Ivory Coast Gay Travel Index 2026
Score = Legal 32/60 + Scene 3/40 = 35/100 · thin scene coverage — legal-weighted provisional score
Updated 7 Oct 2026 · release 2026.3.
A live score, not an annual report — it recomputes as laws, rulings and the scene itself change. See what moved in 2026.
Legal composite · Legal milestones · Scene on the ground · Frequently asked questions
Legal composite — 32/60 points
| Criminalization | Legal |
|---|---|
| Partnership | ● No not recognised |
| Anti-discrimination | ● No |
| Gender recognition | Not possible — no legal gender recognition |
| Enforcement reality | Harassment — police or state harassment documented |
Research note: Legal; 2024 woubi hate wave, state passive — GayOut Index 2026.3 legal research (ILGA World / Human Dignity Trust / Rainbow Europe / Equaldex).
Legal composite, five components
Fulfilment per component (100 = maximum). Weights: criminalisation 35% · partnership 20% · enforcement 20% · anti-discrimination 15% · gender recognition 10%.
Legal milestones
Background, not travel advice — how the current status came to be. For planning a trip, rely on the current score, tier and scene sections above; 2026 movements are tracked in the sourced change log.
- 1960Ivory Coast gained independence and kept French-derived law that had never criminalized consensual same-sex activity between adults. ↗
- 1981A new penal code kept same-sex activity legal but set an unequal age of consent and punished same-sex public indecency more harshly. ↗
- 2010The government stated intentions to address discrimination against sexual minorities but declined to run awareness-raising programs. ↗
- 2024President Ouattara promised legislation to counter what he called the expansion of homosexuality, amid rising anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and violence. ↗
- TodaySame-sex activity remained legal, but couples had no recognition, no anti-discrimination protections applied, and social hostility persisted. ↗
Sources: ILGA World · Human Dignity Trust · Equaldex. Each milestone links to a reference source ↗.
Scene on the ground — 3/40 points
Detailed scene metrics (for researchers)
| Gay bars per million | — |
|---|---|
| Saunas per million | — |
| Events per million | — |
| Coverage grade | — |
| Scene score | 3/40 (raw scene index 8/100) |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ivory Coast safe for gay travellers?
Ivory Coast is rated Some caution on the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026, scoring 35/100 overall with a legal safety component of 32/60. On enforcement reality, police or state harassment is documented.
Is same-sex marriage legal in Ivory Coast?
No. Same-sex marriage is not legal in Ivory Coast. Overall legal status: Legal.
Does Ivory Coast have a gay scene?
Ivory Coast has a limited documented gay scene: GayOut lists 3 LGBTQ+ venues, including 0 dedicated gay bars.