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
57
Somewhere in between
57 regions (29%)
Somewhere in between
101
Illegal
101 regions (51%)
Illegal
1
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (1%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
44%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
22 regions (44%)
Somewhere in between
15 regions (30%)
Illegal
13 regions (26%)
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
12 regions (22%)
Illegal
41 regions (76%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
Asia
7%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
3 regions (7%)
Somewhere in between
12 regions (27%)
Illegal
29 regions (66%)
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 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 6 regions.

  1. Europe (4)
  2. Bulgaria 2025
  3. Poland 2025
  4. Romania 2025
  5. Slovakia 2025
  6. Africa (1)
  7. Namibia 2023
  8. South America (1)
  9. 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 34 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 (11)
  22. Botswana
  23. Djibouti
  24. Equatorial Guinea
  25. Eritrea 1957
  26. Eswatini
  27. Lesotho
  28. Mauritius
  29. Sao Tome and Principe
  30. Seychelles
  31. Sudan
  32. Tunisia
  33. Oceania (5)
  34. Federated States of Micronesia
  35. Kiribati
  36. Papua New Guinea
  37. Samoa
  38. Solomon Islands
  39. South America (1)
  40. Guyana

Banned

Same-sex marriage is banned in 101 regions.

  1. Asia (29)
  2. Afghanistan 1949
  3. Bahrain
  4. Bangladesh 1860
  5. Brunei 1951
  6. Cambodia
  7. Indonesia 1974
  8. Iran
  9. Iraq 1959
  10. Jordan
  11. Kazakhstan 2011
  12. Kuwait 1984
  13. Kyrgyzstan 1996
  14. Laos 1990
  15. Lebanon
  16. Maldives 2015
  17. Mongolia 1992
  18. North Korea 1990
  19. Oman
  20. Qatar 1915
  21. Saudi Arabia 1932
  22. Singapore 2018
  23. Syria 1949
  24. Tajikistan 2008
  25. Timor-Leste 2011
  26. Turkmenistan
  27. United Arab Emirates
  28. Uzbekistan
  29. Vietnam 2015
  30. Yemen 1992
  31. Europe (13)
  32. Albania 2003
  33. Armenia 2004
  34. Azerbaijan
  35. Belarus 1996
  36. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  37. Georgia
  38. Moldova 1994
  39. North Macedonia 1992
  40. Russia 1995
  41. Serbia 2006
  42. Turkey
  43. Ukraine 1996
  44. Vatican City
  45. North America (8)
  46. Barbados 1979
  47. Dominican Republic 2010
  48. El Salvador 1858
  49. Guatemala 1963
  50. Honduras 1984
  51. Jamaica 2011
  52. Nicaragua 1987
  53. Panama 1972
  54. Africa (41)
  55. Algeria
  56. Angola 2019
  57. Benin 2002
  58. Burkina Faso 1991
  59. Burundi 2005
  60. Cameroon 1967
  61. Cape Verde 1968
  62. Central African Republic 2016
  63. Chad
  64. Comoros 2005
  65. Côte d’Ivoire 2019
  66. Democratic Republic of the Congo 2006
  67. Egypt
  68. Ethiopia 2009
  69. Gabon 2024
  70. Gambia 2005
  71. Ghana 1960
  72. Guinea 1988
  73. Guinea-Bissau
  74. Kenya 2010
  75. Liberia 1973
  76. Libya
  77. Madagascar 2007
  78. Malawi 2015
  79. Mali 2011
  80. Mauritania 1983
  81. Morocco 1958
  82. Mozambique 2004
  83. Niger 2025
  84. Nigeria 2014
  85. Republic of the Congo 1984
  86. Rwanda 2003
  87. Senegal 1989
  88. Sierra Leone 1861
  89. Somalia 1975
  90. South Sudan 2011
  91. Tanzania 1971
  92. Togo 1980
  93. Uganda 2023
  94. Zambia 2007
  95. Zimbabwe 2013
  96. Oceania (7)
  97. Fiji 2002
  98. Marshall Islands 1988
  99. Nauru 2018
  100. Palau 2008
  101. Tonga 1998
  102. Tuvalu 2023
  103. Vanuatu 2024
  104. South America (3)
  105. Paraguay 1992
  106. Peru 1984
  107. Venezuela 1999

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on same-sex marriage is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 1 regions.

  1. Antarctica (1)
  2. Antarctica N/A

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