Around the world, it's getting more acceptable to be gay.

A new study says that acceptance of homosexuality has grown in 90 percent of countries surveyed over the last 20 years.

According to findings by social researchers at NORC at the University of Chicago and the LGBT think-thank Williams Institute at UCLA, acceptance rose an average of .9 percent annually by nation.

"This study shows a clear trend toward increasing acceptance across the globe,” Andrew Park, director of International Programs at the Williams Institute, said in a statement.

Researchers ranked countries in northwestern Europe as the most accepting, "followed by the following clusters of countries: Australia/Canada/New Zealand/United States, Southern European countries, Latin American countries, former Soviet Union/Eastern & Central Europe, Asian countries, African countries, and majority Muslim countries."

Even within continents, attitudes varied greatly, research showed. For instance, in Africa, two percent of Ghanians accept gays and lesbians, compared to 38 percent of South Africans.

Researchers reached their conclusions by examining the results of hundreds of surveys on attitudes toward gay men and lesbians in up to 52 countries since 1981, the study noted.