The Gay Travel Index is one of the most widely recognized resources for LGBTQ+ travelers worldwide. Published annually by Spartacus International, the index evaluates 216 countries and territories, assessing their inclusivity and safety for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer individuals. Since its launch in 2012, it has become a reference point for travelers and media, highlighting both progress and setbacks in LGBTQ+ rights in countries around the world.
What is the Gay Travel Index?
For us, the Gay Travel Index is not only a list of numbers or a ranking overview. It reflects how governments, societies, and legal systems treat LGBTQ+ people. By following yearly shifts, travelers can see where new rights and positive changes in equality laws have been secured—and where they must remain cautious, as persecution and discrimination persist. For the queer community, the index also serves as a tool for awareness and advocacy, shedding light on injustices and providing visibility to those who continue to fight for equality in hostile environments. It serves as a reminder to the world that equality is far from being a universal reality.
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Gay Travel Index by year: our GTI archive
We cover the Gay Travel Index annually, explaining the results’ implications for LGBTQ+ travelers, highlighting positive changes, and addressing areas for improvement within the queer travel community. Explore the historical rankings here:
- Gay Travel Index 2025: Malta, Canada, Portugal, Spain, and Iceland lead; Greece and Thailand rise strongly.
- Gay Travel Index 2024: Progress in Latin America with Uruguay and Chile.
- Gay Travel Index 2023: Canada returns to the top; setbacks in Asia and Eastern Europe.
- Gay Travel Index 2021 (combined 2020/21): First edition to rank U.S. states; pandemic impacts considered.
- Gay Travel Index 2019: Germany drops due to homophobic violence; India improves.
- Gay Travel Index 2018: Germany rises after marriage equality; broader inclusion of trans rights.
This archive enables easy comparison of years, identification of trends, and assessment of which countries are progressing or regressing. Researchers, travelers, and media professionals all utilize these year-by-year insights to gain a more profound understanding of the world of queer travel.
How the Gay Travel Index is calculated
Every year, the Gay Travel Index is updated with a scoring system based on 18 categories. Countries receive points for their measures promoting equality, including anti-discrimination laws, marriage equality, and adoption rights. Negative points are given for discriminatory laws, censorship, persecution, or violence against LGBTQ+ people.
Main factors considered for the LGBTQ+ travel safety index
- Anti-discrimination laws and constitutional protections
- Marriage equality and adoption rights
- Protection against hate crimes
- Rights in military service
- Freedom of expression and censorship
- Restrictions on HIV+ travelers
- Criminalization or persecution of LGBTQ+ people
- Government support of LGBTQ+ visibility and events
Highly ranked countries combine equality on paper with safety in everyday life. At the other end of the spectrum, some destinations criminalize same-sex intimacy, silence queer voices, or allow hate crimes to go unpunished. For travelers, this index provides a reliable guide to understanding where it is safe to travel and where extra caution is necessary—even in 2025.
The scorecard also considers real-life conditions, not just legal texts. Freedom of expression, local attitudes, police behavior, and community feedback influence the ranking as well, making the index more than a theoretical overview.
Why the Gay Travel Index matters to LGBTQ+ travelers
For us queer travelers, safety, and acceptance are not optional “nice-to-haves”. The Gay Travel Index helps compare destinations side by side, enabling us to make better-informed decisions. A honeymoon, a Pride trip, or a simple city break can feel entirely different depending on the legal and social climate.
The index shows that “gay-friendly” remains more than a simple marketing buzzword. It means whether you can hold hands in public, whether hate crimes are punished, and whether queer culture is visible as an accepted part of a diverse society. For couples and solo travelers, this information helps prevent surprises and discover places where love and diversity are respected. That sounds tacky, you might think. But it is our reality, living in heteronormative social structures.
LGBTQ+ travel safety index
Tracking changes year by year also reveals political and cultural shifts. Countries climbing in the ranking often signal growing acceptance, while those dropping remind us that progress can be fragile. And a climb in rank does not necessarily mean it will remain that way forever. Recent political shifts worldwide indicate a change in acceptance and societal support, even in countries like the US or the UK. The index is therefore both a travel guide and a record of global change.
LGBTQ+ travel guides 2025: safe & inclusive
Tested for safety, inclusion, and being a queer welcoming destination worldwide—from vibrant city breaks to outdoor escapes! Our LGBTQ+ and gay travel guides help you to travel with confidence.
