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Same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage is legal in only 56 countries and territories.

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  • Legal
  • Other type of partnership
  • Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
  • Unrecognized, same-sex marriage and civil unions banned
  • Unrecognized, only same-sex marriage official
  • Unrecognized
  • Unregistered cohabitation
  • Not legal
  • Civil unions
  • Unknown, N/A, or ambiguous

Recent Changes

  • Feb 17 2023Became Legal in Andorra
  • Dec 1 2022Became Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only in American Samoa
  • Oct 26 2022Became Legal in Mexico
  • Oct 26 2022Became Legal in Tamaulipas
  • Oct 19 2022Became Legal in Tabasco
  • Sep 26 2022Became Legal in Cuba
  • Sep 19 2022Became Legal in Durango
  • Aug 21 2022Became Unrecognized in Singapore

Same-sex marriage

Marriage and marriage recognition between two people of the same biological sex and/or gender identity.

Summary

56
Legal
56 regions (24%)
Legal
102
Somewhere in between
102 regions (44%)
Somewhere in between
70
Illegal
70 regions (30%)
Illegal
4
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (2%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
Europe
40%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
21 regions (40%)
Somewhere in between
23 regions (44%)
Illegal
6 regions (12%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (4%)
Oceania
38%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
9 regions (38%)
Somewhere in between
10 regions (42%)
Illegal
5 regions (21%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
South America
57%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
8 regions (57%)
Somewhere in between
5 regions (36%)
Illegal
1 regions (7%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
North America
31%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
11 regions (31%)
Somewhere in between
20 regions (56%)
Illegal
5 regions (14%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
Africa
9%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
5 regions (9%)
Somewhere in between
22 regions (37%)
Illegal
32 regions (54%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
Asia
2%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
22 regions (48%)
Illegal
21 regions (46%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (4%)

Progress over time

Number of countries with equality for same-sex marriage over the past 60 years.

Recent changes

Same-sex marriage by country

(and dependent territories)

Legal

Same-sex marriage is legal in 56 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Taiwan 2019
  3. Europe (21)
  4. Andorra 2023
  5. Austria 2019
  6. Belgium 2003
  7. Denmark 2012
  8. Faroe Islands 2017
  9. Finland 2017
  10. France 2013
  11. Germany 2017
  12. Iceland 2010
  13. Ireland 2015
  14. Isle of Man 2016
  15. Luxembourg 2014
  16. Malta 2017
  17. Netherlands 2001
  18. Norway 2009
  19. Portugal 2010
  20. Slovenia 2022
  21. Spain 2005
  22. Sweden 2009
  23. Switzerland 2022
  24. United Kingdom 2020
  25. North America (11)
  26. Aruba 2010
  27. Canada 2005
  28. Costa Rica 2020
  29. Cuba 2022
  30. Greenland 2015
  31. Guadeloupe 2013
  32. Martinique 2013
  33. Mexico 2022
  34. Saint Pierre and Miquelon 2013
  35. Sint Maarten 2010
  36. United States 2015
  37. Africa (5)
  38. British Indian Ocean Territory
  39. Mayotte 2013
  40. Réunion 2013
  41. Saint Helena 2017
  42. South Africa 2006
  43. Oceania (9)
  44. Australia 2017
  45. Christmas Island 2017
  46. Cocos
  47. French Polynesia 2013
  48. New Caledonia 2013
  49. New Zealand 2013
  50. Norfolk Island 2017
  51. Pitcairn Islands 2015
  52. Wallis and Futuna 2013
  53. South America (8)
  54. Argentina 2010
  55. Brazil 2013
  56. Chile 2022
  57. Colombia 2016
  58. Ecuador 2019
  59. Falkland Islands 2017
  60. French Guiana 2013
  61. Uruguay 2013
  62. Antarctica (1)
  63. Antarctica

Other type of partnership

Same-sex marriage is other type of partnership in 1 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. China 2017

Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only

Same-sex marriage is foreign same-sex marriages recognized only in 19 regions.

  1. Asia (2)
  2. Hong Kong 2017
  3. Israel 2006
  4. Europe (3)
  5. Armenia
  6. Bulgaria 2019
  7. Lithuania
  8. North America (11)
  9. Anguilla
  10. Antigua and Barbuda
  11. Barbados 2018
  12. Curaçao 2010
  13. Dominica
  14. Grenada
  15. Montserrat 2010
  16. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  17. Saint Lucia
  18. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  19. Turks and Caicos Islands 2011
  20. Africa (1)
  21. Namibia
  22. Oceania (1)
  23. Samoa
  24. South America (1)
  25. Suriname

Unrecognized, same-sex marriage and civil unions banned

Same-sex marriage is unrecognized, same-sex marriage and civil unions banned in 3 regions.

  1. North America (1)
  2. El Salvador
  3. South America (2)
  4. Paraguay 1991
  5. Peru 2006

Unrecognized

Same-sex marriage is unrecognized in 59 regions.

