GDPR Countries in 2025: Which Nations Are Covered and Which Are Not?
If your business deals with personal data, you must have heard about the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It is considered as the gold standard for data privacy regulations. But as we approach 2025, the question remains: Which countries are considered GDPR countries, and which are not?
While the regulation originated in the EU, its impact stretches far beyond Europe. It influences global data protection laws and business practices. In this article, we will explore the nations directly governed by GDPR. We will also talk about those with similar regulations, and the challenges faced by non GDPR countries.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a data privacy legislation enacted by the European Union in 2018. It replaced the EU Data Protection Directive of 1995.
The GDPR aims to unify data protection laws across EU member states and strengthen individuals' privacy rights. It governs how personal data is collected, processed, stored, and shared while ensuring transparency and accountability among organizations handling such data.
For this purpose, the GDPR sets strict guidelines regarding the data privacy of individuals within the EU and European Economic Area (EEA). The regulation intends to give individuals more control over their personal information while holding businesses in GDPR countries accountable for data protection. Let’s first explore who does the GDPR apply to?
If your business operates in Europe or handles personal data of European citizens, understanding where the GDPR applies is crucial. The regulation also applies to certain non-EU countries falling within the European Economic Area (EEA). These nations are directly governed by the GDPR. So, let’s explore the GDPR countries.
The GDPR countries list includes all 27 EU member states. These are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. These GDPR regions adhere to stringent requirements for personal data protection
In addition to the GDPR countries list, there are three non-EU countries in the EEA that also follow GDPR. These are Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. These countries have incorporated GDPR into their national laws as part of their agreements with the EU.
GDPR goes beyond European borders, requiring companies worldwide to comply if they process the personal data of individuals in the EU or EEA. This means that even if an organization is based outside GDPR regions, it must follow its rules under certain conditions.
Organizations outside the EU/EEA must comply with GDPR if they:
This applies to businesses of all sizes, from global corporations to small e-commerce stores that sell to EU customers.
Companies outside the EU/EEA that fall under GDPR’s scope must adhere to the following measures:
Under Article 45 GDPR, the European Commission has determined that these non-EU/EEA territories provide “essentially equivalent” protection so that personal data may flow from the EU/EEA to them without Standard Contractual Clauses or Binding Corporate Rules:
It is important to note that Adequacy decisions are reviewed at least every four years and can be suspended if protections erode.
Beyond the GDPR, many jurisdictions have enacted their own comprehensive privacy regimes to give individuals control over their personal data and impose strict obligations on organizations. Some have even earned an EU adequacy decision, permitting frictionless data flows from the EU/EEA; others remain “GDPR-style” frameworks without that formal recognition. Together, these laws represent a global convergence toward stronger data-protection norms. Let’s delve deep into how various nations have implemented regulations similar to GDPR countries in Europe.
The CCPA is a state statute that took effect on January 1, 2020, granting California residents rights to access, delete, and opt-out of the sale of their personal information, and imposing data-security obligations on businesses.
Canada’s federal PIPEDA, in force since January 1, 2001, regulates how private-sector organizations collect, use, and disclose personal data in commercial activities, and has been deemed “adequate” by the EU for data transfers.
Effective August 16, 2020, the LGPD (Law 13 709/2018) closely mirrors the GDPR’s requirements on consent, data-subject rights (access, correction, erasure), breach notification, and extraterritorial scope.
Japan’s APPI, significantly amended in 2020, strengthened consent requirements and user rights, and the European Commission has recognized it as providing “adequate” safeguards for EU–Japan data transfers.
Enacted August 20, 2021 (effective November 1, 2021), the PIPL imposes strict consent, transparency, and data-localization rules, with penalties up to 5 % of global turnover—earning frequent comparison to the GDPR’s rigor.
Originally passed in 2011 and overhauled in 2020, PIPA grants broad data-subject rights, mandates breach notifications, and is enforced by an independent Personal Information Protection Commission.
The PDPA became law on May 28, 2019, and fully in force by June 1, 2022, introducing GDPR-style legal bases for processing, user-rights (access, erasure), and a committee to oversee cross-border data transfers.
