Wikiwand AI

Same-sex union legislation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Same-sex marriage is legal in the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,[nb 1] Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands,[nb 2] New Zealand,[nb 3] Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom,[nb 4] the United States,[nb 5] and Uruguay.

  Marriage open to same-sex couples
  Legislation or binding domestic court ruling establishing same-sex marriage, but marriage is not yet provided for
  Same-sex marriage recognized when performed in certain other jurisdictions, and accorded greater rights than local same-sex unions (if any)
  Civil unions or domestic partnerships
  Limited legal recognition
  Local certification without legal force
  Limited recognition of marriage performed in certain other jurisdictions (residency rights for spouses)
  Same-sex unions not legally recognized

Same-sex marriage is recognized, but not performed, in Israel and the United States territory of American Samoa. Furthermore, same-sex marriages performed elsewhere in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are recognized in Sint Maarten. Whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry has been and remains the topic of debate worldwide. 32 countries and four jurisdictions worldwide have passed constitutional amendments that explicitly prohibit the legal recognition of same-sex marriage and sometimes other forms of legal unions as well. Sixteen countries and 34 jurisdictions worldwide have authorized civil unions or unregistered cohabitation for same-sex couples as an alternative to marriage. The legal name of those unions as well as the number of rights that they provide can vary greatly.

Legislative efforts to recognise same-sex unions

National level

The first legislation of unregistered cohabitation was introduced in the Netherlands in June 1979.[1][2] However, the first substantial recognition of same-sex couples did not occur before the introduction of a new legal form, that of registered partnerships, which was first enacted in Denmark in June 1989.[3] Many countries have followed with similar legislation since then. Legislation of these forms of legal unions still occur with a variety of different names, even after the introduction of same sex marriage, although sometimes they are overwritten by subsequent legislation of same-sex marriage.

As of 29 August 2026, certain alternative form of legal recognition other than marriage has been allowed on a national level in Bolivia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Monaco, Montenegro, and San Marino.

As of 29 August 2026, legislation to allow an alternative form of legal recognition of same-sex couples other than marriage is pending, or has passed at least one legislative house on a national level in Kosovo, Peru and Poland.

As of 29 August 2026, same-sex marriage has been legal (nationwide or in some parts) in Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands,[nb 2] New Zealand,[nb 3] Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom,[nb 4] the United States,[nb 5] and Uruguay.

As of 29 August 2026, legislation to allow same-sex marriage is pending or considered in at least one legislative house on a national level in Japan.

