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Protection against employment discrimination (sexual orientation, gender identity)

What this indicator measures

Indicates whether national law prohibits discrimination in hiring and at work based on sexual orientation, gender identity, both or neither.

How to read this?

"No protection" means that national law mentions neither sexual orientation nor gender identity.

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194countries with data
2025data year(s)

In brief

Protection against employment discrimination (sexual orientation, gender identity): 194 countries and territories covered. Breakdown: Sexual orientation and gender identity protected : 52 ; Sexual orientation only : 32 ; Gender identity only : 3 ; No protection : 107.

Why this indicator matters

A law against discrimination in hiring and at work protects people on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Comparing these texts shows which grounds national law recognizes.

What makes this indicator vary

Protection depends on legal tradition, the debate on the rights of sexual minorities, international commitments and legislative reforms adopted gradually. The two grounds are not always recognized at the same time.

Reading precautions

The indicator only looks at national law, not local laws or how they are applied. A written ban does not guarantee it is respected in practice. The data come from a research dataset, updated with a delay.

Protection against employment discrimination (sexual orientation, gender identity)

Sexual orientation and gender identity protected (52)

Sexual orientation only (32)

Gender identity only (3)

No protection (107)

Frequently asked questions

Where does the "Protection against employment discrimination (sexual orientation, gender identity)" 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 does no protection mean?

It means that national law mentions neither sexual orientation nor gender identity among the prohibited grounds of employment discrimination.

What is the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity?

Sexual orientation concerns the people one is attracted to. Gender identity concerns the gender in which a person recognizes themselves.

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