This Country Was Just Named No. 1 for LGBTQ+ Expats — From Digital Nomads to Retirees

The Netherlands has some of the best policies.

The global expat community is booming. According to data by Enterprise Today, in 2023, 35 million digital nomads were living and working around the world away from home, with Americans accounting for 17.3 million of them.

While it's a thrilling proposition to explore somewhere new for the long haul, those within the LGBTQ+ community may also have to consider their safety when deciding where to live and work abroad. To help people do just that, the experts at William Russell, an expat insurance company, looked into data from the Global Peace Index to reveal the safest countries for LGBTQ+ expats.

“Unfortunately, not all countries around the world are accepting of the LGBTQ+ community. This can make things more difficult for some individuals when deciding which country to relocate to," William Russell shared in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure. "It’s important that all expats, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, have a fulfilling experience when moving abroad. Therefore, thorough research is essential before deciding on a new country to call home."

To find out which destinations people should consider, the team analyzed several factors, including safety and anti-discrimination scores, parental and medical rights, and even the number of LGBTQIA+ events each nation holds.

After looking at the data, the team named the Netherlands the top spot for LGBTQ+ expats.

"Topping the list is the Netherlands, earning an impressive LGBTQ+ score of 9.25. It’s estimated that 12 percent of the country’s population identifies as LGBTQ+, which is the fourth-highest figure of all the countries we analyzed, alongside the United Kingdom," the findings noted. "The country receives a safety index score of 1.482 out of five and an anti-discrimination score of 0.80 out of one, indicating that citizens would be friendly and welcoming towards LGBTQ+ expats."

As the findings added, the Netherlands provides all its residents with full marriage rights and was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001, along with same-sex adoption rights. It added, "When it comes to healthcare, the LGBTQ+ community is protected from any discrimination by law, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics." And, for a little more fun, the findings noted that there are at least nine major LGBTQ+ events held in the nation every year.

Coming in a close second is Australia with an 8.79 out of 10 score, followed by Spain with an 8.63.

As for the countries where members of the LGBTQ+ community are least likely to face discrimination, the top spot was a tie, going to both Singapore and Japan, which each scored 0.81 out of one. The one caveat here that the findings noted is "although Singapore and Japan are relatively welcoming towards the LGBTQ+ population, same-sex marriages, and adoptions are against the law" and that "Singapore also has a severe lack of medical rights regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression."

As for who hosts the biggest, and dare we say, best LGBTQ+ parties, that honor goes to the United States.

"The [USA] hosts over 270 events for the LGBTQ+ population every year. Many of the events are in aid of various charities and organizations that help support the community," the findings noted. "There are also plenty of events focused purely on the socialization and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. Every year, travel company Gay Days organizes a week of fun at Walt Disney World in Orlando for LGBTQ+ individuals, alongside their friends and family. There are also many film festivals that take place throughout the year in locations such as Honolulu in Hawaii, Milwaukee in Wisconsin, and Miami in Florida."

Though Russell notes that events may not be the first consideration, "it’s a good idea to look into whether a country hosts a lot of events for the LGBTQ+ community. This shows that the country is accepting of the community and likes to celebrate both the work and life of LGBTQ+ individuals."

Related: These Are the Safest Destinations for LGBTQIA+ Travelers in 2024, According to a Travel Index

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