The Country Similarity Index attempts to quantify how similar countries are to each other relative to other countries. The index is a statistically-based way to measure this. 20% of the index is based on politics. 10% of a country’s politics score (2% of the overall Country Similarity Index score) is allocated for any laws a country’s government might have that restrict their citizen’s rights. This includes restrictions on marriage, prostitution, pornography, abortion, and surrogacy. The following is an explanation on how they were considered:
Homosexuality Laws
The laws on homosexuality vary greatly throughout the world. Same-sex marriage is allowed in many countries in the Western Hemisphere and in Western Europe. In contrast, in most Muslim countries, homosexuality is criminalized. In Iran and Somalia, a person can even be given the death penalty for it. There are also many countries where same-sex marriage is illegal, but homosexuality is not criminalized.
Wikipedia is the source of the data: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_by_country_or_territory#/media/File:World_laws_pertaining_to_homosexual_relationships_and_expression.svg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_by_country_or_territory#/media/File:LGBT_rights_at_the_UN_(2011).svg
Countries were categorized by their homosexuality laws into the following general groups:
Gay Marriage Allowed, Civil Unions Allowed, Civil Unions Not Allowed, Gay Rights Opposed, Homosexuality Criminalized
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Polygamy Laws
In general, most countries that criminalize homosexuality allow polygamy, while all countries that allow gay marriage criminalize polygamy (with the exception of South Africa). Polygamy is allowed in most Muslim countries, although there are a few where it is criminalized like Tunisia, Turkey, and Albania. In India, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore it is only legal for Muslims. Gabon is unique since it is legal for both men and women to have multiple spouses.
The Wikipedia is the main source of the data: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygamy#/media/File:Legality_of_polygamy.svg
Countries were categorized by their polygamy laws into the following general groups:
Polygamy Allowed, Polygamy Allowed for Men Only, Polygamy Allowed for Muslims Only, Polygamy Not Allowed, Polygamy Criminalized
Prostitution Laws
Laws on prostitution can vary greatly, even between similar countries. One of the ways some countries restrict prostitution is by only criminalizing buying sex, but not selling it. This is known as neo-abolitionism. Other countries allow buying and selling sex, but do not allow organized brothels. This is known as abolitionism. Furthermore, a few countries have decriminalized prostitution. These de jure laws may not always match up with what is actually practiced. For instance, in Thailand, prostitution is technically illegal, although it is widespread.
Wikipedia is the main source of the data:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_law#/media/File:Prostitution_laws_of_the_world2.svg
Countries were categorized by their prostitution laws into the following groups:
Prohibition, Neo-Abolition, Abolition, Decriminalization, Legalization
Pornography Laws
In general, the laws are more liberal in Europe and the Americas, while they are more conservative in Asia and Africa. In some Muslim countries, people selling pornography might face the death penalty. Other countries, like South Korea and Lithuania, restrict the sale of pornography, but do not ban the possession of it.
Wikipedia is the main source of the data:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pornography_laws_by_region
Countries were categorized by their pornography laws into the following groups:
Legal to distribute, Distribution restricted, Illegal to sell, Possession restricted, Possession illegal
Abortion Laws
Abortion laws can vary greatly, even between similar countries. Some countries like China and Vietnam allow abortion under any circumstance. In contrast, in the conservative Latin America countries of Nicaragua and El Salvador, abortion is not allowed under any circumstances. Most countries are somewhere in between these two extremes, allowing abortion for different sets of circumstances.
Wikipedia is the main source of the data:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_law
Countries were scored on their abortion laws by the number of situations it is allowed, including:
Children with Defects, Rapes, Parents Unable to Afford, Danger to Mother’s Heath, On request
Surrogacy Laws
Many countries actually do not have laws about surrogacy. However, some countries have banned surrogacy, like France and China, while many former countries in the USSR have completely legalized it. There are also countries where the surrogate mother can only do it for altruistic purposes, not money.
Orm Fertility is the main source of the data:
https://ormfertility.com/surrogacy/surrogacy-where-in-the-world/
Countries were categorized by their surrogacy laws into the following groups:
Allowed, Unregulated, Altruistic Only, Relatives Only, Not Allowed