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Anti-LGBT hate crimes: aggravating circumstance

What this indicator measures

Indicates whether national hate crime law treats it as an aggravating circumstance when a crime targets a person because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

How to read this?

"Not covered" means that national hate crime law covers neither sexual orientation nor gender identity.

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194countries with data
2025data year(s)

In brief

Anti-LGBT hate crimes: aggravating circumstance: 194 countries and territories covered. Breakdown: Sexual orientation and gender identity covered : 46 ; Sexual orientation only : 19 ; Not covered : 126 ; Varies by region : 3.

Why this indicator matters

This indicator shows whether the law punishes more severely a crime committed out of hatred towards an LGBTQ+ person. Comparing it sheds light on how states legally protect these people from violence.

What makes this indicator vary

Hate crime laws depend on the history of criminal law, on how far the law opens up to new grounds of protection, and on reforms. The grounds covered (origin, religion, orientation) vary from one criminal code to another.

Reading precautions

The indicator measures the law, not the number of prosecutions or how the law is applied. Sexual orientation and gender identity are separate criteria. Regional cases are classed separately.

Anti-LGBT hate crimes: aggravating circumstance

Sexual orientation and gender identity covered (46)

Sexual orientation only (19)

Not covered (126)

Varies by region (3)

Frequently asked questions

Where does the "Anti-LGBT hate crimes: aggravating circumstance" data come from?

It comes from Velasco, LGBTI National Policy Dataset (via Our World in Data). Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.

What is an aggravating circumstance?

It is an element that allows the judge to impose a heavier sentence, for example when the crime is committed because of the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Why distinguish between sexual orientation and gender identity?

They are two different criteria. Sexual orientation concerns attraction, while gender identity concerns the gender a person feels they are. A law may protect one without protecting the other.

Source and update

Source : Velasco, LGBTI National Policy Dataset (via Our World in Data). Site last updated: November 8, 2026.

Indicators in the same category : LGBTQ+ rights