Same-sex adoption

It's legal for same-sex couples to adopt children in 38 countries.

DATE

Same-sex adoption

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

Summary

38
Legal
38 regions (19%)
Legal
70
Somewhere in between
70 regions (35%)
Somewhere in between
49
Illegal
49 regions (25%)
Illegal
41
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
41 regions (21%)
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
2 regions (14%)
Illegal
3 regions (21%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
7 regions (50%)
South America
42%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
5 regions (42%)
Somewhere in between
4 regions (33%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (17%)
North America
17%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
4 regions (17%)
Somewhere in between
16 regions (70%)
Illegal
2 regions (9%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (4%)
Africa
2%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
17 regions (32%)
Illegal
19 regions (35%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
17 regions (32%)
Asia
7%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
3 regions (7%)
Somewhere in between
13 regions (30%)
Illegal
16 regions (36%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
12 regions (27%)

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 38 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 (4)
  30. Canada 2011
  31. Costa Rica 2020
  32. Cuba 2022
  33. United States 2017
  34. Africa (1)
  35. South Africa 2010
  36. Oceania (2)
  37. Australia 2018
  38. New Zealand 2013
  39. South America (5)
  40. Argentina 2010
  41. Brazil
  42. Chile 2022
  43. Colombia 2015
  44. Uruguay 2004

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 67 regions.

  1. Asia (13)
  2. China
  3. India
  4. Indonesia
  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 (16)
  32. Antigua and Barbuda
  33. Bahamas
  34. Barbados
  35. Belize
  36. Dominica
  37. El Salvador
  38. Grenada
  39. Guatemala 2007
  40. Haiti 2013
  41. Honduras
  42. Jamaica
  43. Panama
  44. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  45. Saint Lucia
  46. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  47. Trinidad and Tobago 1947
  48. Africa (17)
  49. Algeria 1966
  50. Angola
  51. Botswana
  52. Côte d’Ivoire
  53. Equatorial Guinea
  54. Eswatini 1952
  55. Gabon
  56. Ghana
  57. Lesotho
  58. Malawi
  59. Mauritius
  60. Mozambique
  61. Nigeria
  62. Republic of the Congo
  63. Sao Tome and Principe
  64. Zambia
  65. Zimbabwe
  66. Oceania (2)
  67. Solomon Islands
  68. Vanuatu
  69. South America (4)
  70. Guyana
  71. Peru
  72. Suriname
  73. Venezuela

Illegal

Same-sex adoption is illegal in 49 regions.

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

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on same-sex adoption is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 41 regions.

  1. Asia (12)
  2. Afghanistan N/A
  3. Bhutan
  4. Cambodia Ambiguous
  5. Iraq N/A
  6. Japan Ambiguous
  7. Kuwait N/A
  8. Kyrgyzstan
  9. Laos Ambiguous
  10. Maldives N/A
  11. Mongolia
  12. Nepal
  13. Saudi Arabia N/A
  14. Europe (1)
  15. Vatican City N/A
  16. North America (1)
  17. Mexico Varies by Region
  18. Africa (17)
  19. Burkina Faso
  20. Cape Verde
  21. Central African Republic
  22. Chad Ambiguous
  23. Eritrea
  24. Gambia
  25. Guinea
  26. Guinea-Bissau
  27. Liberia
  28. Libya N/A
  29. Senegal
  30. Sierra Leone
  31. Somalia
  32. South Sudan
  33. Sudan N/A
  34. Togo
  35. Tunisia
  36. Oceania (7)
  37. Federated States of Micronesia
  38. Kiribati
  39. Marshall Islands
  40. Nauru
  41. Palau
  42. Samoa
  43. Tuvalu
  44. South America (2)
  45. Bolivia Ambiguous
  46. Ecuador Ambiguous
  47. Antarctica (1)
  48. Antarctica N/A

Spot an error? Visit the region and select "Accurate?: No" so Equaldex's editors can review it.