Same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage is legal in only 39 countries.

DATE

Same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage represents a critical milestone in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, allowing couples of the same sex to legally marry and receive the same marital benefits as heterosexual couples. The journey towards legalization has been varied across the globe, influenced by cultural, religious, and political factors. In some regions, the push for marriage equality has gained significant traction and achieved legal recognition, often after prolonged public and legal battles.

While full marriage equality is celebrated in many places, an alternative approach through civil unions or domestic partnerships persists in others. These frameworks typically grant a subset of rights that marriage offers, focusing on aspects like property rights or hospital visitation. However, they often fall short in areas such as inheritance, pension rights, and parental responsibilities, highlighting a gap in the legal recognition of relationships.

The acceptance and implementation of same-sex marriage have brought substantial legal benefits, including inheritance rights, tax reductions, and enhanced health insurance options, which are pivotal for the security and well-being of families. This progress often results from shifting public attitudes and the dedicated efforts of human rights advocates.

Summary

39
Legal
39 regions (20%)
Legal
49
Somewhere in between
49 regions (25%)
Somewhere in between
108
Illegal
108 regions (55%)
Illegal
2
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (1%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
44%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
22 regions (44%)
Somewhere in between
12 regions (24%)
Illegal
15 regions (30%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Oceania
14%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
2 regions (14%)
Somewhere in between
5 regions (36%)
Illegal
7 regions (50%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
South America
50%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
6 regions (50%)
Somewhere in between
3 regions (25%)
Illegal
3 regions (25%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
North America
22%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
5 regions (22%)
Somewhere in between
8 regions (35%)
Illegal
10 regions (44%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
Africa
2%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
8 regions (15%)
Illegal
45 regions (83%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
Asia
7%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
3 regions (7%)
Somewhere in between
13 regions (30%)
Illegal
28 regions (64%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)

Timeline of same-sex marriage

Number of countries to legalize same-sex marriage over the past 26 years.

Recent Changes

2026

2025

2024

Same-sex marriage by Country

Legal

Same-sex marriage is legal in 39 regions.

  1. Asia (3)
  2. Nepal 2026
  3. Taiwan 2019
  4. Thailand 2025
  5. Europe (22)
  6. Andorra 2023
  7. Austria 2019
  8. Belgium 2003
  9. Denmark 2012
  10. Estonia 2024
  11. Finland 2017
  12. France 2013
  13. Germany 2017
  14. Greece 2024
  15. Iceland 2010
  16. Ireland 2015
  17. Liechtenstein 2025
  18. Luxembourg 2015
  19. Malta 2017
  20. Netherlands 2001
  21. Norway 2009
  22. Portugal 2010
  23. Slovenia 2022
  24. Spain 2005
  25. Sweden 2009
  26. Switzerland 2022
  27. United Kingdom 2020
  28. North America (5)
  29. Canada 2005
  30. Costa Rica 2020
  31. Cuba 2022
  32. Mexico 2022
  33. United States 2015
  34. Africa (1)
  35. South Africa 2006
  36. Oceania (2)
  37. Australia 2017
  38. New Zealand 2013
  39. South America (6)
  40. Argentina 2010
  41. Brazil 2013
  42. Chile 2022
  43. Colombia 2016
  44. Ecuador 2019
  45. Uruguay 2013

Civil unions (marriage rights)

Same-sex marriage is civil unions (marriage rights) in 7 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Israel 2022
  3. Europe (5)
  4. Croatia 2014
  5. Czechia 2025
  6. Hungary 2009
  7. Italy 2016
  8. San Marino 2018
  9. South America (1)
  10. Bolivia 2020

Civil unions (limited rights)

Same-sex marriage is civil unions (limited rights) in 4 regions.

  1. Europe (4)
  2. Latvia 2024
  3. Lithuania 2025
  4. Monaco 2020
  5. Montenegro 2021

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 5 regions.

  1. Europe (3)
  2. Bulgaria 2025
  3. Poland 2026
  4. Romania 2025
  5. Africa (1)
  6. Namibia 2023
  7. South America (1)
  8. Suriname 2025

Unregistered cohabitation

Same-sex marriage is unregistered cohabitation in 4 regions.

  1. Asia (4)
  2. India 2023
  3. Japan 2024
  4. Philippines 2026
  5. South Korea 2023

Unrecognized

Same-sex marriage is unrecognized in 28 regions.

