Same-sex adoption

It's legal for same-sex couples to adopt children in 43 countries.

DATE

Same-sex adoption

The ability for same-sex couples to legally adopt a child.

Summary

43
Legal
43 regions (22%)
Legal
52
Somewhere in between
52 regions (26%)
Somewhere in between
52
Illegal
52 regions (26%)
Illegal
51
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
51 regions (26%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
46%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
23 regions (46%)
Somewhere in between
18 regions (36%)
Illegal
8 regions (16%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Oceania
14%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
2 regions (14%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
2 regions (14%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
10 regions (71%)
South America
50%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
6 regions (50%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (17%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
3 regions (25%)
North America
30%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
7 regions (30%)
Somewhere in between
7 regions (30%)
Illegal
4 regions (17%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
5 regions (22%)
Africa
4%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
2 regions (4%)
Somewhere in between
12 regions (22%)
Illegal
20 regions (37%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
20 regions (37%)
Asia
7%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
3 regions (7%)
Somewhere in between
13 regions (30%)
Illegal
17 regions (39%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (25%)

Timeline of same-sex adoption

Number of countries to legalize same-sex adoption over the past 61 years.

Recent Changes

2025

2024

2023

2022

Same-sex adoption by Country

Legal

Same-sex adoption is legal in 43 regions.

  1. Asia (3)
  2. Israel 2023
  3. Taiwan 2023
  4. Thailand 2025
  5. Europe (23)
  6. Andorra 2014
  7. Austria 2015
  8. Belgium 2006
  9. Croatia 2022
  10. Denmark 2009
  11. Estonia 2024
  12. Finland 2017
  13. France 2013
  14. Germany 2017
  15. Greece 2024
  16. Iceland 2006
  17. Ireland 2015
  18. Liechtenstein 2023
  19. Luxembourg 2015
  20. Malta 2014
  21. Netherlands 2000
  22. Norway 2009
  23. Portugal 2016
  24. Slovenia 2022
  25. Spain 2005
  26. Sweden 2002
  27. Switzerland 2022
  28. United Kingdom 2003
  29. North America (7)
  30. Canada 2011
  31. Costa Rica 2020
  32. Cuba 2022
  33. Grenada
  34. Saint Lucia
  35. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  36. United States 2017
  37. Africa (2)
  38. Malawi
  39. South Africa 2010
  40. Oceania (2)
  41. Australia 2018
  42. New Zealand 2013
  43. South America (6)
  44. Argentina 2010
  45. Brazil 2015
  46. Chile 2022
  47. Colombia 2015
  48. Guyana
  49. Uruguay 2009

Second parent adoption only

Same-sex adoption is second parent adoption only in 3 regions.

  1. Europe (3)
  2. Czechia 2025
  3. Italy 2016
  4. San Marino 2018

Single only

Same-sex adoption is single only in 49 regions.

  1. Asia (13)
  2. China
  3. India
  4. Indonesia 2007
  5. Lebanon
  6. Malaysia 1826
  7. Myanmar
  8. Palestine
  9. Philippines
  10. Singapore
  11. Syria
  12. Timor-Leste
  13. Turkmenistan 2020
  14. Vietnam 2000
  15. Europe (15)
  16. Albania 2003
  17. Armenia
  18. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  19. Bulgaria
  20. Cyprus
  21. Kosovo 2006
  22. Latvia
  23. Lithuania
  24. Moldova
  25. North Macedonia
  26. Romania 2023
  27. Russia 2023
  28. Slovakia 2017
  29. Turkey
  30. Ukraine 2016
  31. North America (7)
  32. Barbados
  33. Dominican Republic
  34. El Salvador
  35. Guatemala 2007
  36. Haiti 2013
  37. Jamaica
  38. Trinidad and Tobago 1947
  39. Africa (12)
  40. Algeria 1966
  41. Angola
  42. Botswana
  43. Côte d’Ivoire
  44. Equatorial Guinea 2021
  45. Eswatini 1968
  46. Ghana
  47. Mauritius
  48. Mozambique
  49. Nigeria
  50. Zambia
  51. Zimbabwe
  52. South America (2)
  53. Peru
  54. Venezuela 2006

Illegal

Same-sex adoption is illegal in 52 regions.

  1. Asia (17)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Bahrain
  4. Bangladesh
  5. Brunei 1951
  6. Iran
  7. Jordan
  8. Kazakhstan
  9. North Korea
  10. Oman 1979
  11. Pakistan
  12. Qatar 1915
  13. South Korea
  14. Sri Lanka
  15. Tajikistan
  16. United Arab Emirates
  17. Uzbekistan
  18. Yemen
  19. Europe (8)
  20. Azerbaijan 1999
  21. Belarus
  22. Georgia 2024
  23. Hungary 2020
  24. Monaco
  25. Montenegro 2007
  26. Poland 2021
  27. Serbia 2005
  28. North America (4)
  29. Antigua and Barbuda 2016
  30. Honduras 2018
  31. Nicaragua
  32. Panama 2021
  33. Africa (20)
  34. Benin 2015
  35. Burundi
  36. Cameroon
  37. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  38. Djibouti 2017
  39. Egypt
  40. Ethiopia 2018
  41. Kenya 2002
  42. Lesotho 1966
  43. Libya
  44. Madagascar 2005
  45. Mali 2011
  46. Mauritania 1983
  47. Morocco
  48. Namibia
  49. Niger
  50. Rwanda
  51. Seychelles
  52. Tanzania
  53. Uganda
  54. Oceania (2)
  55. Fiji
  56. Tonga 2013
  57. South America (1)
  58. Paraguay 2020

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on same-sex adoption is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 51 regions.

  1. Asia (11)
  2. Bhutan
  3. Cambodia Ambiguous
  4. Iraq N/A
  5. Japan Ambiguous
  6. Kuwait N/A
  7. Kyrgyzstan
  8. Laos Ambiguous
  9. Maldives
  10. Mongolia
  11. Nepal
  12. Saudi Arabia N/A
  13. Europe (1)
  14. Vatican City N/A
  15. North America (5)
  16. Bahamas
  17. Belize
  18. Dominica
  19. Mexico Varies by Region
  20. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  21. Africa (20)
  22. Burkina Faso
  23. Cape Verde
  24. Central African Republic
  25. Chad
  26. Comoros
  27. Eritrea
  28. Gabon
  29. Gambia
  30. Guinea
  31. Guinea-Bissau
  32. Liberia
  33. Republic of the Congo
  34. Sao Tome and Principe
  35. Senegal
  36. Sierra Leone
  37. Somalia
  38. South Sudan
  39. Sudan
  40. Togo
  41. Tunisia
  42. Oceania (10)
  43. Federated States of Micronesia
  44. Kiribati
  45. Marshall Islands
  46. Nauru
  47. Palau
  48. Papua New Guinea
  49. Samoa
  50. Solomon Islands
  51. Tuvalu
  52. Vanuatu
  53. South America (3)
  54. Bolivia Ambiguous
  55. Ecuador Ambiguous
  56. Suriname
  57. Antarctica (1)
  58. Antarctica N/A

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