Dark Mode
Worldwide Legal Status of Same-Sex Sexual Acts
Government & Civic Records
Tags and Keywords
Trusted By
"No reviews yet"
Free
About
This data product tracks the historical trajectory of legal protection for LGBT+ rights internationally. It details the changing legal status of same-sex relationships, showing that while legalization accelerated significantly starting in the 1960s (and especially the 1990s), a number of countries still lack protections or have recently implemented more restrictive policies, such as explicit bans on same-sex marriage. The file serves as a detailed record of legislative trends regarding same-sex intimacy from the late 18th century onward.
Columns
The product contains five distinct columns detailing the progress of legal rights:
- Entity (country): Identifies the country or geographical grouping associated with the record.
- Year (year): Specifies the time point for the recorded legal status, ranging from 1760 to 2019.
- Number missing data (missing): A metric reflecting data availability or calculation status.
- homosexuality is illegal (homosexuality): A metric indicating the number of jurisdictions where same-sex sexual acts are considered illegal, with values ranging up to 109.
- Number of countries (counts): The total count of countries currently under specific legal status, ranging up to 133.
Distribution
The data is delivered as a CSV file, with a file size of 41.08 kB. It is structured with five columns. The dataset contains 1,820 valid records, detailing time-series information about the legal status of same-sex relationships across various entities.
Usage
This dataset is ideally suited for:
- Historical Analysis: Tracking the pace and geography of social and legal progress concerning LGBT+ rights since the 18th century.
- Policy Research: Identifying global trends, regional disparities, and specific periods of acceleration or regression in legal protection.
- Advocacy: Providing quantifiable evidence of global shifts toward or away from protecting fundamental human rights.
- Academic Study: Serving as foundational material for research into international law and social justice movements.
Coverage
The data provides a global view of legal changes, covering 202 countries initially studied. The time scope ranges from 1760 through to 2019. Significant coverage notes include analysis of populous countries like China and India, where same-sex relationships have become recognised, alongside historical detail on early legalization efforts in countries such as France, Japan, and the Russian Empire.
License
CC0: Public Domain
Who Can Use It
- Social Scientists: Studying historical and contemporary social issues and policy diffusion.
- Human Rights Organisations: Monitoring the evolution of protections and identifying areas requiring targeted advocacy.
- Journalists and Media Professionals: Creating data-driven stories about equality and international legal developments.
- Government Analysts: Reviewing international legal standards and their adoption rates.
Dataset Name Suggestions
- Global Legalisation of Same-Sex Relationships (1760–2019)
- Historical Progress of LGBT+ Rights by Country
- Worldwide Legal Status of Same-Sex Sexual Acts
- Trends in International LGBT+ Legal Protection
Attributes
Original Data Source: Worldwide Legal Status of Same-Sex Sexual Acts
QUALITYLoading...