Almost Half Of The World Sees Their Area As Gay-Friendly: Gallup’s Latest Report

Gallup's latest report reveals a nuanced landscape of global acceptance toward gay and lesbian individuals.

Gallup’s findings underscore the complex and evolving nature of global acceptance for gay and lesbian individuals. While many regions show positive trends, the stability of these increases is not guaranteed, as seen in several countries' recent declines.

In 2023, nearly half of the world's population (45%) viewed their local area as a “good place” for gay or lesbian people to live, a slight dip from previous years when this sentiment hovered around 50%.

Despite this decline, current acceptance levels are still more than double the 21% first measured in 2006.

Nordic countries remain at the forefront of acceptance. Norway (92%), Iceland (90%), Sweden (89%), and Denmark (86%) are some of the most gay-friendly nations. Other European countries like Spain (89%), the Netherlands (88%), and Malta (87%) also rank highly, as does Australia (85%).

Notably, Nepal (87%) stands out as the first South Asian country to recognize same-sex marriage, positioning it as the only non-Western country among the most accepting.

Mozambique’s Notable Progress

In contrast, perceptions of acceptance remain lowest in African and Middle Eastern countries. In several nations where consensual same-sex acts are illegal, acceptance is exceedingly rare.

In Senegal, only 1% of the population views their area as hospitable for gay individuals, followed by Gambia (3%), Malawi (4%), Zambia (5%), and Lebanon (5%).

Mozambique has emerged as one of the most gay-friendly countries in Africa. Between 2022 and 2023, the percentage of Mozambicans viewing their area as a good place for gay people rose from 36% to a new high of 49%.

This is a significant increase from the mere 8% recorded in 2006. Since decriminalizing same-sex relations in 2015, Mozambique has seen a steady improvement in acceptance, now trailing only South Africa (54%) on the continent.

Eleven countries showed increased acceptance between 2022 and 2023. Comoros saw a rise from 16% to 26%, and Malaysia from 9% to 19%. Belgium’s acceptance rate climbed to 84%, placing it among the top ten most accepting nations.

Laos (54%) and Greece (51%) also reached new highs, with majorities now viewing their area as welcoming. Cyprus (49%), the Dominican Republic (44%), Japan (42%), Slovakia (39%), and Albania (15%) all reported higher acceptance rates.

Declines in Acceptance

Despite overall positive trends, a dozen countries saw declines in acceptance. India experienced a significant drop to 43%, its first figure below 50% since 2019, following the Supreme Court’s refusal to legalize same-sex marriage.

China also saw a decrease from 47% in 2021 to 41% in 2023.

Bangladesh (60%) and South Africa (54%) reported double-digit decreases, though majorities still view their areas as good places for gay people. Canada (83%) and Italy (68%) remain highly accepting despite six-point declines.

In conclusion, Gallup’s findings underscore the complex and evolving nature of global acceptance for gay and lesbian individuals.

While many regions show positive trends, the stability of these increases is not guaranteed, as seen in several countries' recent declines. Public perceptions often reflect broader social and political dynamics, influencing residents' views on their area’s hospitability for marginalized groups.