In Europe, the Netherlands and Denmark have the highest percentages of LGBTI people who feel free to be open about their sexual orientation. In a survey conducted in 2019, 66 percent of respondents from the Netherlands and Denmark, declared that they were fairly or very open about their sexual orientation. Sweden, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom followed. In the European Union, lesbian and gay people are more likely to be open about their sexual orientation than bisexual, trans, and intersex people. In a survey conducted in 2019 in 28 EU countries, bisexual men and intersex people were mostly never or almost never open about their sexual orientation.
Same-sex couples in Europe
In Europe, 23 countries recognized same-sex couples as of 2020. There are various forms of recognition of rights and duties of same-sex couples, including civil unions, concubinary unions, de facto partnerships, registered partnerships, and other types of partnerships. Same-sex marriage, has been legalized in 17 countries in Europe, with Switzerland the latest to do so. In 17 European countries, same-sex couples can also jointly adopt children as of 2020. In America and Europe, more countries permitted homosexual couples to adopt children than in Oceania, Asia, and Africa.
LGBT+ in Eastern Europe
Among East European countries, support for the equal rights of LGBT+ people is low. According to a recent survey, about one half of respondents in Czechia expressed support toward equal rights for the LGBT+ community, the largest share among surveyed countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The Parliament in Hungary approved in 2021 an anti-LGBT law, which was condemned by the European Union, as it breaches guarantees of freedom of expression and non-discrimination. This motion was openly supported by the Polish government.
Levels of openness about being LGBTI in Europe as of 2019, by country
Persons who describe themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or intersex
Method of interview
Online survey
Supplementary notes
Count includes respondents from 28 EU countries.
The presented percentages are based on answers to question G1:
“To how many people among the following groups are you open about yourself being [RESPONDENT CATEGORY]? (A. Family members (other than your
partner(s)); B. Friends; C. Neighbours; D. Work colleagues; E. Schoolmates / University co-students; F. Immediate superior/head of department; G. Customers, clients, etc. at work; H. Medical staff/health care providers”.
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Fundamental Rights Agency. (May 13, 2020). Levels of openness about being LGBTI in Europe as of 2019, by country [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 04, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269471/levels-of-openness-about-being-lgbti-in-europe-by-country/
Fundamental Rights Agency. "Levels of openness about being LGBTI in Europe as of 2019, by country." Chart. May 13, 2020. Statista. Accessed October 04, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269471/levels-of-openness-about-being-lgbti-in-europe-by-country/
Fundamental Rights Agency. (2020). Levels of openness about being LGBTI in Europe as of 2019, by country. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 04, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269471/levels-of-openness-about-being-lgbti-in-europe-by-country/
Fundamental Rights Agency. "Levels of Openness about Being Lgbti in Europe as of 2019, by Country." Statista, Statista Inc., 13 May 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269471/levels-of-openness-about-being-lgbti-in-europe-by-country/
Fundamental Rights Agency, Levels of openness about being LGBTI in Europe as of 2019, by country Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269471/levels-of-openness-about-being-lgbti-in-europe-by-country/ (last visited October 04, 2024)
Levels of openness about being LGBTI in Europe as of 2019, by country [Graph], Fundamental Rights Agency, May 13, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1269471/levels-of-openness-about-being-lgbti-in-europe-by-country/