More information Country, Date ...
Country Date Same-sex union Upper house Lower house Head of state Law
enacted?
Yes No Yes No
Netherlands Netherlands June 1979 Unregistered cohabitation[1][2] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Netherlands Netherlands December 1980 Unregistered cohabitation (expansion)[1][2] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Netherlands Netherlands November 1984 Unregistered cohabitation (expansion)[1][2] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Denmark Denmark June 1986 Unregistered cohabitation[2][4][5] N/a 78 62 Signed Yes Yes
Sweden Sweden June 1987 Unregistered cohabitation[6] N/a Passed N/a[a 1]ed Yes Yes
Denmark Denmark June 1989 Registered partnership[7][8] N/a 71 47 Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
Norway Norway July 1991 Unregistered cohabitation[9] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Norway Norway April 1993 Registered partnership[10] 18 16 58 40 Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
Sweden Sweden June 1994 Registered partnership[11] N/a 171 141 N/a[a 1] Yes Yes[a 2]
Spain Spain November 1994 Unregistered cohabitation[2] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Hungary Hungary May 1996 Unregistered cohabitation[2][12] N/a 207 73 Signed Yes Yes
Iceland Iceland June 1996 Confirmed cohabitation[13][14] N/a 44 1 Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
Slovakia Slovakia May 1997 Registered partnership[15] N/a Failed No No
Netherlands Netherlands July 1997 Registered partnership[1] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Czech Republic Czech Republic June 1998 Registered partnership[16] Failed No No
France France October 1998 Civil solidarity pact[17] Failed No No
Belgium Belgium January 1999 Legal cohabitation[18][19] 39 8 98 10 Signed Yes Yes
Sweden Sweden March 1999 Registered partnership (expansion)[20] N/a Passed N/a[a 1] Yes Yes[a 2]
Denmark Denmark June 1999 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights)[21] N/a 61 48 Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
France France November 1999 Civil solidarity pact[22] Passed 315 249 Signed Yes Yes
Czech Republic Czech Republic December 1999 Registered partnership[23] 69 91 No No
Slovakia Slovakia February 2000 Registered partnership[15] N/a Failed No No
Canada Canada April 2000 Common-law partnership[24][25][26] Passed 174 72 Signed Yes Yes
Iceland Iceland May 2000 Confirmed cohabitation (expansion: adoption and immigration rights)[27] N/a 49 1 Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
Netherlands Netherlands December 2000 Marriage[28][29] 49 26 109 33 Signed Yes Yes
Norway Norway December 2000 Registered partnership (expansion)[9][30] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
Germany Germany February 2001 Registered life partnership[31] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
Portugal Portugal March 2001 De facto union[32][33] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
New Zealand New Zealand April 2001 De facto relationship[34] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Czech Republic Czech Republic April 2001 Unregistered cohabitation[35] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Norway Norway June 2001 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights)[36][37] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
Finland Finland September 2001 Registered partnership[38] N/a 99 84 Signed Yes Yes
Czech Republic Czech Republic October 2001 Registered partnership[39] Failed No No
Sweden Sweden June 2002 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights)[40] N/a Passed N/a[a 1] Yes Yes[a 2]
Belgium Belgium February 2003 Marriage[41] 46 15 91 22 Signed Yes Yes
Denmark Denmark May 2003 Registered partnership (expansion)[42] N/a 49 60 No No
Denmark Denmark May 2003 Registered partnership (expansion)[43] N/a 45 60 No No
Denmark Denmark May 2003 Registered partnership (expansion)[44] N/a 43 61 No No
Denmark Denmark June 2003 Registered partnership (expansion)[45] N/a 11 94 No No
Croatia Croatia July 2003 Unregistered cohabitation[46] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Luxembourg Luxembourg May 2004 Free union[47] N/a Failed No No
Luxembourg Luxembourg May 2004 Marriage[48] N/a Failed No No
Luxembourg Luxembourg July 2004 Partnership[49] N/a 33 7 Signed Yes Yes
Panama Panama September 2004 Civil union[50] N/a Failed No No
Germany Germany October 2004 Registered life partnership (expansion: adoption rights)[51] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
Norway Norway November 2004 Marriage[52] N/a Failed No No
United Kingdom United Kingdom November 2004 Civil partnership[53] 251 136 426 49 Signed Yes Yes
