Latin America and the Caribbean making progress
Latin America and the Caribbean are regions of rich cultural diversity, making notable progress in LGBTQ+ rights despite persistent challenges. Countries like Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil have led with legal milestones such as marriage equality and anti-discrimination protections. However, societal stigma and uneven policy enforcement remain barriers in many areas. Advocacy efforts and growing visibility of LGBTQ+ communities are fostering dialogue and gradual change, highlighting the region's potential for greater inclusivity.
City ratings
B
Buenos Aires ▼
Santiago ▼
Sao Paulo ▼
Montevideo ▼
San Jose ▼
CCC
Brasilia ▼
Bogota
Rio De Janeiro ▼
✷ Bridgetown
Mexico City ▼
CC
Kingston ▲
Panama City
Medellin ▼
Monterrey
Lima
Guadalajara ▼
C
▼ City has declined since 2022 ▲ City has improved since 2022 ✷ New city
DDD
Port of Spain
Santo Domingo
DD
La Paz ▼
D
Asuncion ▼
E
Guatemala City ▼
Quito ▼
San Salvador ▼
Tegucigalpa ▼
▼ City has declined since 2022 ▲ City has improved since 2022 ✷ New city
Region headlines
Brazilian cities maintain their positions in the City Ratings 2025, with São Paulo (rated B) leading as Latin America’s economic powerhouse. Its top regional score for business environment reflects a diverse economy, strong financial services, and a growing tech ecosystem. Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia (both rated CCC) show more moderate performance but remain “partially open for business.” Despite progressive legal frameworks, including constitutional protections against discrimination, implementation remains inconsistent.
Brazil continues to report the world’s highest number of transgender murders - 105 cases in 2024 - highlighting the gap between legal rights and lived experiences. In response, São Paulo’s private sector has emerged as a leader in inclusion, with companies launching progressive initiatives that go beyond national requirements. Grupo SBF’s TransIdentidade Programme offers financial and legal support to trans employees, while Starbucks Brazil’s “I Am Working” initiative supports the trans community through job opportunities and workshops.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian government is pushing to position diversity, including LGBTQ+ inclusion, as a global standard for sustainable investment. At COP30, it plans to propose diversity as a key sustainability criterion, reinforcing corporate responsibility in driving inclusion. This blend of legal foundations, private sector leadership, and national ambition helps Brazilian cities balance economic strength with gradual social progress.
Buenos Aires (rated B) maintains its position in the City Ratings 2025, demonstrating resilience in balancing progressive social policies with Argentina’s dramatic economic reforms. The city remains a regional leader in LGBTQ+ rights, underpinned by pioneering laws like Latin America’s first same-sex marriage law (2010) and the Gender Identity Law (2012), offering stability amid broader political shifts.
President Milei’s “shock therapy” reforms have brought macroeconomic improvements, with inflation dropping from 26% in December 2023 to 2.7% by October 2024. However, these gains come with harsh austerity measures, including the dissolution of the Women, Gender and Diversity Ministry. Despite these cuts, Buenos Aires has preserved its inclusion framework, thanks to a strong civil society and private sector leadership - evident in the 2024 Pride march with over 100,000 attendees and ongoing support from the country’s LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.
Buenos Aires’ ability to sustain its inclusion rating during sweeping economic change offers a compelling case study. It shows how legal protections, business engagement, and civic activism can safeguard social progress amid shifting political and economic priorities.
Kingston marks the Caribbean’s only upward movement in this year’s ratings, rising to a C and entering the “partially open for business” category for the first time. The city has shown moderate economic resilience, with 2.5% growth in 2023 and tourism exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 11%. However, inclusion barriers continue to constrain this growth, with anti-LGBTQ+ laws and stigma costing the Caribbean tourism sector up to USD 689 million annually—significant unrealized revenue for Kingston.
Despite Jamaica’s laws criminalizing same-sex relationships, civil society groups like Equality for All Foundation Jamaica have led progress through workplace training and public education. Annual Pride events since 2015 now receive growing support, including from Kingston’s Mayor. Yet these efforts cannot fully offset the economic toll of limited inclusion, including major losses in healthcare, workplace productivity, and talent retention. Kingston’s progress is a key milestone, but structural barriers must be addressed to unlock its full economic potential.