive.

SIGN UP