Cyprus has slipped in the 2025 edition of ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map, which evaluates 49 European countries based on the legal and policy landscape for LGBTI people. With a score of 33.69%, Cyprus ranks 29th overall and 17th among the 27 EU member states—well below both the EU average of 51.13% and the broader European average of 41.85%.

The annual Rainbow Map assesses seven categories, including equality and non-discrimination, family rights, hate crime and speech, gender recognition, intersex rights, civil society space, and asylum. Cyprus saw a slight drop in its score compared to 2024, when it achieved 34.62%.

The report paints a mixed picture for Cyprus. While the country scores 100% in the “Civil Society Space” category—reflecting relatively strong protections for freedom of assembly and expression—it scores 0% for “Intersex Bodily Integrity” and just 15.71% for “Legal Gender Recognition,” highlighting serious gaps in protection and recognition for transgender and intersex individuals.

In the “Equality and Non-Discrimination” category, Cyprus scores just 19.09%, indicating the absence of a comprehensive legal framework to protect LGBTI people from discrimination. Meanwhile, family rights remain limited, with Cyprus scoring 32.84%. Same-sex couples are still denied civil marriage, adoption rights, and access to medically assisted reproduction.

Hate crime and hate speech protections are somewhat stronger, with a 46.34% score, yet incidents continue to rise. Notably, a trans woman in Famagusta reportedly faced repeated attacks, and public discourse from political leaders and media continues to include harmful rhetoric.

Despite the government’s 2024 decision to develop a National LGBTI Strategy aligned with EU standards, practical progress has been minimal. The Commissioner for Citizens’ Rights was appointed to oversee the process, but the strategy remains in development, and key legislative reforms have stalled.

Deputy Government Spokesman Yiannis Antoniou openly stated in February that same-sex marriage and adoption are not political priorities. This came despite campaign promises from President Nikos Christodoulides to support LGBTI rights.

Public opposition remains a significant barrier. A recent poll showed that 60% of Cypriots oppose same-sex adoption, while over 40% are firmly against same-sex marriage.

ILGA-Europe has called on Cyprus to:

• Adopt a comprehensive national action plan with civil society input

• Legalise same-sex marriage, adoption, and access to reproductive services

• Establish transparent legal gender recognition based on self-determination

The broader 2025 Rainbow Map reveals concerning trends. The UK, Hungary, and Georgia all fell significantly due to anti-LGBTI laws and political narratives framing equality as a threat to tradition. These developments are part of what ILGA-Europe calls a “coordinated global backlash” against LGBTI rights.

Malta remains the top performer for the 10th consecutive year, followed by Belgium and Iceland. At the bottom are Russia and Azerbaijan, each scoring just 2%, and Turkey at 5%.