Same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage is legal in only 38 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

38
Legal
38 regions (19%)
Legal
48
Somewhere in between
48 regions (24%)
Somewhere in between
110
Illegal
110 regions (56%)
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
13 regions (26%)
Illegal
15 regions (30%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
Oceania
14%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
2 regions (14%)
Somewhere in between
4 regions (29%)
Illegal
8 regions (57%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
South America
50%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
6 regions (50%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (17%)
Illegal
4 regions (33%)
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
12 regions (22%)
Illegal
41 regions (76%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
Asia
5%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
2 regions (5%)
Somewhere in between
9 regions (21%)
Illegal
32 regions (73%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)

Timeline of same-sex marriage

Number of countries to legalize same-sex marriage over the past 25 years.

Recent Changes

2025

2024

2023

Same-sex marriage by Country

Legal

Same-sex marriage is legal in 38 regions.

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

Civil unions (marriage rights)

Same-sex marriage is civil unions (marriage rights) in 8 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Israel 2022
  3. Europe (6)
  4. Croatia 2014
  5. Cyprus 2015
  6. Czechia 2025
  7. Hungary 2009
  8. Italy 2016
  9. San Marino 2018
  10. South America (1)
  11. 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 3 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. South Korea 2019
  3. Africa (1)
  4. Namibia 2023
  5. South America (1)
  6. Suriname 2025

Unregistered cohabitation

Same-sex marriage is unregistered cohabitation in 3 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. India 2023
  3. Europe (2)
  4. Poland 2012
  5. Slovakia 2018

Unrecognized

Same-sex marriage is unrecognized in 29 regions.

  1. Asia (5)
  2. Bhutan
  3. Myanmar
  4. Pakistan
  5. Palestine
  6. Sri Lanka
  7. Europe (1)
  8. Kosovo 2006
  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. Trinidad and Tobago
  18. Africa (11)
  19. Botswana
  20. Djibouti
  21. Equatorial Guinea
  22. Eritrea 1957
  23. Eswatini
  24. Mauritius
  25. Morocco
  26. Niger
  27. Sao Tome and Principe
  28. Seychelles
  29. Tunisia
  30. Oceania (4)
  31. Federated States of Micronesia
  32. Kiribati
  33. Papua New Guinea
  34. Samoa

Banned

Same-sex marriage is banned in 110 regions.

  1. Asia (32)
  2. Afghanistan 1971
  3. Bahrain
  4. Bangladesh 1860
  5. Brunei 1951
  6. Cambodia
  7. Indonesia 1984
  8. Iran 1979
  9. Iraq
  10. Japan 1947
  11. Jordan
  12. Kazakhstan 2011
  13. Kuwait
  14. Kyrgyzstan 1996
  15. Laos 1990
  16. Lebanon
  17. Malaysia 1826
  18. Maldives
  19. Mongolia 1992
  20. North Korea 1990
  21. Oman
  22. Philippines 1988
  23. Qatar 1915
  24. Saudi Arabia
  25. Singapore 2018
  26. Syria 1949
  27. Tajikistan 2008
  28. Timor-Leste 2011
  29. Turkmenistan
  30. United Arab Emirates
  31. Uzbekistan
  32. Vietnam 2015
  33. Yemen 1994
  34. Europe (15)
  35. Albania 2003
  36. Armenia 2004
  37. Azerbaijan
  38. Belarus 1996
  39. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  40. Bulgaria 1991
  41. Georgia
  42. Moldova 1994
  43. North Macedonia 1992
  44. Romania 2009
  45. Russia 1995
  46. Serbia 2006
  47. Turkey
  48. Ukraine 1996
  49. Vatican City
  50. North America (10)
  51. Bahamas
  52. Barbados 1979
  53. Dominican Republic 2010
  54. El Salvador 1858
  55. Guatemala 1963
  56. Honduras 1984
  57. Jamaica 2011
  58. Nicaragua 1987
  59. Panama 1994
  60. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  61. Africa (41)
  62. Algeria 1966
  63. Angola 2019
  64. Benin 2002
  65. Burkina Faso 1991
  66. Burundi 2005
  67. Cameroon 1967
  68. Cape Verde 1968
  69. Central African Republic 2016
  70. Chad
  71. Comoros 2005
  72. Côte d’Ivoire 2019
  73. Democratic Republic of the Congo 2006
  74. Egypt
  75. Ethiopia 2009
  76. Gabon 2024
  77. Gambia 2005
  78. Ghana 1960
  79. Guinea 1988
  80. Guinea-Bissau
  81. Kenya 2010
  82. Lesotho 1966
  83. Liberia 1973
  84. Libya 1953
  85. Madagascar 2007
  86. Malawi 2015
  87. Mali 2011
  88. Mauritania 1983
  89. Mozambique 2004
  90. Nigeria 2014
  91. Republic of the Congo 1984
  92. Rwanda 2003
  93. Senegal 1989
  94. Sierra Leone 1861
  95. Somalia 1975
  96. South Sudan 2011
  97. Sudan 1991
  98. Tanzania 1971
  99. Togo 1980
  100. Uganda 2023
  101. Zambia 2007
  102. Zimbabwe 2013
  103. Oceania (8)
  104. Fiji 2002
  105. Marshall Islands 1988
  106. Nauru 2018
  107. Palau 2008
  108. Solomon Islands 1978
  109. Tonga 1998
  110. Tuvalu 2023
  111. Vanuatu 2024
  112. South America (4)
  113. Guyana
  114. Paraguay 1992
  115. Peru 1993
  116. Venezuela 1999

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

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

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Nepal Ambiguous
  3. Antarctica (1)
  4. Antarctica N/A

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