Worldwide, 64 countries criminalize homosexuality as of 2024. Most of them are located in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In 12 countries, the death penalty is imposed or at least a possibility for private, consensual same-sex sexual activity. These countries are Iran, Northern Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Brunei, Mauritania, Pakistan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Uganda.
Number of countries that criminalize homosexuality as of 2024
Characteristic
Number of jurisdictions
Jurisdictions criminalize private, consensual, same-sex sexual activity
64
Jurisdictions criminalize private, consensual sexual activity between women using laws against ‘lesbianism’, ‘sexual relations with a person of the same sex’ and ‘gross indecency’
40
Jurisdictions in which the death penalty is imposed or at least a possibility for private, consensual same-sex sexual activity
12
Jurisdictions criminalize the gender identity and/or expression of transgender people, using so-called ‘cross-dressing’, ‘impersonation’ and ‘disguise’ laws
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Human Dignity Trust. (May 6, 2024). Number of countries that criminalize homosexuality as of 2024 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1227390/number-of-countries-that-criminalize-homosexuality/
Human Dignity Trust. "Number of countries that criminalize homosexuality as of 2024." Chart. May 6, 2024. Statista. Accessed November 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1227390/number-of-countries-that-criminalize-homosexuality/
Human Dignity Trust. (2024). Number of countries that criminalize homosexuality as of 2024. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1227390/number-of-countries-that-criminalize-homosexuality/
Human Dignity Trust. "Number of Countries That Criminalize Homosexuality as of 2024." Statista, Statista Inc., 6 May 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1227390/number-of-countries-that-criminalize-homosexuality/
Human Dignity Trust, Number of countries that criminalize homosexuality as of 2024 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1227390/number-of-countries-that-criminalize-homosexuality/ (last visited November 21, 2024)
Number of countries that criminalize homosexuality as of 2024 [Graph], Human Dignity Trust, May 6, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1227390/number-of-countries-that-criminalize-homosexuality/
