LGBTQ Risk Map 2026: More Countries Report Higher Risk for Travellers

After years of progress, the legal and social environment for LGBTQ people has worsened in several countries over the past year. 

Research reveals that new criminal laws, restrictions on existing rights, and political setbacks mean that LGBTQ travellers may face increased risks when travelling abroad.

The findings are highlighted in the LGBTQ Risk Map 2026, released by Safeture, a technology provider in people risk management, in partnership with Riskline, a provider of travel risk intelligence. The map assesses the situation for LGBTQ travellers in 233 countries and territories worldwide.

The news is bleak.

Globally, the analysis classifies 91 countries as high risk for LGBTQ travellers. Another 62 countries are rated medium risk, and 80 are considered low risk.

Compared with last year, conditions have worsened in several countries, including Belarus, Burkina Faso, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Senegal, Slovakia. Closer to home, the United States has tightened rules for travel documents. Passports will reflect only the sex assigned at birth, and the “X” gender marker will no longer be recognized.

The reasons for worsening conditions include restrictions on existing rights, legal rollbacks, harsher penalties, and new limitations on the recognition of gender identity and on travel documents.

Western Europe remains the safest region for LGBTQ travellers, with all countries in the region classified as low risk in the latest analysis.

By contrast, the Middle East and North Africa continue to include some of the world’s highest-risk destinations for LGBTQ travellers. Most countries in the region are classified as high risk, with Israel rated low risk and Lebanon rated medium risk.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the situation remains highly challenging. Approximately 80% of assessed countries in the region fall into the highest risk category. The deterioration is particularly evident in Burkina Faso and Senegal. Following a 2022 military coup, Burkina Faso enacted its first law criminalizing same-sex relations. In Senegal, prison sentences for same-sex relations have doubled.

In Europe and Eurasia, new legal restrictions have led to lower ratings for individual countries. Kazakhstan has imposed restrictions on information about so-called “non-traditional sexual orientations,” while Slovakia has further limited the rights of same-sex couples. Belarus has adopted a law against so-called “LGBT propaganda,” which could result in fines or even arrests.

Setbacks have also been recorded in Asia. In India, new legislation seeks to restrict transgender people’s ability to self-identify. In Japan, a court upheld the constitutionality of the country’s ban on same-sex marriage.

There’s some progress to report too: Botswana and St. Lucia have repealed laws criminalizing same-sex relations between men, resulting in improved ratings in this year’s map.

“LGBTQ travellers face very different realities depending on where they travel. In some destinations, the risk may be primarily social. In others, it may be legal, with serious consequences,” said Magnus Hultman, CEO of Safeture. 

“For organizations, this makes it essential to understand destination-specific risks before travel and to ensure that travellers have access to relevant information, communication, and support if something happens.”

The LGBTQ Risk Map 2026 is now available as a free download here. It offers companies, travel managers, security teams, and travellers a practical overview to support safer international travel planning.