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
55
Somewhere in between
55 regions (28%)
Somewhere in between
103
Illegal
103 regions (52%)
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
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
10 regions (44%)
Illegal
8 regions (35%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
Africa
2%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
14 regions (26%)
Illegal
39 regions (72%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
Asia
5%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
2 regions (5%)
Somewhere in between
10 regions (23%)
Illegal
31 regions (71%)
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 36 regions.

  1. Asia (6)
  2. Bhutan
  3. Malaysia
  4. Myanmar
  5. Pakistan
  6. Palestine
  7. Sri Lanka
  8. Europe (1)
  9. Kosovo 2006
  10. North America (10)
  11. Antigua and Barbuda
  12. Bahamas
  13. Belize
  14. Dominica
  15. Grenada
  16. Haiti
  17. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  18. Saint Lucia
  19. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  20. Trinidad and Tobago
  21. Africa (13)
  22. Botswana
  23. Djibouti
  24. Equatorial Guinea
  25. Eritrea 1957
  26. Eswatini
  27. Lesotho
  28. Mauritius
  29. Morocco
  30. Niger
  31. Sao Tome and Principe
  32. Seychelles
  33. Sudan
  34. Tunisia
  35. Oceania (5)
  36. Federated States of Micronesia
  37. Kiribati
  38. Papua New Guinea
  39. Samoa
  40. Solomon Islands
  41. South America (1)
  42. Guyana

Banned

Same-sex marriage is banned in 103 regions.

  1. Asia (31)
  2. Afghanistan 1949
  3. Bahrain
  4. Bangladesh 1860
  5. Brunei 1951
  6. Cambodia
  7. Indonesia 1974
  8. Iran
  9. Iraq 1959
  10. Japan 1947
  11. Jordan
  12. Kazakhstan 2011
  13. Kuwait 1984
  14. Kyrgyzstan 1996
  15. Laos 1990
  16. Lebanon
  17. Maldives 2015
  18. Mongolia 1992
  19. North Korea 1990
  20. Oman
  21. Philippines 1988
  22. Qatar 1915
  23. Saudi Arabia
  24. Singapore 2018
  25. Syria 1949
  26. Tajikistan 2008
  27. Timor-Leste 2011
  28. Turkmenistan
  29. United Arab Emirates
  30. Uzbekistan
  31. Vietnam 2015
  32. Yemen 1994
  33. Europe (15)
  34. Albania 2003
  35. Armenia 2004
  36. Azerbaijan
  37. Belarus 1996
  38. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  39. Bulgaria 1991
  40. Georgia
  41. Moldova 1994
  42. North Macedonia 1992
  43. Romania 2009
  44. Russia 1995
  45. Serbia 2006
  46. Turkey
  47. Ukraine 1996
  48. Vatican City
  49. North America (8)
  50. Barbados 1979
  51. Dominican Republic 2010
  52. El Salvador 1858
  53. Guatemala 1963
  54. Honduras 1984
  55. Jamaica 2011
  56. Nicaragua 1987
  57. Panama 1972
  58. Africa (39)
  59. Algeria
  60. Angola 2019
  61. Benin 2002
  62. Burkina Faso 1991
  63. Burundi 2005
  64. Cameroon 1967
  65. Cape Verde 1968
  66. Central African Republic 2016
  67. Chad
  68. Comoros 2005
  69. Côte d’Ivoire 2019
  70. Democratic Republic of the Congo 2006
  71. Egypt
  72. Ethiopia 2009
  73. Gabon 2024
  74. Gambia 2005
  75. Ghana 1960
  76. Guinea 1988
  77. Guinea-Bissau
  78. Kenya 2010
  79. Liberia 1973
  80. Libya
  81. Madagascar 2007
  82. Malawi 2015
  83. Mali 2011
  84. Mauritania 1983
  85. Mozambique 2004
  86. Nigeria 2014
  87. Republic of the Congo 1984
  88. Rwanda 2003
  89. Senegal 1989
  90. Sierra Leone 1861
  91. Somalia 1975
  92. South Sudan 2011
  93. Tanzania 1971
  94. Togo 1980
  95. Uganda 2023
  96. Zambia 2007
  97. Zimbabwe 2013
  98. Oceania (7)
  99. Fiji 2002
  100. Marshall Islands 1988
  101. Nauru 2018
  102. Palau 2008
  103. Tonga 1998
  104. Tuvalu 2023
  105. Vanuatu 2024
  106. South America (3)
  107. Paraguay 1992
  108. Peru 1984
  109. 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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