Latest results and how to use them
The latest Gay Travel Index placed Malta, Canada, Portugal, Spain, and Iceland at the top. These countries combine strong equality laws with cultural acceptance and vibrant LGBTQ+ communities. In contrast, destinations with harsh laws or state-led discrimination continue to fall to the bottom of the list.
Top-ranking countries
- Malta: among the strongest LGBTQ+ protections in the world.
- Spain: famous for Pride festivals and legal equality.
- Canada: progressive laws and strong community life.
- Portugal: increasing visibility and equality in law and culture.
- Iceland: has a long history of equality and acceptance.
Countries facing setbacks
Some countries continue to criminalize same-sex intimacy or enforce anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda laws. Travelers risk fines, imprisonment, or hostility for being themselves. The index makes these risks visible and helps travelers decide if visiting is safe.
For us, the index is not a warning to stay home but a tool to travel responsibly. It highlights safe havens for joy and community while also reminding us to respect our limits in places where hostility persists. For the full details of the latest ranking, check our dedicated Gay Travel Index 2025 article.
Couple of Men & the Gay Travel Index
As a gay couple, we cover the Gay Travel Index on our blog every year, adding our unique perspective as gay travel bloggers. Data and statistics are essential, though we also add lived experience to make the results practical for travelers. Additionally, we are attending multiple travel conferences, symposia, and fairs worldwide, staying up-to-date with the industry’s newest developments, learning from professionals, and supporting destinations that are considered safe and welcoming for LGBTQ+ travelers. From safety advice to destination ideas, we bring the index to life.
Promoting LGBTQ+ friendly destinations
We focus on promoting destinations that are welcoming and safe. But beyond mainstream “gay-friendly” labels, we highlight LGBTQ-owned and LGBTQ-operated businesses: queer hotels, tour operators, local bars, and cultural initiatives. Supporting them keeps money within the community and strengthens queer economies. We are also members of the IGLTA, the international LGBTQ+ travel association, aiming to make the world a safer place for queer communities.
Why safety matters for the LGBTQ+ community
Traveling openly as a gay couple means we always think about where we are safe. The Gay Travel Index reveals which countries are progressive and which remain at risk. We avoid promoting destinations that are openly hostile to LGBTQ+ people — no matter the incentives. At the same time, we don’t believe in boycotting as the only answer. In places of change, travelers can support local queer communities by staying in inclusive hotels, joining queer tours, or dining at LGBTQ-owned restaurants.
Our responsibility as LGBTQ+ travel bloggers
This philosophy guides Couple of Men. We want to empower local queer communities, encourage responsible travel, and ensure our readers enjoy their journeys safely. For more inspiration, see our LGBTQ+ travel guides, our gay-friendly hotel reviews, our gay cruising guides, and our list of LGBTQ-owned businesses. By combining our experiences with the annual data, we make the Gay Travel Index a ranking tool and a gateway to authentic queer travel at the same time.
Just as you can travel sustainably, you can also travel queer-friendly.
Karl and Daan.
Gay Cruising Guides
Together with our dear friend and Gay Cruising Culture expert John, we are showing you the best cruising places of gay-friendly travel destinations worldwide. How to find gay cruising hot spots? How to do gay cruising? Is gay cruising legal ion my gaycation?
Why the Gay Travel Index matters more than ever
The Gay Travel Index is more than just statistics. It is a roadmap for safe, inclusive, and empowering journeys for LGBTQ+ travelers around the globe. By following yearly updates and using the index as a guide, queer travelers can choose destinations that welcome diversity while staying informed about places where risks remain.
For us as Couple of Men, this index continues to be a foundation for our travel decisions, our storytelling, and our advocacy for equality. Whether you are planning your first Pride abroad, a romantic honeymoon, or a cultural adventure, let the Gay Travel Index be your compass to navigate the world with confidence, safety, and pride.
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Disclaimer
The Gay Travel Index reflects the legal and social conditions for LGBTQ+ people at the time of publication. Laws, safety conditions, and cultural attitudes may change quickly. Always check current local regulations, government travel advisories, and community resources before planning your trip.
Would you like to learn more about our gay travels around the world? Stay tuned on Facebook, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. See you again soon!
Karl & Daan.