Spain sits at the top of the Rainbow Map 2026, with the highest score in Europe for LGBTI laws and policies. For LGBTI people already in the country or considering a move, the ranking offers a snapshot of how national and regional rules are changing and where gaps remain.
How the Rainbow Map 2026 ranks Spain
ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map is an annual benchmarking tool that ranks 49 European countries on their legal and policy practices for LGBTI people, scoring each country from 0 to 100%.
It has been produced since 2009 and is based on 76 criteria grouped into seven categories:
- Equality and non-discrimination
- Family
- Hate crime and hate speech
- Legal gender recognition
- Intersex bodily integrity
- Civil society space
- Asylum
ILGA-Europe collects and verifies this legal data through consultations with its member organisations and more than 200 country experts across the 49 countries covered.
Spain’s number one position on the Rainbow Mapnt
In Rainbow Map 2026, Spain ranks 1st out of 49 countries with a score of 89%. This means the country moves up four places compared with the previous year, gaining 11 points in a single year. Spain replaces Malta, which had led the ranking for 10 years.
According to ILGA-Europe’s Deputy Director Katrin Hugendubel, Spain’s number one ranking is presented as an example of what can be achieved when a government decides to advance equality rather than step back from it, with an emphasis on political courage and the ability of governments to push back effectively. At the same time, she underlines that more still needs to be done in Spain.
Spain’s recent legal and policy advances for LGBTI people
Spain’s rise is closely linked to the implementation of recent national legislation. ILGA-Europe highlights that the government has followed through on commitments in three key laws:
- The 2023 LGBTI and trans laws
- The 2022 law for equal treatment and non-discrimination
Concrete national measures that contributed to Spain’s high score include:
- Adoption of equality action plans for LGBTI rights and trans rights
- Establishment of an independent authority for equal treatment
- Full implementation of the depathologisation of trans people in the healthcare system
According to ILGA-Europe, out of Spain's 17 autonomous regions, now have LGBTI protections.
Legal progress and lived experience in Spain
ILGA-Europe stresses that even in Spain, the top-ranked country, the distance between what the law says and how people live their daily lives remains significant. In its commentary, ILGA-Europe acknowledges that more still needs to be done to translate legislative advances into lived equality.
Living in Spain as an LGBTI person
For LGBTI people moving to Spain or already living there, the Rainbow Map 2026 offers a structured way to understand the country’s current legal landscape. For those weighing up different destinations, looking at the top places to live in Spain for the LGBTQ+ community can help connect the national picture with specific cities and neighbourhoods that feel welcoming and well-served.
Cost is another factor. An overview of how much it costs to live in Spain’s most LGBTIQ-friendly cities can be useful when comparing locations and planning a move.
At the same time, ILGA-Europe’s reminder that legal progress has not erased the gap with everyday realities signals that, even in a country ranked first, ongoing scrutiny and advocacy remain necessary.
All rankings, percentages and country summaries cited here are drawn from ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map and Index 2026.
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