Same-sex adoption

It's legal for same-sex couples to adopt children in 38 countries.

DATE

Same-sex adoption

The ability for same-sex couples to legally adopt a child.

Summary

38
Legal
38 regions (19%)
Legal
48
Somewhere in between
48 regions (24%)
Somewhere in between
50
Illegal
50 regions (25%)
Illegal
62
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
62 regions (31%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
46%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
23 regions (46%)
Somewhere in between
18 regions (36%)
Illegal
7 regions (14%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (4%)
Oceania
14%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
2 regions (14%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
2 regions (14%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
10 regions (71%)
South America
42%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
5 regions (42%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (17%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
4 regions (33%)
North America
17%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
4 regions (17%)
Somewhere in between
6 regions (26%)
Illegal
3 regions (13%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
10 regions (44%)
Africa
2%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
10 regions (19%)
Illegal
19 regions (35%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
24 regions (44%)
Asia
7%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
3 regions (7%)
Somewhere in between
12 regions (27%)
Illegal
18 regions (41%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (25%)

Timeline of same-sex adoption

Number of countries to legalize same-sex adoption over the past 31 years.

Recent Changes

2025

2024

2023

2022

Same-sex adoption by Country

Legal

Same-sex adoption is legal in 38 regions.

  1. Asia (3)
  2. Israel 2023
  3. Taiwan 2023
  4. Thailand 2025
  5. Europe (23)
  6. Andorra 2014
  7. Austria 2015
  8. Belgium 2006
  9. Croatia 2022
  10. Denmark 2009
  11. Estonia 2024
  12. Finland 2017
  13. France 2013
  14. Germany 2017
  15. Greece 2024
  16. Iceland 2006
  17. Ireland 2015
  18. Liechtenstein 2023
  19. Luxembourg 2015
  20. Malta 2014
  21. Netherlands 2000
  22. Norway 2009
  23. Portugal 2016
  24. Slovenia 2022
  25. Spain 2005
  26. Sweden 2002
  27. Switzerland 2022
  28. United Kingdom 2002
  29. North America (4)
  30. Canada 1995
  31. Costa Rica 2020
  32. Cuba 2022
  33. United States 2017
  34. Africa (1)
  35. South Africa 2010
  36. Oceania (2)
  37. Australia 2018
  38. New Zealand 2013
  39. South America (5)
  40. Argentina 2010
  41. Brazil 2015
  42. Chile 2022
  43. Colombia 2015
  44. Uruguay 2009

Second parent adoption only

Same-sex adoption is second parent adoption only in 3 regions.

  1. Europe (3)
  2. Czech Republic 2025
  3. Italy 2016
  4. San Marino 2018

Single only

Same-sex adoption is single only in 45 regions.

  1. Asia (12)
  2. China 2018
  3. India
  4. Lebanon
  5. Malaysia 1826
  6. Myanmar 2016
  7. Palestine
  8. Philippines
  9. Singapore
  10. Syria
  11. Timor-Leste
  12. Turkmenistan 2020
  13. Vietnam 2000
  14. Europe (15)
  15. Albania 2003
  16. Armenia
  17. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  18. Bulgaria
  19. Cyprus
  20. Georgia
  21. Kosovo 2006
  22. Latvia
  23. Lithuania
  24. North Macedonia
  25. Romania 2023
  26. Russia 2023
  27. Slovakia 2017
  28. Turkey
  29. Ukraine 2016
  30. North America (6)
  31. Barbados
  32. Dominican Republic
  33. El Salvador
  34. Guatemala 2007
  35. Haiti
  36. Trinidad and Tobago 1947
  37. Africa (10)
  38. Algeria 1966
  39. Angola
  40. Botswana
  41. Côte d’Ivoire
  42. Equatorial Guinea 2021
  43. Eswatini 1968
  44. Ghana
  45. Mauritius
  46. Mozambique
  47. Nigeria
  48. South America (2)
  49. Peru
  50. Venezuela 2006

Illegal

Same-sex adoption is illegal in 50 regions.

  1. Asia (18)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Bahrain
  4. Bangladesh
  5. Brunei 1951
  6. Iran
  7. Iraq
  8. Jordan
  9. Kazakhstan
  10. North Korea
  11. Oman 1979
  12. Pakistan
  13. Qatar 1915
  14. South Korea
  15. Sri Lanka
  16. Tajikistan
  17. United Arab Emirates
  18. Uzbekistan
  19. Yemen
  20. Europe (7)
  21. Azerbaijan 1999
  22. Belarus
  23. Hungary 2020
  24. Monaco
  25. Montenegro 2007
  26. Poland 2021
  27. Serbia 2005
  28. North America (3)
  29. Antigua and Barbuda 2016
  30. Honduras 2018
  31. Panama 2021
  32. Africa (19)
  33. Cameroon
  34. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  35. Djibouti 2017
  36. Egypt
  37. Ethiopia 2018
  38. Kenya 2002
  39. Lesotho 1966
  40. Libya
  41. Madagascar 2005
  42. Mali 2011
  43. Mauritania 1983
  44. Morocco
  45. Namibia
  46. Niger
  47. Rwanda
  48. Seychelles
  49. Tanzania
  50. Uganda
  51. Zambia
  52. Oceania (2)
  53. Fiji
  54. Tonga 2013
  55. South America (1)
  56. Paraguay 2020

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on same-sex adoption is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 62 regions.

  1. Asia (11)
  2. Bhutan
  3. Cambodia Ambiguous
  4. Indonesia Ambiguous
  5. Japan Ambiguous
  6. Kuwait N/A
  7. Kyrgyzstan
  8. Laos Ambiguous
  9. Maldives
  10. Mongolia
  11. Nepal
  12. Saudi Arabia N/A
  13. Europe (2)
  14. Moldova
  15. Vatican City N/A
  16. North America (10)
  17. Bahamas
  18. Belize
  19. Dominica
  20. Grenada
  21. Jamaica
  22. Mexico Varies by Region
  23. Nicaragua
  24. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  25. Saint Lucia
  26. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  27. Africa (24)
  28. Benin
  29. Burkina Faso
  30. Burundi
  31. Cape Verde
  32. Central African Republic
  33. Chad
  34. Comoros
  35. Eritrea
  36. Gabon
  37. Gambia
  38. Guinea
  39. Guinea-Bissau
  40. Liberia
  41. Malawi
  42. Republic of the Congo
  43. Sao Tome and Principe
  44. Senegal
  45. Sierra Leone
  46. Somalia
  47. South Sudan
  48. Sudan
  49. Togo
  50. Tunisia
  51. Zimbabwe
  52. Oceania (10)
  53. Federated States of Micronesia
  54. Kiribati
  55. Marshall Islands
  56. Nauru
  57. Palau
  58. Papua New Guinea
  59. Samoa
  60. Solomon Islands
  61. Tuvalu
  62. Vanuatu
  63. South America (4)
  64. Bolivia Ambiguous
  65. Ecuador Ambiguous
  66. Guyana
  67. Suriname
  68. Antarctica (1)
  69. Antarctica N/A

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