The 20 Best Countries for Transgender People Who Want to Leave the U.S.
The 20 Best Countries for Transgender People Who Want to Leave the U.S.
In 2023, state legislatures have proposed 566 anti-trans bills in 49 states (all but Delaware), and legislators have also introduced at least 31 national anti-trans bills. Although 128 of those bills have already failed, 80 have passed without veto, revoking rights from transgender individuals in 22 states.
If you’re considering moving your family to a country that’s more welcoming to transgender people, travel journalists Asher & Lyric have created a guide to the best and worst countries for trans rights and ranked the United States in 40th place. Here are their 20 best countries for transgender people.
1. Malta
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Despite Malta’s strong Catholic presence, the Mediterranean island is often named tops for LGBTQIA+. Asher & Lyric note that 16-year-olds can apply for legal gender ID change with parental consent. The nation offers worker protections and constitutional protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows no trans murders from 2008-2022.
2. Portugal
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Portugal has become a popular location for all kinds of people looking to emigrate out of the United States, thanks to its progressive laws for abortion, LGBTQIA+ rights, and drug use. Asher & Lyric say that 18-year-olds can get a legal gender ID change with no requirements, but 16-year-olds need a psych evaluation and parental consent. The nation offers worker protections and constitutional protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .2 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
3. Canada
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Canada has long supported LGBTQIA+ refugees fleeing persecution. Gender ID change is legal here without surgery. The nation offers worker protections and constitutional protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .2 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
4. Sweden
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In 1972, Sweden was the first country to allow transgender people to legally change their sex, but the requirements at that time were brutal. Asher & Lyric say that legislation is in progress to make changing your legal gender easier, but there is increasing restriction there in hormone therapy for minors.
5. Bolivia
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Bolivia got Asher & Lyric’s top score outside of Europe. The Amazonian nation offers worker protections and constitutional protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .2 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
6. Belgium
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In Belgium, Asher & Lyric say that transgender individuals have to complete paperwork attesting to their gender identity. Legal protections besides worker protections are more broad, but the country hasn’t had any trans murders from 2008-2022.
7. Croatia
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Like Belgium, Croatia offers worker protections and broad protections and has had zero trans murders during the study period. Changing your gender identity is legal, and hate crimes are prosecuted. The Balkan nation is popular with American emigrants for its weather and lifestyle. There have been zero trans murders from 2008-2022.
8. Denmark
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Generally progressive Denmark does require a six-month “reflection period” before changing your gender identity. Hate crimes are prosecuted, and worker protections and broad protections are available. There have been zero trans murders from 2008-2022.
9. Norway
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Minors can transition in Norway from the age of 6 with parental consent. Otherwise, worker protections and broad protection are available, hate crimes are prosecuted, and there have been zero trans murders from 2008-2022.
10. Greece
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You can change your gender identity without surgery in Greece. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .1 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
11. Switzerland
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You can change your gender identity without surgery in Switzerland. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It shows .1 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
12. France
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You can change your gender identity without surgery in France. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .2 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
13. Finland
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Finland just changed its law requiring individuals be sterilized before legally changing their gender, a common past stipulation in Europe. The country’s new center-right government was in favor of the repeal. In addition, the nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .2 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
14. Spain
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Spain recognizes both transgender and non-binary people without surgery. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .3 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
15. United Kingdom
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You can change your gender identity without surgery in the United Kingdom, but you do need a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows .2 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
16. Peru
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You can change your gender identity without surgery in Peru, but you must go before a judge. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows 1.3 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
17. Chile
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Asher & Lyric say that since 2019, ID documents can be changed in Chile without surgery. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It prosecutes hate crimes and shows 1.3 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
18. Netherlands
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You can change your gender identity without surgery in France. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It shows .2 trans murders per million people from 2008-2022.
19. Iceland
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In Iceland, Asher & Lyric note that minors can change their legal gender ID without parental consent. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It shows zero trans murders from 2008-2022.
20. Ireland
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Asher & Lyric note that 16-year-olds can change their legal gender with a court order. The nation offers worker protections and broad protections. It shows zero trans murders from 2008-2022.
Transgender Rights Around the World for Expats & Immigrants
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The ways that different countries treat gender identity is as varied as it is state to state. There are some countries that are considered progressive that may have really invasive laws, like Finland, which just this month overturned the law that required transgender people to be sterilized. On the Expatsi Test, we ask if you’re interested in moving to a country where Gender Self-Determination is legal, because that’s currently the gold standard of rights. You are who you say you are.
➤ Transgender Rights Around the World for Expats & Immigrants
Where is Abortion Legal?
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With the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June of 2022, many expats are looking for countries where the right to an abortion is protected or at least not as contested. Other expats may seek countries who ban abortion in all instances. Currently, states with trigger laws are fumbling to figure out what’s legal and what’s not. There’s confusion around the use of drugs and procedures that could terminate a pregnancy, even when that’s not how providers or patients are using them.
Where is Gay Marriage Legal?
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If you’re gay and want to move abroad, here’s a guide to where your marriage will be honored.
➤ Where is Gay Marriage Legal?
Jen is the co-founder of Expatsi, a company that helps Americans move abroad. She created the Expatsi Test, an assessment that recommends countries for aspiring emigrants based on lifestyle data. Jen has an MBA from Emory University with concentrations in marketing and innovation. She's written for BusinessWeek, Health, Cooking Light, and Southern Living. Prior to Expatsi, she created Freshfully and Bottle & Bone—two businesses in the local food space—and spoke at TEDx on being brave. She's moving to Mexico in 2024, along with her husband and co-founder Brett, pitbull mix Squiggy, and three rotten cats. How can she help you move abroad?
Jen is the co-founder of Expatsi, a company that helps Americans move abroad. She created the Expatsi Test, an assessment that recommends countries for aspiring emigrants based on lifestyle data. Jen has an MBA from Emory University with concentrations in marketing and innovation. She's written for BusinessWeek, Health, Cooking Light, and Southern Living. Prior to Expatsi, she created Freshfully and Bottle & Bone—two businesses in the local food space—and spoke at TEDx on being brave. She's moving to Mexico in 2024, along with her husband and co-founder Brett, pitbull mix Squiggy, and three rotten cats. How can she help you move abroad?