Spain rises to top of 'Rainbow Map' ranking on LGBT+ rights
The UK remains middle of the pan-European list of countries assessed in the map, sitting in 22nd place
Spain has claimed the top spot in the latest Rainbow Map rankings, signalling a shift in the landscape of LGBT+ rights in Europe.
The Rainbow Map, developed by ILGA-Europe, ranks 49 European countries based on their legal and policy practices affecting LGBTI people.
Spain's rise to the top follows its implementation of the 2023 LGBT+ and trans laws, including the establishment of an independent authority for equal treatment and the complete depathologisation of trans people within the healthcare system.
Malta, which had held the top position for nearly a decade, has dropped to second place with a score of 88%.
This change is attributed to Spain's advancements and Malta’s stagnation in continuous reform.
Malta still lacks a comprehensive anti-discrimination framework despite the stalled Equality Bill tabled in 2019.
How the UK ranks amongst Europe
The UK comes 22nd on the list of 49 countries, which scores us well below the EU average - and those behind the compilation note how the Supreme Court ruling on gender has made an impact.
Read more: Supreme Court gender ruling: one year on
ILGA-Europe has made a set of important recommendations aimed at improving the legal and policy situation of LGBT+ people, which call on ensuring timely access to trans-specific healthcare, legal gender recognition compliance with ECHR, and banning conversion practices.
ILGA-Europe advises addressing excessive waiting times in the trans healthcare system and restoring access to puberty blockers for trans youth outside restrictive research frameworks.
Following the judgement in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers, ILGA-Europe emphasises the need for effective legal gender recognition, including trans parenthood.
The review notes significant court rulings, including those concerning access to single-sex services under the Equality Act 2010, impacting the treatment of trans individuals.
The report highlights high-profile cases around bias-motivated speech, violence, and legal challenges faced by trans and non-binary individuals.
Recent developments also include updates to educational content and significant employment tribunal cases.
In the context of broader equality and non-discrimination efforts, institutions across the UK are reported to be responding to evolving legal interpretations and societal debates.
You can read a full breakdown of how the UK ranked here.
Big disparities in Europe
Iceland maintains its position in third place, scoring 86%, benefiting from the renewal of its equality action plan.
The bottom three countries in the ranking are Russia and Azerbaijan, both scoring 2%, and Turkey scoring 5%.
Romania, with a score of 19%, has dropped to 42nd place, remaining the lowest-ranked EU member state.
The Rainbow Map and accompanying Annual Review are informed supported by over 250 experts including activists, legal professionals, and policy specialists.
These evaluations reveal significant disparities in LGBTI rights across Europe.
Only 12 countries, including Spain, allow trans people to have legal gender recognition based on self-determination.
Furthermore, in 18 countries, there is no legal protection for same-sex couples.
Trans parenthood is fully recognised in several countries, such as Spain, Malta, and Iceland.
Still, only Germany, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Portugal, and Spain have banned unnecessary surgical interventions on intersex children.
The rankings highlight ongoing challenges, especially in countries where freedom for LGBTI communities is restricted or under attack.
'A strong example of what becomes possible when a government makes a deliberate choice to advance equality'
Deputy Director of ILGA-Europe, Katrin Hugendubel: “Spain’s number one ranking is a strong example of what becomes possible when a government makes a deliberate choice to advance equality rather than retreat from it.
"We see this same spirit in leaders like Zohran Mamdani in New York, who are refusing to bow to the authoritarian pressure of this moment and choosing instead to stand with their communities.
"Of course more needs to be done in Spain, but this is a reminder that political courage is a choice, and that governments who make it can effectively push back.”
You can see the full Rainbow Map here.