What's the best country to live in if you're LGBTQ? Is America in the top 10?

What countries have the highest percentages of people who identy as LGBTQ+?

International insurance company William Russell wanted to find out ahead of the United Nations' Summit of the Future, which will examine LGBTQ+ rights among its looks at global cooperation and change.

The summit takes place Sept. 22 and 23 in New York, a featured event of the UN General Assembly.

William Russell also put together a list of the top countries for the LGBTQ+ community to live. Did the U.S. make the top 10?

Countries with the largest LGBTQ+ population

Revelers kiss during the 28th Gay Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 2, 2024.
Revelers kiss during the 28th Gay Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 2, 2024.

William Russell researchers found that Brazil leads the way percentage-wise, with 15 percent of its population identifying as LGBTQ+.

Specifically, 5 percent identify as lesbian, gay or homosexual; 7 percent as bisexual; about 3 percent as transgender, nonbinary, gender non-conforming, gender-fluid or another gender identity; 1 percent as pansexual or omnisexual; and 1 percent as asexual.

Second was Spain, with 14 percent of the population identifying as LGBTQ+, followed by Switzerland (13 percent). The United Kingdom and the Netherlands both had 12%.

Mexico and the United States also made it in the top 10, with 10 percent of its population identifying as LGBTQ+, William Russell found. Here's the full Top 10:

Rank

Country

Percentage of LGBTQ+

1

Brazil

15%

2

Spain

14%

3

Switzerland

13%

4

United Kingdom

12%

5

Netherlands

12%

6

Colombia

11%

7

Germany

11%

8

Sweden

11%

9

Mexico

10%

10

United States

10%

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Tips on how to choose the right country for LGBTQ+ expats

Confetti flies as revelers take part in the traditional Canal Parade during Amsterdam Gay Pride on Aug. 4, 2018.
Confetti flies as revelers take part in the traditional Canal Parade during Amsterdam Gay Pride on Aug. 4, 2018.

More than simple numbers tell the full story of how welcoming countries are to LGBTQ+ people, William Russell said, particularly if people are interested in moving there or staying for an extended period of time.

"Working and living in an overseas country can be an exciting new experience, with plenty of locations to choose from. However, due to local attitudes and laws, making this choice might not be so easy for those within the LGBTQ+ community. It’s important that LGBTQ+ expats feel safe and welcomed when moving abroad," William Russell said.

William Cooper, marketing director at William Russell, shared tips on how to choose the right country, which were included in the company's rankings of the best locations for ex-pats.

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Adoption, marriage and medical rights: "One of the most important factors to consider when moving abroad is the level of rights that LGBTQ+ residents receive. If you plan on getting married and starting a family after relocating, you need to ensure that this is legal and can be carried out in your chosen country. It’s also a good idea to research what medical rights LGBTQ+ residents receive, as you never know when you might need to access healthcare." It also may be important to have international health insurance to access medications like hormone replacement therapy or PrEP, William Russell added.

Levels of safety: "Moving to a new country can be a daunting experience, so it’s important to feel safe and secure in your new home. If you’ve done your research and are confident that the country you’re moving to is considered relatively safe and has low levels of discrimination, this will make the process easier for you."

LGBTQ+ events: "While it might not be the most important factor to consider, 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. It’s also a great way to integrate yourself into the local community and socialize with others.”

Top 10 countries for the LGBTQ+ community

William Russell put together a list of what it found to be the best places for members of the LGBTQ+ community to relocate. It used resources like IPSOS Global Advisor to find its list of 30 countries considered to be LGBTQ+ friendly, as well as Wikipedia, the World Justice Project, and the ILGA World Database.

The Netherlands came out on top overall.

"It’s estimated that 12% of the country’s population identifies as LGBTQ+, which is the fourth-highest figure of all the countries we analyzed, alongside the United Kingdom," William Russell wrote.

"The Netherlands provides all residents with full marriage rights and was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001," the report continued. "In the same year, same-sex couples were also granted full adoption rights. 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. At least nine major LGBTQ+ events are currently held in the country, including the Milkshake Festival and Amsterdam Gay Pride."

Next up is Australia, followed by Spain.

Here's the full top 10:

  1. Netherlands

  2. Australia

  3. Spain

  4. Belgium

  5. Sweden

  6. Germany

  7. Canada

  8. Portugal

  9. Chile

  10. United Kingdom.

The study also found Singapore and Japan to be the countries where one is least likely to experience discrimination. The U.S. leads the way with the most LGBTQ+ events.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: What's the best country to live in if you are LGBTQ