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Protection from discrimination in goods and services (LGBT)

What this indicator measures

Shows whether national law prohibits refusing a good or service (housing, shops, healthcare, etc.) because of sexual orientation or gender identity.

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 from discrimination in goods and services (LGBT): 194 countries and territories covered. Breakdown: Sexual orientation and gender identity protected : 44 ; Sexual orientation only : 21 ; Gender identity only : 3 ; No protection : 125 ; Varies by region : 1.

Why this indicator matters

Being refused housing, care or a purchase because of one's orientation or gender identity raises the question of equal access. This indicator compares the protections provided by law.

What makes this indicator vary

Anti-discrimination laws depend on the history of civil rights, legal tradition and public debate. They are often adopted in stages, first for one ground, then for others.

Reading precautions

The indicator covers only national law, not its enforcement or local laws. It covers goods and services, not employment or family. The absence of protection does not imply an explicit prohibition.

Protection from discrimination in goods and services (LGBT)

Sexual orientation and gender identity protected (44)

Sexual orientation only (21)

Gender identity only (3)

No protection (125)

Varies by region (1)

Frequently asked questions

Where does the "Protection from discrimination in goods and services (LGBT)" 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 protection in goods and services cover?

It prohibits refusing a good or a service, such as housing, a purchase or care, because of a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

What does “varies by region” mean?

It means that protection is not set at the national level but depends on the laws of the country's regions or states, which may differ from one another.

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