Iceland joins the world’s most LGBTQIA+-friendly travel destinations for the first time
The updated SPARTACUS GAY TRAVEL INDEX, provides an overview of the situation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, and queer individuals (LGBTQIA+) in a total of 216 countries and regions. While Malta, Canada, Portugal, and Spain have retained their top positions from 2024, Iceland has now also reached the top ranking. While countries like Greece, Thailand, and Curaçao have significantly improved their rankings, the United States and Georgia have fallen behind. This year’s Index is presented by Booking.com and its Travel Proud program. The program provides free inclusive hospitality training for accommodations to help them gain a better understanding of the specific challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ travelers. There are currently over 95,300 Travel Proud-certified properties globally on Booking.com.
As in 2024, the SPARTACUS GAY TRAVEL INDEX, which has been published since 2012, names five countries as the world’s most LGBTQIA+-friendly destinations. In 2025, Canada, Malta, Spain, Portugal, and, for the first time, Iceland lead the ranking. Close behind are Germany and New Zealand, sharing sixth place, followed by Australia, Norway, Uruguay, and Switzerland, which all rank eighth.
Greece, Thailand, and Curaçao among the rising nations
With the adoption of a law introducing marriage equality in 2024, Greece, Thailand, and Curaçao have significantly improved their rankings. Greece jumps from 38th place in 2024 to 15th place. Thailand, the first Southeast Asian country to grant same-sex partnerships equal status to heterosexual marriage, climbs from 54th to 41st place. Curaçao now ranks 58th, compared to 70th in 2024.
Declining nations and bottom rankings: Georgia, USA, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iran, and Saudi Arabia
Georgia, struggling with massive Russian influence, has plummeted from 109th to 162nd place due to anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Another notable drop: the United States. The new administration under President Donald Trump has already begun severely restricting transgender rights at the national level. As a result, the U.S. has fallen from 41st to 48th place. At the bottom of the ranking, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iran, and Saudi Arabia continue to share last place at rank 210, just as they did in 2023.
Under Observation: Eastern Europe and the USA
For 2025, several European countries, including Moldova, Georgia, and Slovakia, as well as the United States, remain under close observation. Many decisions made by the new U.S. administration are currently being challenged in court. At the same time, several states have introduced new anti-trans laws, including South Carolina, Ohio, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. In the separate index ranking U.S. states, New York takes the top spot, followed by California in second place, with Nevada, Oregon, and Washington tied for third. At the bottom of the ranking are Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, Montana, and Oklahoma, which sits at 51st place.
Spartacus pride calendar – the world’s largest pride calendar for your homepage
Spartacus International Gay Guide App
Facebook