Which are the most anti-gay countries in the world?

The world is smaller than ever. Many of us can travel freely (finances allowing) and make friends all over the world. But for some groups, including LGBTQ individuals, a smaller world isn’t necessarily safer or even more comfortable. Homosexuality is illegal in many nations, including in all of the 11 most anti-gay countries in the world that are listed below, punishable by prison time in dozens of countries and by death in a select few. Attitudes toward LGBTQ issues aren’t uniform even among more secular or progressive nations.

The countries with the worst legal track records for treatment of homosexuals have equally poor records with parallel human rights issues like women’s rights and treatment of different racial or religious groups. According to Pew Research, “There is a strong relationship between a country’s religiosity and opinions about homosexuality.” Many of the countries with the most severe laws against homosexuality are Muslim, but Christian nation Jamaica is often cited as one of the most violently homophobic nations on Earth, with Russia and some of its neighbors close behind. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like any of the 10 countries with the biggest gay populations are among the harshest.

To determine which are the worst countries for gay people, I’ve assigned points based on the illegality of and severity of punishment for several different acts. All of these nations punish homosexuality among all genders with prison time. Countries with the death penalty or life sentences received more points. Countries also received points for having different ages of consent for homosexuals and heterosexuals and for overall illegality of ALL extramarital sex.

Legal info was compiled from Equaldex. You can also read the results of Pew’s global poll on attitudes toward homosexuals.

11. Algeria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Zambia — 1 point each

In these four nations, homosexual acts are punishable with prison time, and the age of consent is different for same-sex acts than for heterosexual acts.

10. Kuwait, Oman, Yemen — 1 point each

In these three nations, homosexual acts are punishable with prison time, and all sex outside of marriage is also illegal.

9. Guyana — 1.5 points

This tiny South American nation is also the de facto head of the Caribbean Community. Homosexual acts are punishable by prison up to a life sentence.

8. Morocco — 2 points

Morocco imprisons those who commit homosexual acts, has different ages of consent for different sexualities, and, like many of the 11 most anti-gay countries in the world, outlaws all sex outside of marriage.

7. Pakistan — 2 points

Pakistan’s laws are just like Morocco’s but with even longer prison sentences.

6. Sudan — 2.5 points

In Sudan, all extramarital sex is illegal, and homosexual acts are punishable up to life in prison.

5. Afghanistan — 3 points

The next four of the 11 most anti-gay countries in the world share similar laws. Afghanistan sentences homosexuals and adulterers to very long prison sentences and sanctions honor killings, a kind of de facto death penalty.

4. Saudi Arabia — 3 points

First-time offender in Saudi Arabia “only” get prison time, but second-time offenders get the death penalty.

3. Iran — 3 points

First-time male offenders in Iran get the death penalty. Repeat female offenders can as well.

2. Maldives — 3 points

This tiny archipelago nation institutes the death penalty for all homosexual offenders.

1. Mauritania — 4 points

Mauritania is a constant news story for its high rate of contemporary slavery and female genital cutting, so putting homosexuals to death — by stoning! — fits right into its retrograde portfolio of disregard for human rights. All sex outside of marriage is illegal and there is no age of consent for illegal homosexual acts. Officials can interpret what they feel is “moral.”

It’s a major global bummer that anyone, anywhere, is still stoned to death or imprisoned for what consenting adults do in private. Many world citizens would not be safe in the 11 most anti-gay countries in the world, not only those who are gay but those who engage in behaviors many of these countries ban in the same stroke, including all sex outside of marriage. I doubt anyone was super excited to plan a trip to Mauritania, but please do think twice if you were.