New Zealand New Zealand November 2004 De facto relationship (expansion)[54] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
New Zealand New Zealand December 2004 Civil union[55] N/a 65 55 Signed Yes Yes
Czech Republic Czech Republic February 2005 Registered partnership[56] Failed No No
Andorra Andorra March 2005 Stable couple union[57] N/a Passed Signed[a 3] Yes Yes
Slovenia Slovenia March 2005 Registered partnership[58] N/a[a 4] Failed No No
New Zealand New Zealand March 2005 Civil union and de facto relationship (expansion)[59][60] N/a 76 43 Signed Yes Yes
Sweden Sweden June 2005 Registered partnership (expansion)[61] N/a Passed N/a[a 1] Yes Yes[a 2]
Switzerland Switzerland June 2005 Registered partnership[62] Passed Passed N/a Yes Yes
Specific referendum (58.04%)
Spain Spain July 2005 Marriage[63] Vetoed[a 5] 183 136 Signed Yes Yes
Canada Canada July 2005 Marriage[64] 47 21 158 133 Signed Yes Yes
Slovenia Slovenia July 2005 Partnership[65] N/a[a 4] 44 3 Signed Yes Yes
Croatia Croatia October 2005 Registered partnership[66] N/a Failed No No
Czech Republic Czech Republic March 2006 Registered partnership[67] 65 14 86 54 Vetoed [a 6] Yes Yes
Belgium Belgium May 2006 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights)[68][69] 34 33 77 62 Signed Yes Yes
Spain Spain May 2006 Marriage (expansion: medically assisted reproduction)[70] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Denmark Denmark June 2006 Registered partnership (expansion)[71] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
Iceland Iceland June 2006 Confirmed cohabitation (expansion)[72][73] N/a 41 0 Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
France France June 2006 Civil Solidarity Pact (expansion)[74] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
South Africa South Africa November 2006 Marriage and civil partnership[75] 36 11 229 41 Signed Yes Yes
Portugal Portugal December 2006 De facto union (expansion: immigration rights)[76] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Finland Finland December 2006 Registered partnership (expansion)[77][78] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Spain Spain March 2007 Marriage (expansion: automatic co-parenthood)[70] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Colombia Colombia June 2007 Civil union[79] 29 34 62 43 No No
Hungary Hungary December 2007 Registered partnership[80] N/a 185 154 Signed No No[a 7]
Uruguay Uruguay December 2007 Cohabitation union[81][82] 17 5 Passed Signed Yes Yes
Iceland Iceland May 2008 Confirmed cohabitation (expansion)[83][84] N/a 54 0 Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
Norway Norway June 2008 Marriage[85] 23 17 84 41 Signed Yes Yes
Ecuador Ecuador September 2008 De facto union[86] General constitutional referendum (69.46%) Yes Yes
Portugal Portugal October 2008 Marriage[87] N/a Failed No No
Portugal Portugal October 2008 Marriage[87] N/a Failed No No
United Kingdom United Kingdom November 2008 Civil partnership (expansion)[88] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Australia Australia November 2008 De facto relationship[89] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Sweden Sweden April 2009 Marriage[90] N/a 261 22 N/a[a 1] Yes Yes
Hungary Hungary April 2009 Registered partnership[91][92] N/a 199 159 Signed Yes Yes
France France May 2009 Recognition of unions performed abroad as PACS[93] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Finland Finland May 2009 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights)[94] N/a 108 29 Signed Yes Yes
Denmark Denmark June 2009 Registered partnership (expansion)[95] N/a 107 2 Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
Portugal Portugal August 2009 De facto union (expansion: inheritance rights)[96] N/a Passed Vetoed No No
Uruguay Uruguay September 2009 Cohabitation union (expansion: adoption rights)[97][98] 17 6 40 13 Signed Yes Yes
Austria Austria December 2009 Registered partnership[99] 44 8 110 64 Signed Yes Yes
Portugal Portugal January 2010 Marriage[100] N/a Failed No No
Portugal Portugal January 2010 Marriage[101] N/a Failed No No
Portugal Portugal January 2010 Registered civil union[102] N/a Failed No No
Australia Australia February 2010 Marriage[103] 5 45 No No
Portugal Portugal May 2010 Marriage[104] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Denmark Denmark May 2010 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights)[105] N/a 60 54 Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
Denmark Denmark June 2010 Marriage[106] N/a 52 57 No No
Iceland Iceland June 2010 Marriage[107][108] N/a 49 0 Signed Yes Yes
Republic of Ireland Ireland July 2010 Civil partnership and unregistered cohabitation[109][110] 48 4 Passed Signed Yes Yes
Argentina Argentina July 2010 Marriage[111] 33 27 126 110 Signed Yes Yes
