Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

65 Countries Worldwide Criminalise Same-Sex Relations

| Source: CNBC Translated from Indonesian | Social Policy
65 Countries Worldwide Criminalise Same-Sex Relations
Image: CNBC

Same-sex sexual activity is still considered a criminal offence in dozens of countries around the world. Penalties vary, ranging from fines and imprisonment to physical punishment and the death penalty.

According to a report by LGBT Hero, as of February 2025, 65 countries still criminalised consensual same-sex sexual activity. While some countries have taken steps to decriminalise it and expand LGBTQ+ rights, others have imposed laws carrying harsher penalties.

Mali is one such example. In December 2024, it passed a new criminal law that criminalises same-sex relations, with penalties of up to seven years in prison and a fine of 500,000 francs.

Countries that criminalise same-sex relations

The following is a list of countries and the maximum penalties for same-sex sexual activity, according to LGBT Hero’s report as of February 2025.

1. Life imprisonment

  • The Gambia

  • Ghana

  • Tanzania

  • Sierra Leone

  • Barbados

  • Guyana

  • Bangladesh

2. Up to 20 years in prison

  • Malaysia

3. Up to 17 years in prison

  • Egypt

4. Up to 15 years in prison

  • Antigua and Barbuda

5. Up to 14 years in prison

  • Kenya

  • Malawi

  • Zambia

  • United Arab Emirates

  • Papua New Guinea

  • Tuvalu

  • Solomon Islands

  • Kiribati

  • Nigeria

6. Up to 10 years in prison

  • South Sudan

  • Ethiopia

  • Dominica

  • Grenada

  • Jamaica

  • Saint Kitts and Nevis

  • Saint Lucia

  • Sri Lanka

  • Tonga

  • Zimbabwe

  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

7. Up to seven years in prison

  • Samoa

  • Qatar

  • Kuwait

8. Up to five years in prison

  • Cameroon

  • Senegal

  • Comoros

  • Mauritius

9. Up to four years in prison

  • Libya

10. Up to three years in prison

  • Morocco

  • Togo

  • Uzbekistan

  • Guinea

  • Eritrea

  • Oman

  • Syria

  • Tunisia

11. Up to two years in prison

  • Algeria

  • Burundi

  • Turkmenistan

  • Pakistan

12. Up to one year in prison

  • Liberia

13. Countries where the penalty is not specified

  • Chad

  • Namibia

  • Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland)

14. Countries imposing fines

  • Angola

15. Countries imposing physical punishment

  • Maldives: 20 lashes.

16. Countries where the death penalty may apply

In addition to imprisonment and fines, some countries have provisions that allow the death penalty to be imposed for same-sex sexual activity. They are:

  1. Mauritania: applies to Muslim men.

  2. Nigeria: applies in northern states that enforce sharia law.

  3. Qatar: applies to Muslims, particularly in cases of sexual relations outside marriage.

  4. Somalia.

  5. Iran.

  6. Saudi Arabia.

  7. Yemen.

  8. Afghanistan: in areas controlled by extremist groups.

The report highlights that laws concerning LGBTQ+ rights continue to change in different parts of the world. Some countries have made progress by repealing criminal provisions against same-sex relations, while others continue to retain or even increase the penalties.

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