Same-sex adoption

It's legal for same-sex couples to adopt children in 39 countries.

DATE

Same-sex adoption

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

Summary

39
Legal
39 regions (20%)
Legal
47
Somewhere in between
47 regions (24%)
Somewhere in between
53
Illegal
53 regions (27%)
Illegal
59
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
59 regions (30%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
48%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
24 regions (48%)
Somewhere in between
17 regions (34%)
Illegal
8 regions (16%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
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
4 regions (17%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
9 regions (39%)
Africa
2%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
10 regions (19%)
Illegal
20 regions (37%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
23 regions (43%)
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 61 years.

Recent Changes

2025

2024

2023

2022

Same-sex adoption by Country

Legal

Same-sex adoption is legal in 39 regions.

  1. Asia (3)
  2. Israel 2023
  3. Taiwan 2023
  4. Thailand 2025
  5. Europe (24)
  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. Moldova
  22. Netherlands 2000
  23. Norway 2009
  24. Portugal 2016
  25. Slovenia 2022
  26. Spain 2005
  27. Sweden 2002
  28. Switzerland 2022
  29. United Kingdom 2003
  30. North America (4)
  31. Canada 2011
  32. Costa Rica 2020
  33. Cuba 2022
  34. United States 2017
  35. Africa (1)
  36. South Africa 2010
  37. Oceania (2)
  38. Australia 2018
  39. New Zealand 2013
  40. South America (5)
  41. Argentina 2010
  42. Brazil 2015
  43. Chile 2022
  44. Colombia 2015
  45. Uruguay 2009

Second parent adoption only

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

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

Single only

Same-sex adoption is single only in 44 regions.

  1. Asia (12)
  2. China 2018
  3. India
  4. Lebanon
  5. Malaysia 1826
  6. Myanmar
  7. Palestine
  8. Philippines
  9. Singapore
  10. Syria
  11. Timor-Leste
  12. Turkmenistan 2020
  13. Vietnam 2000
  14. Europe (14)
  15. Albania 2003
  16. Armenia
  17. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  18. Bulgaria
  19. Cyprus
  20. Kosovo 2006
  21. Latvia
  22. Lithuania
  23. North Macedonia
  24. Romania 2023
  25. Russia 2023
  26. Slovakia 2017
  27. Turkey
  28. Ukraine 2016
  29. North America (6)
  30. Barbados
  31. Dominican Republic
  32. El Salvador
  33. Guatemala 2007
  34. Haiti 2013
  35. Trinidad and Tobago 1947
  36. Africa (10)
  37. Algeria 1966
  38. Angola
  39. Botswana
  40. Côte d’Ivoire
  41. Equatorial Guinea 2021
  42. Eswatini 1968
  43. Ghana
  44. Mauritius
  45. Mozambique
  46. Nigeria
  47. South America (2)
  48. Peru
  49. Venezuela 2006

Illegal

Same-sex adoption is illegal in 53 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 (8)
  21. Azerbaijan 1999
  22. Belarus
  23. Georgia 2024
  24. Hungary 2020
  25. Monaco
  26. Montenegro 2007
  27. Poland 2021
  28. Serbia 2005
  29. North America (4)
  30. Antigua and Barbuda 2016
  31. Honduras 2018
  32. Nicaragua
  33. Panama 2021
  34. Africa (20)
  35. Benin 2015
  36. Cameroon
  37. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  38. Djibouti 2017
  39. Egypt
  40. Ethiopia 2018
  41. Kenya 2002
  42. Lesotho 1966
  43. Libya
  44. Madagascar 2005
  45. Mali 2011
  46. Mauritania 1983
  47. Morocco
  48. Namibia
  49. Niger
  50. Rwanda
  51. Seychelles
  52. Tanzania
  53. Uganda
  54. Zambia
  55. Oceania (2)
  56. Fiji
  57. Tonga 2013
  58. South America (1)
  59. Paraguay 2020

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on same-sex adoption is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 59 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 (1)
  14. Vatican City N/A
  15. North America (9)
  16. Bahamas
  17. Belize
  18. Dominica
  19. Grenada
  20. Jamaica
  21. Mexico Varies by Region
  22. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  23. Saint Lucia
  24. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  25. Africa (23)
  26. Burkina Faso
  27. Burundi
  28. Cape Verde
  29. Central African Republic
  30. Chad
  31. Comoros
  32. Eritrea
  33. Gabon
  34. Gambia
  35. Guinea
  36. Guinea-Bissau
  37. Liberia
  38. Malawi
  39. Republic of the Congo
  40. Sao Tome and Principe
  41. Senegal
  42. Sierra Leone
  43. Somalia
  44. South Sudan
  45. Sudan
  46. Togo
  47. Tunisia
  48. Zimbabwe
  49. Oceania (10)
  50. Federated States of Micronesia
  51. Kiribati
  52. Marshall Islands
  53. Nauru
  54. Palau
  55. Papua New Guinea
  56. Samoa
  57. Solomon Islands
  58. Tuvalu
  59. Vanuatu
  60. South America (4)
  61. Bolivia Ambiguous
  62. Ecuador Ambiguous
  63. Guyana
  64. Suriname
  65. Antarctica (1)
  66. Antarctica N/A

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