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Same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage is legal in only 44 countries.

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Same-sex marriage

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

Summary

44
Legal
44 regions (19%)
Legal
109
Somewhere in between
109 regions (47%)
Somewhere in between
73
Illegal
73 regions (32%)
Illegal
4
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (2%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
Europe
30%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
15 regions (30%)
Somewhere in between
25 regions (50%)
Illegal
10 regions (20%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
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
36%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
5 regions (36%)
Somewhere in between
7 regions (50%)
Illegal
2 regions (14%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
North America
25%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
9 regions (25%)
Somewhere in between
23 regions (64%)
Illegal
4 regions (11%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
Africa
9%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
5 regions (9%)
Somewhere in between
25 regions (42%)
Illegal
29 regions (49%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
Asia
2%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
19 regions (41%)
Illegal
23 regions (50%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
3 regions (7%)

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 44 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Taiwan 2019
  3. Europe (15)
  4. Austria 2019
  5. Belgium 2003
  6. Denmark 2012
  7. Finland 2018
  8. France 2013
  9. Germany 2017
  10. Iceland 2010
  11. Ireland 2015
  12. Luxembourg 2014
  13. Netherlands 2001
  14. Norway 2009
  15. Portugal 2010
  16. Spain 2005
  17. Sweden 2009
  18. United Kingdom 2020
  19. North America (9)
  20. Aruba 2010
  21. Canada 2005
  22. Costa Rica 2020
  23. Greenland 2015
  24. Martinique
  25. Mexico 2009
  26. Saint Pierre and Miquelon 2013
  27. Sint Maarten 2010
  28. United States 2015
  29. Africa (5)
  30. British Indian Ocean Territory
  31. Mayotte 2013
  32. Réunion 2013
  33. Saint Helena 2017
  34. South Africa 2006
  35. Oceania (9)
  36. Australia 2017
  37. Christmas Island 2017
  38. Cocos (Keeling) Islands
  39. French Polynesia 2013
  40. New Caledonia 2013
  41. New Zealand 2013
  42. Norfolk Island 2017
  43. Pitcairn Islands 2015
  44. Wallis and Futuna 2013
  45. South America (5)
  46. Argentina 2010
  47. Brazil 2013
  48. Colombia 2016
  49. French Guiana 2013
  50. Uruguay 2013

Civil unions

Same-sex marriage is civil unions in 14 regions.

  1. Europe (9)
  2. Andorra 2014
  3. Croatia 2014
  4. Cyprus 2015
  5. Czech Republic 2006
  6. Greece 2015
  7. Italy 2016
  8. Liechtenstein 2011
  9. Malta 2014
  10. Switzerland 2007
  11. North America (3)
  12. Bermuda 2018
  13. Cayman Islands 2020
  14. Guadeloupe 1991
  15. South America (2)
  16. Chile 2015
  17. Ecuador 2008

Other type of partnership

Same-sex marriage is other type of partnership in 3 regions.

  1. Europe (3)
  2. Estonia 2014
  3. Hungary 2009
  4. Slovenia 2015

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. Lithuania
  7. San Marino 1865
  8. North America (12)
  9. Anguilla
  10. Antigua and Barbuda
  11. Barbados 2018
  12. Curaçao 2010
  13. Dominica
  14. Grenada
  15. Jamaica
  16. Montserrat 2010
  17. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  18. Saint Lucia
  19. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  20. Turks and Caicos Islands 2011
  21. Oceania (1)
  22. Samoa
  23. South America (1)
  24. Suriname

Unrecognized, same-sex marriage and civil unions banned

Same-sex marriage is unrecognized, same-sex marriage and civil unions banned in 2 regions.

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

Unrecognized

Same-sex marriage is unrecognized in 69 regions.

