71 Countries Where Homosexuality is Illegal
Acceptance of the LGBT community continues to spread around the world, but homosexuality is still illegal in many parts of the world. Almost half of them are Commonwealth jurisdictions. Even in jurisdictions that do not explicitly criminalise women, lesbians and bisexual women have been subjected to arrest or threat of arrest.
Countries where it's illegal to be gay
The map below provides an overview of the jurisdictions across the world where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are criminalised. Scroll down below the map to access detailed country profiles. For a closer look at smaller islands in the Pacific and Caribbean, triple click the zoom button. You can also zoom in or out of any region using the plus and minus icons located in the. In Ghana, in a speech calling for "all people be treated equally" she appeared to criticise a bill before the country's parliament which criminalises advocacy for gay rights and proposes jail terms for those that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. The country's Speaker Alban Bagbin later called her remarks "undemocratic" and urged lawmakers not to be "intimidated by any person".
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is no longer as widely criminalized as it used to be, but a total of 65 nations still have laws against homosexuality. Homosexuality is no longer as widely criminalized as it used to be, but a total of 65 nations still have laws against homosexuality. About a month earlier, same-sex intimacy was made legal in the Caribbean island nation of St. These are the 61 countries that criminalize homosexuality
Today, over five dozen countries still have laws making same-sex sexual relations illegal. Many of these laws stem from colonial rule. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. There are nearly twice as many countries that criminalize homosexuality than countries that have marriage equality. 
All 65 Countries Where It’s Illegal To Be LGBTQ+ In 2025
We take a look at all the countries and territories where it is still illegal to be gay or LGBTQ+ – and examine the role colonialism played. This week, the kingdom of Brunei enacted draconian laws that penalize same-sex relations and adultery with death by stoning. The news has sparked international outrage, and calls for a boycott of the Brunei-owned Dorchester Hotel chain , but it has also shined a spotlight on the reality that homosexuality and gender-nonconforming identities remains illegal in dozens of countries all over the world.
How many countries is it illegal to be gay? 65 as of July 2025
Rights affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition of same-sex marriage to the death penalty for homosexuality. Laws concerning gender identity-expression by country or territory Legal identity change, surgery not required. . Map of Jurisdictions that Criminalise LGBT People
In February his year Kenya's highest court ruled that it was wrong for authorities to ban the gay community from registering a rights organisation. but it stressed that gay sex remains illegal. . List of 65 countries where homosexuality is illegal
If you’re lesbian or gay and travelling abroad, it’s sensible to check the laws governing sex and sexuality in whichever country you’re visiting. Dozens of countries still imprison LGBTQ+ people, and nine still threaten the death penalty. .