Australia’s Privacy Act (amended multiple times) establishes the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) covering collection, use, disclosure, and breach notification obligations for government agencies and large private entities.
POPIA, passed November 19, 2013 and fully in force July 1, 2021, creates conditions for lawful processing (consent, necessity), mandates breach notifications, and established an independent Information Regulator.
Enacted August 11, 2023, the DPDPA introduces GDPR-inspired rights (access, correction, erasure), consent requirements, and establishes a Data Protection Board to adjudicate disputes.
After Brexit, the United Kingdom took control of its data protection laws. However, it doesn’t mean that the GDPR is gone. Instead, the UK has retained most of the GDPR framework under the UK GDPR, ensuring continuity like GDPR countries with adequacy.
The business handling UK and EU data now has to comply with both the UK GDPR and the EU GDPR, particularly regarding cross-border data transfers, compliance obligations, and regulatory oversight.
When the UK left the EU on January 1, 2021, it effectively became a “third country” under EU law. This meant the EU-GDPR no longer applied directly to the UK.
To maintain continuity, the UK merged the EU-GDPR with its existing Data Protection Act 2018 to create the UK-GDPR. Its framework is identical to the UK's post-Brexit legal landscape. The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018), effective from 25 May 2018, sits alongside UK-GDPR and fills gaps. Read more about UK GDPR vs EU GDPR here.
Implications for Data Transfers Between the UK and EU/EEA
Post-Brexit data transfers initially hinged on an EU adequacy decision. It was a temporary arrangement allowing unrestricted data flows until mid-2021. The EU later granted the UK a formal adequacy status in June 2021, recognizing UK data laws as “equivalent” to the GDPR. However, this decision includes a sunset clause set for June 2025, after which the EU could revoke adequacy if UK laws diverge significantly.
Here’s what this means for businesses:
Where transfers involve third countries without adequacy status, both the EU and UK regimes require appropriate safeguards under Article 46:
Not all countries have adopted GDPR-style regulations, creating challenges for businesses that handle international data transfers. In regions with weaker or less comprehensive data protection laws, ensuring compliance and safeguarding personal data can be complex.
Countries without GDPR-equivalent laws often face the following drawbacks:
Several countries still lack comprehensive data protection laws comparable to GDPR, such as:
GDPR compliance countries have strengthened data privacy worldwide while raising the bar for data protection. Countries, businesses, and regulatory bodies have adapted their policies to align with GDPR principles. It has led to a more privacy-conscious digital ecosystem.
Many non GDPR countries have introduced or updated their data protection laws to align with this regulation. The intent behind this was to facilitate cross-border data transfers and maintain trade relationships with the EU.
The GDPR’s extraterritorial reach has also simplified data compliance regulations across multiple jurisdictions.
GDPR’s impact extends beyond businesses. It benefits consumers worldwide in the following ways:
As the GDPR continues to shape global data protection, staying compliant is more critical than ever. It helps you maintain customer trust and avoid legal risks.
At DPO Consulting, we help businesses navigate GDPR complexities with expert guidance, tailored compliance strategies, and up-to-date regulatory insights.
Get in touch today to know more about our GDPR consultancy services.
Investing in GDPR compliance efforts can weigh heavily on large corporations as well as smaller to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Turning to an external resource or support can relieve the burden of an internal audit on businesses across the board and alleviate the strain on company finances, technological capabilities, and expertise.
External auditors and expert partners like DPO Consulting are well-positioned to help organizations effectively tackle the complex nature of GDPR audits. These trained professionals act as an extension of your team, helping to streamline audit processes, identify areas of improvement, implement necessary changes, and secure compliance with GDPR.
Entrusting the right partner provides the advantage of impartiality and adherence to industry standards and unlocks a wealth of resources such as industry-specific insights, resulting in unbiased assessments and compliance success. Working with DPO Consulting translates to valuable time saved and takes away the burden from in-house staff, while considerably reducing company costs.
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