Countries map
This map uses the Peters Projection which presents countries in their true proportion to one another.
Share/Embed map
Share map
Link:
Embed:

Countries

Asia

Afghanistan

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

Death penalty

More info

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

Iran

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

Death penalty

More info

Pakistan

Criminalisation:
  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males
  • Imposes the death penalty
Maximum punishment:

Death by stoning

More info

Qatar

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

Death by stoning

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

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

Yemen

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

Death penalty

More info

Africa

Mauritania

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

Death by stoning

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

Somalia

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

Death penalty

More info

Key Facts

  • 67

    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.

  • 11

    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 and UAE.

  • 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

Almost 70 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

Find out about the research

Across the world lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are criminalised for who they are and who they love.

Read more
Find out about the research

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