  1. Asia (7)
  2. Bangladesh
  3. Bhutan
  4. Brunei
  5. Myanmar
  6. Pakistan
  7. Palestine
  8. Sri Lanka
  9. North America (8)
  10. Antigua and Barbuda
  11. Belize
  12. Dominica
  13. Grenada
  14. Haiti
  15. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  16. Saint Lucia
  17. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  18. Africa (7)
  19. Botswana
  20. Equatorial Guinea
  21. Eswatini
  22. Lesotho
  23. Mauritius
  24. Sudan
  25. Tunisia
  26. Oceania (5)
  27. Federated States of Micronesia
  28. Kiribati
  29. Papua New Guinea
  30. Samoa
  31. Solomon Islands
  32. South America (1)
  33. Guyana

Banned

Same-sex marriage is banned in 108 regions.

  1. Asia (28)
  2. Afghanistan 1949
  3. Bahrain
  4. Cambodia
  5. Indonesia 1974
  6. Iran
  7. Iraq 1959
  8. Jordan
  9. Kazakhstan 2011
  10. Kuwait 1984
  11. Kyrgyzstan 1996
  12. Laos 1990
  13. Lebanon
  14. Malaysia 1982
  15. Maldives 2015
  16. Mongolia 1992
  17. North Korea 1990
  18. Oman
  19. Qatar 1915
  20. Saudi Arabia 1932
  21. Singapore 2018
  22. Syria 1949
  23. Tajikistan 2008
  24. Timor-Leste 2011
  25. Turkmenistan
  26. United Arab Emirates
  27. Uzbekistan
  28. Vietnam 2015
  29. Yemen 1992
  30. Europe (15)
  31. Albania 2003
  32. Armenia 2004
  33. Azerbaijan 1999
  34. Belarus 1996
  35. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2007
  36. Georgia
  37. Kosovo 2006
  38. Moldova 1994
  39. North Macedonia 1992
  40. Russia 1995
  41. Serbia 2006
  42. Slovakia 2026
  43. Turkey
  44. Ukraine 1996
  45. Vatican City
  46. North America (10)
  47. Bahamas 1983
  48. Barbados 1979
  49. Dominican Republic 2010
  50. El Salvador 1858
  51. Guatemala 1963
  52. Honduras 1984
  53. Jamaica 2011
  54. Nicaragua 1987
  55. Panama 1972
  56. Trinidad and Tobago 1973
  57. Africa (45)
  58. Algeria 1984
  59. Angola 1988
  60. Benin 2002
  61. Burkina Faso 1991
  62. Burundi 2005
  63. Cameroon
  64. Cape Verde
  65. Central African Republic 2016
  66. Chad
  67. Comoros 2005
  68. Côte d’Ivoire
  69. Democratic Republic of the Congo 2006
  70. Djibouti 2002
  71. Egypt
  72. Eritrea 1991
  73. Ethiopia 2009
  74. Gabon 2024
  75. Gambia 2005
  76. Ghana 1960
  77. Guinea 1988
  78. Guinea-Bissau
  79. Kenya 2010
  80. Liberia 1973
  81. Libya
  82. Madagascar 2007
  83. Malawi 2015
  84. Mali 2011
  85. Mauritania 1983
  86. Morocco 1958
  87. Mozambique 2004
  88. Niger 2025
  89. Nigeria 2014
  90. Republic of the Congo 1984
  91. Rwanda 2003
  92. Sao Tome and Principe 1977
  93. Senegal 1989
  94. Seychelles 2021
  95. Sierra Leone 1861
  96. Somalia 1975
  97. South Sudan 2011
  98. Tanzania 1971
  99. Togo 1980
  100. Uganda 2023
  101. Zambia 2007
  102. Zimbabwe 2013
  103. Oceania (7)
  104. Fiji 2002
  105. Marshall Islands 1988
  106. Nauru 2018
  107. Palau 2008
  108. Tonga 1998
  109. Tuvalu 2023
  110. Vanuatu 2024
  111. South America (3)
  112. Paraguay 1992
  113. Peru 1984
  114. Venezuela 1999

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on same-sex marriage is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 2 regions.

  1. Europe (1)
  2. Cyprus Varies by Region
  3. Antarctica (1)
  4. Antarctica N/A

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