The UK was ranked at 22nd out of 49 countries in the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY BASE IMAGE
Spain took the top spot for LGBTQIA+ rights in ILGA-Europe’s annual Rainbow Map. The UK was ranked 22nd out of 49 countries for the second year in a row, a far cry from its position at the top in 2015.
In its 18th iteration, ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map ranks 49 countries on the laws and policies which impact the LGBTQIA+ community. The Map ranks countries from 0-100% depending on how much queer people are protected and included in law and society.
Spain was ranked 89% in the 2026 Rainbow Map due to the implementation of laws for equal treatment and non-discrimination. Malta wasn’t far behind, scoring 88%. Other countries in the top 10 included Iceland, Belgium and Denmark.
The UK, however, scored just 44%. This was largely due to the UK Supreme Court ruling last year, which has led to a concerning rise in transphobia. Human rights lecturer and Trans+ Solidarity Alliance policy advisor, Sandra Duffy, said: “The fact our score has decreased yet again, and we have plummeted from number one all the way down the list on LGBT+ rights, is shameful. It reflects this government’s lack of action to protect trans people and we will keep dropping unless Labour reset their approach to transgender equality.”
On the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map 2026, the UK is surrounded by countries like Andorra, Albania and Moldova.
Russia received the lowest ranking on this year’s Rainbow Map with 2%. This was due to the attacks on LGBTQIA+ human rights. In fact, LGBTQIA+ organisations in the country have been labelled as “extremist”. Azerbaijan also received a ranking of 2%, remaining in the bottom two countries as it has done since 2015.
Deputy Director of ILGA-Europe, Katrin Hugendubel, spoke about what this year’s Rainbow Map shows us: “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 ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map here.
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