  1. Asia (15)
  2. Bhutan 2004
  3. Iraq 2003
  4. Jordan
  5. Kazakhstan
  6. Laos 1990
  7. Lebanon
  8. Myanmar 1886
  9. Palestine 1994
  10. Philippines 1988
  11. Singapore 2022
  12. Syria 1949
  13. Tajikistan 2008
  14. Thailand 1932
  15. Timor-Leste
  16. Vietnam 2013
  17. Europe (7)
  18. Albania 2010
  19. Azerbaijan
  20. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018
  21. Kosovo
  22. North Macedonia 2015
  23. Romania
  24. Turkey
  25. North America (6)
  26. Belize 2003
  27. British Virgin Islands
  28. Dominican Republic 1944
  29. Guatemala 1995
  30. Nicaragua 1987
  31. Trinidad and Tobago 1924
  32. Africa (21)
  33. Angola
  34. Benin 1900
  35. Cape Verde
  36. Comoros
  37. Côte d’Ivoire
  38. Djibouti
  39. Egypt
  40. Equatorial Guinea
  41. Gabon 1963
  42. Guinea-Bissau 1993
  43. Lesotho 1966
  44. Madagascar
  45. Mali 2011
  46. Mauritius
  47. Mozambique 2004
  48. Niger
  49. Republic of the Congo
  50. Rwanda
  51. Sao Tome and Principe
  52. Seychelles
  53. Western Sahara
  54. Oceania (9)
  55. Federated States of Micronesia
  56. Kiribati
  57. Marshall Islands
  58. Nauru
  59. Niue
  60. Palau 2008
  61. Papua New Guinea
  62. Tokelau 2013
  63. Vanuatu
  64. South America (1)
  65. Venezuela 1999

Unregistered cohabitation

Same-sex marriage is unregistered cohabitation in 6 regions.

  1. Asia (4)
  2. Cambodia 2021
  3. India 2020
  4. Macau 2013
  5. Pakistan 1958
  6. Europe (2)
  7. Poland
  8. Slovakia

Not legal

Same-sex marriage is not legal in 70 regions.

  1. Asia (21)
  2. Afghanistan 1971
  3. Bahrain
  4. Bangladesh 1860
  5. Brunei 1951
  6. Indonesia
  7. Iran 1979
  8. Kuwait
  9. Kyrgyzstan 1996
  10. Malaysia 1826
  11. Maldives
  12. Mongolia 1992
  13. North Korea
  14. Oman
  15. Qatar 1915
  16. Saudi Arabia 1932
  17. South Korea 1948
  18. Sri Lanka 1885
  19. Turkmenistan 1992
  20. United Arab Emirates
  21. Uzbekistan 1994
  22. Yemen 1994
  23. Europe (6)
  24. Belarus 1996
  25. Georgia
  26. Moldova 1994
  27. Russia 1995
  28. Serbia 2006
  29. Ukraine 2018
  30. North America (5)
  31. Bahamas
  32. Haiti
  33. Honduras 2005
  34. Jamaica 1962
  35. Panama 1972
  36. Africa (32)
  37. Algeria 1966
  38. Botswana 1964
  39. Burkina Faso 1991
  40. Burundi 2005
  41. Cameroon 1967
  42. Central African Republic 2016
  43. Chad 2017
  44. Democratic Republic of the Congo 2006
  45. Eritrea 1957
  46. Eswatini
  47. Ethiopia
  48. Gambia 2005
  49. Ghana 1960
  50. Guinea 1988
  51. Kenya 1902
  52. Liberia 1976
  53. Libya 1953
  54. Malawi
  55. Mauritania 1983
  56. Morocco
  57. Nigeria 2014
  58. Senegal 1966
  59. Sierra Leone 1861
  60. Somalia
  61. South Sudan 2011
  62. Sudan 1991
  63. Tanzania 1971
  64. Togo 1980
  65. Tunisia
  66. Uganda 1904
  67. Zambia 2010
  68. Zimbabwe 1964
  69. Oceania (5)
  70. Cook Islands 2000
  71. Fiji 2002
  72. Solomon Islands 1978
  73. Tonga 1998
  74. Tuvalu
  75. South America (1)
  76. Guyana

Civil unions

Same-sex marriage is civil unions in 14 regions.

  1. Europe (11)
  2. Croatia 2014
  3. Cyprus 2015
  4. Czech Republic 2006
  5. Estonia 2016
  6. Greece 2015
  7. Hungary 2009
  8. Italy 2016
  9. Liechtenstein 2011
  10. Monaco 2020
  11. Montenegro 2021
  12. San Marino 2018
  13. North America (2)
  14. Bermuda 2018
  15. Cayman Islands 2020
  16. South America (1)
  17. Bolivia 2020

No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous

Data on same-sex marriage is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 4 regions.

  1. Asia (2)
  2. Japan
  3. Nepal
  4. Europe (2)
  5. Latvia
  6. Vatican City

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