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Same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage is legal in only 50 countries.

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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

Same-sex marriage

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

Summary

50
Legal
50 regions (22%)
Legal
108
Somewhere in between
108 regions (47%)
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
37%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
19 regions (37%)
Somewhere in between
24 regions (46%)
Illegal
9 regions (17%)
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
50%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
7 regions (50%)
Somewhere in between
6 regions (43%)
Illegal
1 regions (7%)
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
20 regions (44%)
Illegal
22 regions (48%)
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 50 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Taiwan 2019
  3. Europe (19)
  4. Austria 2019
  5. Belgium 2003
  6. Denmark 2012
  7. Faroe Islands 2017
  8. Finland 2018
  9. France 2013
  10. Germany 2017
  11. Iceland 2010
  12. Ireland 2015
  13. Isle of Man 2016
  14. Luxembourg 2014
  15. Malta 2017
  16. Netherlands 2001
  17. Norway 2009
  18. Portugal 2010
  19. Spain 2005
  20. Sweden 2009
  21. Switzerland 2021
  22. United Kingdom 2020
  23. North America (9)
  24. Aruba 2010
  25. Canada 2005
  26. Costa Rica 2020
  27. Greenland 2015
  28. Martinique
  29. Mexico 2009
  30. Saint Pierre and Miquelon 2013
  31. Sint Maarten 2010
  32. United States 2015
  33. Africa (5)
  34. British Indian Ocean Territory
  35. Mayotte 2013
  36. Réunion 2013
  37. Saint Helena 2017
  38. South Africa 2006
  39. Oceania (9)
  40. Australia 2017
  41. Christmas Island 2017
  42. Cocos (Keeling) Islands
  43. French Polynesia 2013
  44. New Caledonia 2013
  45. New Zealand 2013
  46. Norfolk Island 2017
  47. Pitcairn Islands 2015
  48. Wallis and Futuna 2013
  49. South America (7)
  50. Argentina 2010
  51. Brazil 2013
  52. Colombia 2016
  53. Ecuador 2019
  54. Falkland Islands 2017
  55. French Guiana 2013
  56. Uruguay 2013

Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only

Same-sex marriage is foreign same-sex marriages recognized only in 18 regions.

  1. Asia (2)
  2. Hong Kong 2017
  3. Israel 2006
  4. Europe (2)
  5. Armenia
  6. Lithuania
  7. North America (12)
  8. Anguilla
  9. Antigua and Barbuda
  10. Barbados 2018
  11. Curaçao 2010
  12. Dominica
  13. Grenada
  14. Jamaica
  15. Montserrat 2010
  16. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  17. Saint Lucia
  18. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  19. Turks and Caicos Islands 2011
  20. Oceania (1)
  21. Samoa
  22. South America (1)
  23. 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 70 regions.

  1. Asia (16)
  2. Cambodia
  3. India 2013
  4. Indonesia
  5. Iraq 2003
  6. Japan 1947
  7. Jordan
  8. Kyrgyzstan 1996
  9. Laos 1990
  10. Mongolia 1992
  11. Myanmar 1886
  12. Philippines 1988
  13. South Korea 1948
  14. Tajikistan 2008
  15. Thailand 1932
  16. Timor-Leste
  17. Vietnam 2013
  18. Europe (10)
  19. Albania 2010
  20. Belarus 1996
  21. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  22. Kosovo
  23. Romania
  24. Serbia
  25. Slovakia
  26. Turkey 1923
  27. Ukraine
  28. Vatican City 1929
  29. North America (7)
  30. British Virgin Islands
  31. Cuba 1975
  32. Dominican Republic 1944
  33. Guatemala 1995
  34. Nicaragua 1987
  35. Panama 1972
  36. Trinidad and Tobago 1924
  37. Africa (25)
  38. Angola 2019
  39. Burkina Faso 1991
  40. Burundi 2005
  41. Cape Verde
  42. Chad
  43. Comoros
  44. Côte d’Ivoire
  45. Djibouti
  46. Egypt
  47. Equatorial Guinea
  48. Eswatini
  49. Gabon 1963
  50. Guinea-Bissau 1993
  51. Madagascar
  52. Malawi
  53. Mali 2011
  54. Mauritius
  55. Mozambique 2004
  56. Niger
  57. Republic of the Congo
  58. Rwanda
  59. Sao Tome and Principe
  60. Seychelles
  61. Tanzania 1971
  62. Western Sahara
  63. Oceania (9)
  64. Federated States of Micronesia
  65. Kiribati
  66. Marshall Islands
  67. Nauru
  68. Niue
  69. Palau 2008
  70. Papua New Guinea
  71. Tokelau 2013
  72. Vanuatu
  73. South America (3)
  74. Bolivia 2009
  75. Paraguay 1991
  76. 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 70 regions.

  1. Asia (22)
  2. Afghanistan 1971
  3. Bahrain
  4. Bangladesh 1860
  5. Bhutan 2004
  6. Brunei 1951
  7. China 1982
  8. Iran 1928
  9. Kazakhstan 2011
  10. Kuwait
  11. Lebanon
  12. Malaysia 1826
  13. Maldives
  14. Oman
  15. Qatar 1915
  16. Saudi Arabia 1932
  17. Singapore
  18. Sri Lanka 1885
  19. Syria 1949
  20. Turkmenistan 1992
  21. United Arab Emirates
  22. Uzbekistan 1994
  23. Yemen 1994
  24. Europe (9)
  25. Azerbaijan
  26. Bulgaria 1991
  27. Georgia
  28. Latvia 2005
  29. Moldova 1994
  30. Monaco
  31. North Macedonia 2015
  32. Poland
  33. Russia 1995
  34. North America (4)
  35. Bahamas
  36. Belize 2003
  37. Haiti
  38. Honduras 2005
  39. Africa (29)
  40. Algeria 1966
  41. Benin 1900
  42. Botswana 1964
  43. Cameroon 1967
  44. Central African Republic 2010
  45. Democratic Republic of the Congo 2006
  46. Eritrea 1957
  47. Ethiopia
  48. Gambia 2005
  49. Ghana 1960
  50. Guinea 1988
  51. Kenya 1902
  52. Lesotho 1966
  53. Liberia 1976
  54. Libya 1953
  55. Mauritania 1983
  56. Morocco
  57. Namibia
  58. Nigeria 2014
  59. Senegal 1966
  60. Sierra Leone 1861
  61. Somalia
  62. South Sudan 2011
  63. Sudan 1991
  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 16 regions.

  1. Europe (12)
  2. Andorra 2014
  3. Croatia 2014
  4. Cyprus 2015
  5. Czech Republic 2006
  6. Estonia 2016
  7. Greece 2015
  8. Hungary 2009
  9. Italy 2016
  10. Liechtenstein 2011
  11. Montenegro 2021
  12. San Marino 2018
  13. Slovenia 2017
  14. North America (3)
  15. Bermuda 2018
  16. Cayman Islands 2020
  17. Guadeloupe 1991
  18. South America (1)
  19. Chile 2015

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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