On New Survey It Shows the 20 Safest Countries for LGBTQ Travelers

However, some countries have rolled back certain rights or created ambiguous rulings where they used to be more clear-cut.

An example of this is Indonesia, which passed a law in 2022 that makes sex outside of marriage a criminal offense, with imprisonment as punishment. “This law doesn’t directly address the LGBTQ+ community, but in a country where same-sex marriage isn’t legal, same-sex relationships become de facto illegal,” says Fergusson.

Other countries are rolling out extremely slow changes and approving marriages on an individual basis. “For instance, in Bolivia gay marriage isn’t ‘legal’ but a handful of couples have been able to register their marriage by petitioning the courts,” says Fergusson.

Another challenge: While some of the world is catching up to equal rights for gay and lesbian couples, transgender and non-binary people still have the furthest way to go. “Some countries allow for legal gender change for trans people, but these countries are in the minority,” says Fergusson. “Other countries will allow for legal gender ID changes only if extreme measures are taken (such as surgery) and bureaucratic hoops are jumped through. Many countries have pending legislation but are stuck in limbo and aren't pushing anything forward. This can be especially frustrating for people who are endlessly waiting for even the most basic rights.”

Ultimately, it will take shifts in society to create true change because—as Fergusson points out—laws will only take you so far. “You can institute all the laws you want, but at the end of the day, if the local people don’t become more compassionate and accepting of their LGBTQ+ neighbors then we’ll still have tension in society which leads to violence and other kinds of unsafe situations,” says Fergusson.

Read on for the 20 safest and the 20 most dangerous places in the LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index. See the entire world rankings and important safety tips 

 here.

Canada is at the top of the list for gay travel safety. Pictured here: Sainte Catherine street in ... [+]GETTY

20 Safest Countries For LGBTQ Travelers

1. Canada
2. Sweden
3. The Netherlands
4. Malta
5. Norway
6. Portugal
7. Spain
8. Denmark
9. Belgium
10. United Kingdom
11. France
12. Iceland
13. Switzerland
14. Ireland
15. Luxembourg
16. South Africa
17. Germany
18. Chile
19. Uruguay
20. Austria

Saudi Arabia is one of the most dangerous countries for LGBTQ travelers.

GETTY

20 Lowest Ranked Countries For LGBTQ Travelers

1. Brunei
2. Saudi Arabia
3. Nigeria
4. Kuwait
5. Malawi
6. Guyana
7. UAE
8. Malaysia
9. Sudan
10. Libya
11. Yemen
12. Oman
13. Mauritania
14. Somalia
15. Gambia
16. Afghanistan
17. Qatar
18. Tonga
19. Tanzania
20. South Sedan