  1. Asia (15)
  2. Cambodia
  3. East Timor
  4. India 2013
  5. Iraq 2003
  6. Japan 1947
  7. Jordan
  8. Kyrgyzstan 1996
  9. Laos 1990
  10. Malaysia 1826
  11. Mongolia 1992
  12. Myanmar 1886
  13. South Korea 1948
  14. Tajikistan 2008
  15. Thailand 1932
  16. Vietnam 2013
  17. Europe (10)
  18. Albania 2010
  19. Belarus 1996
  20. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  21. Faroe Islands
  22. Romania
  23. Serbia
  24. Slovakia
  25. Turkey 1923
  26. Ukraine
  27. Vatican City 1929
  28. North America (7)
  29. British Virgin Islands
  30. Cuba 1975
  31. Dominican Republic 1944
  32. Guatemala 1995
  33. Nicaragua 1987
  34. Panama 1972
  35. Trinidad and Tobago 1924
  36. Africa (25)
  37. Angola 2019
  38. Burkina Faso 1991
  39. Burundi 2005
  40. Cape Verde
  41. Chad
  42. Comoros
  43. Côte d’Ivoire
  44. Djibouti
  45. Egypt
  46. Equatorial Guinea
  47. Gabon 1963
  48. Guinea-Bissau 1993
  49. Madagascar
  50. Malawi
  51. Mali 2011
  52. Mauritius
  53. Mozambique 2004
  54. Niger
  55. Republic of the Congo
  56. Rwanda
  57. Sao Tome and Principe
  58. Seychelles
  59. Swaziland
  60. Tanzania 1971
  61. Western Sahara
  62. Oceania (9)
  63. Federated States of Micronesia
  64. Kiribati
  65. Marshall Islands
  66. Nauru
  67. Niue
  68. Palau 2008
  69. Papua New Guinea
  70. Tokelau 2013
  71. Vanuatu
  72. South America (3)
  73. Bolivia 2009
  74. Paraguay 1991
  75. Venezuela 1999

Unregistered cohabitation

Same-sex marriage is unregistered cohabitation in 2 regions.

  1. Asia (2)
  2. Macau
  3. Pakistan 1958

Not legal

Same-sex marriage is not legal in 73 regions.

  1. Asia (23)
  2. Afghanistan 1971
  3. Bahrain
  4. Bangladesh 1860
  5. Bhutan 2004
  6. Brunei 1951
  7. China 1982
  8. Indonesia
  9. Iran 1928
  10. Kazakhstan 2011
  11. Kuwait
  12. Lebanon
  13. Maldives
  14. Oman
  15. Philippines 1988
  16. Qatar 1915
  17. Saudi Arabia 1932
  18. Singapore
  19. Sri Lanka 1885
  20. Syria 1949
  21. Turkmenistan 1992
  22. United Arab Emirates
  23. Uzbekistan 1994
  24. Yemen 1994
  25. Europe (10)
  26. Azerbaijan
  27. Bulgaria 1991
  28. Georgia
  29. Latvia 2005
  30. Macedonia 2015
  31. Moldova 1994
  32. Monaco
  33. Montenegro 2007
  34. Poland
  35. Russia 1995
  36. North America (4)
  37. Bahamas
  38. Belize 2003
  39. Haiti
  40. Honduras 2005
  41. Africa (29)
  42. Algeria 1966
  43. Benin 1900
  44. Botswana 1964
  45. Cameroon 1967
  46. Central African Republic 2010
  47. Democratic Republic of the Congo 2006
  48. Eritrea 1957
  49. Ethiopia
  50. Gambia 2005
  51. Ghana 1960
  52. Guinea 1988
  53. Kenya 1902
  54. Lesotho 1966
  55. Liberia 1976
  56. Libya 1953
  57. Mauritania 1983
  58. Morocco
  59. Namibia
  60. Nigeria 2014
  61. Senegal 1966
  62. Sierra Leone 1861
  63. Somalia
  64. South Sudan 2011
  65. Sudan 1991
  66. Togo 1980
  67. Tunisia
  68. Uganda 1904
  69. Zambia 2010
  70. Zimbabwe 1964
  71. Oceania (5)
  72. Cook Islands 2000
  73. Fiji 2002
  74. Solomon Islands 1978
  75. Tonga 1998
  76. Tuvalu
  77. South America (2)
  78. Falkland Islands
  79. Guyana

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

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

  1. Asia (3)
  2. Nepal
  3. North Korea
  4. Palestine
  5. Antarctica (1)
  6. Antarctica

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