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
99
Somewhere in between
99 regions (50%)
Somewhere in between
46
Illegal
46 regions (23%)
Illegal
14
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
14 regions (7%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
46%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
23 regions (46%)
Somewhere in between
19 regions (38%)
Illegal
7 regions (14%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Oceania
14%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
2 regions (14%)
Somewhere in between
9 regions (64%)
Illegal
2 regions (14%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (7%)
South America
42%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
5 regions (42%)
Somewhere in between
4 regions (33%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (17%)
North America
17%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
4 regions (17%)
Somewhere in between
16 regions (70%)
Illegal
2 regions (9%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (4%)
Africa
4%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
2 regions (4%)
Somewhere in between
34 regions (63%)
Illegal
17 regions (32%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Asia
7%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
3 regions (7%)
Somewhere in between
17 regions (39%)
Illegal
17 regions (39%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
7 regions (16%)

Timeline of same-sex adoption

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

Recent Changes

2025

2024

2023

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 (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 (2)
  35. Namibia 2023
  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. Czech Republic 2025
  3. Italy 2016
  4. San Marino 2018

Single only

Same-sex adoption is single only in 96 regions.

  1. Asia (17)
  2. Bhutan
  3. China 2018
  4. India
  5. Kazakhstan 2024
  6. Kyrgyzstan 2005
  7. Lebanon
  8. Malaysia 1826
  9. Maldives
  10. Mongolia 2017
  11. Myanmar 2016
  12. Nepal 2017
  13. Palestine
  14. Philippines
  15. Singapore
  16. Timor-Leste
  17. Turkmenistan 2020
  18. Vietnam 2000
  19. Europe (16)
  20. Albania 2003
  21. Armenia
  22. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  23. Bulgaria
  24. Cyprus
  25. Georgia
  26. Kosovo 2006
  27. Latvia
  28. Lithuania
  29. Moldova 2012
  30. North Macedonia
  31. Romania 2023
  32. Russia 2023
  33. Slovakia 2017
  34. Turkey
  35. Ukraine 2016
  36. North America (16)
  37. Bahamas 2017
  38. Barbados
  39. Belize
  40. Dominica
  41. Dominican Republic
  42. El Salvador
  43. Grenada
  44. Guatemala 2007
  45. Haiti
  46. Honduras 2017
  47. Jamaica 2017
  48. Nicaragua 2017
  49. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  50. Saint Lucia
  51. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  52. Trinidad and Tobago 1947
  53. Africa (34)
  54. Algeria 1966
  55. Angola
  56. Benin
  57. Botswana
  58. Burkina Faso
  59. Burundi
  60. Cape Verde
  61. Central African Republic 2017
  62. Chad
  63. Comoros
  64. Côte d’Ivoire
  65. Equatorial Guinea 2021
  66. Eritrea 2010
  67. Eswatini 1968
  68. Gabon
  69. Gambia
  70. Ghana
  71. Guinea-Bissau
  72. Liberia
  73. Malawi
  74. Mauritius
  75. Mozambique
  76. Nigeria
  77. Republic of the Congo
  78. Sao Tome and Principe
  79. Senegal 2017
  80. Seychelles
  81. Sierra Leone
  82. Somalia
  83. South Sudan
  84. Sudan
  85. Togo
  86. Tunisia 1957
  87. Zimbabwe
  88. Oceania (9)
  89. Kiribati
  90. Marshall Islands
  91. Nauru
  92. Palau
  93. Papua New Guinea
  94. Samoa 2017
  95. Solomon Islands
  96. Tuvalu
  97. Vanuatu
  98. South America (4)
  99. Guyana 2017
  100. Peru
  101. Suriname
  102. Venezuela 2006

Illegal

Same-sex adoption is illegal in 46 regions.

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

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on same-sex adoption is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 14 regions.

  1. Asia (7)
  2. Cambodia Ambiguous
  3. Indonesia Ambiguous
  4. Japan Ambiguous
  5. Kuwait N/A
  6. Laos Ambiguous
  7. Saudi Arabia N/A
  8. Syria Ambiguous
  9. Europe (1)
  10. Vatican City N/A
  11. North America (1)
  12. Mexico Varies by Region
  13. Africa (1)
  14. Guinea
  15. Oceania (1)
  16. Federated States of Micronesia
  17. South America (2)
  18. Bolivia Ambiguous
  19. Ecuador Ambiguous
  20. Antarctica (1)
  21. Antarctica N/A

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