Is homosexuality legal in Nigeria?
Death penalty possible
Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence that can carry the death penalty.
Nigeria is one of 10 countries classified “Death penalty possible” for same-sex sexual activity — 4% of the 226 with data. (Also searched as homosexuality.)
Source
- Last checked
- 15 September 2026
- How it was classified
- Read directly from the source’s own table, without interpretation.
Nearby countries
- Cameroon
- Illegal Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence.
- Niger
- Illegal Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence.
- Benin
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Togo
- Illegal Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence.
- Equatorial Guinea
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Ghana
- Illegal Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence.
Other laws in Nigeria
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not recognized
- Sex Work
- Illegal
- Divorce
- Heavily restricted
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 18+
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.