Luxembourg Luxembourg August 2010 Partnership (expansion)[112] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Portugal Portugal August 2010 De facto union (expansion: inheritance rights)[113][114] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Germany Germany September 2010 Marriage[115] Failed No No
Germany Germany October 2010 Registered life partnership (expansion: tax law)[116] Failed No No
Germany Germany April 2011 Registered life partnership (expansion: tax law and adoption rights)[117] Failed No No
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein June 2011 Registered partnership[118] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Specific referendum (68.76%)
France France June 2011 Marriage[119] 222 293 No No
Germany Germany June 2011 Registered life partnership (expansion: tax law)[120] Failed No No
Portugal Portugal February 2012 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights)[121] N/a Failed No No
Portugal Portugal February 2012 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights)[121] N/a Failed No No
Slovenia Slovenia March 2012 Partnership (expansion)[122] Specific referendum (45.36%) No No
Israel Israel May 2012 Marriage[123] N/a 11 39 No No
Denmark Denmark June 2012 Marriage[124] N/a 85 24 Signed Yes Yes
Germany Germany June 2012 Marriage[125][126] 260 309 No No
San Marino San Marino June 2012 Unregistered cohabitation (only one entitlement)[127] N/a 33 20 Signed Yes Yes
Australia Australia September 2012 Marriage[128] 42 98 No No
Australia Australia September 2012 Marriage[129] 26 41 No No
Germany Germany October 2012 Registered life partnership (expansion: tax law)[130] 253 288 No No
Slovakia Slovakia November 2012 Registered partnership[131] N/a 14 94 No No
Poland Poland January 2013 Registered partnership[132][133] Failed No No
Poland Poland January 2013 Registered partnership[134][135] Failed No No
Poland Poland January 2013 Registered partnership[136] Failed No No
Poland Poland January 2013 Registered partnership[137] Failed No No
Poland Poland January 2013 Partnership agreement[138][139] Failed No No
Germany Germany March 2013 Registered life partnership (expansion: tax law)[140][141] Passed No No
Germany Germany March 2013 Marriage[142] Passed No No
New Zealand New Zealand April 2013 Marriage[143] N/a 77 44 Signed Yes Yes
Colombia Colombia April 2013 Marriage[144] 17 51 No No
Uruguay Uruguay May 2013 Marriage[145][146] 23 8 71 21 Signed Yes Yes
Portugal Portugal May 2013 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights)[147] N/a 77 104 No No
Portugal Portugal May 2013 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights)[147] N/a Failed No No
Portugal Portugal May 2013 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights)[147] N/a Failed No No
France France May 2013 Marriage[148][149] 171 165 331 225 Signed Yes Yes
Australia Australia June 2013 Recognition of marriage performed abroad[150] 28 44 No No
Germany Germany July 2013 Registered life partnership (expansion: tax law)[151][152] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
United Kingdom United Kingdom
(England and Wales)
July 2013 Marriage[153][154] Passed 366 161 Signed Yes Yes
Austria Austria July 2013 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights)[155][156] 45 8 Passed Signed Yes Yes
Philippines Philippines October 2013 Registered partnership[157] N/a Failed No No
Netherlands Netherlands December 2013 Marriage (expansion: automatic co-parenthood)[158][159] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Portugal Portugal March 2014 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights)[160] N/a 107 112 No No
Malta Malta April 2014 Civil union[161] N/a 37 0 Signed Yes Yes
Belgium Belgium May 2014 Marriage (expansion: automatic co-parenthood)[162][163] 48 2 114 10 Signed Yes Yes
Germany Germany May 2014 Registered life partnership (expansion: adoption rights)[164][165] 111 432 No No
Andorra Andorra May 2014 Marriage[166][167] N/a 6 21 No No
Germany Germany June 2014 Registered life partnership (expansion: adoption rights)[168] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
Romania Romania June 2014 Civil partnership[169][170] 2 110 4 298 No No
Luxembourg Luxembourg June 2014 Marriage[171][172] N/a 56 4 N/a[a 8] Yes Yes
Croatia Croatia July 2014 Life partnership[173] N/a 89 16 N/a[a 9] Yes Yes
Germany Germany July 2014 Registered life partnership (expansion: tax law)[174][175][176] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
San Marino San Marino September 2014 Recognition of marriage performed abroad[177] N/a 15 35 No No
Argentina Argentina October 2014 Cohabitation union[178][179] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Andorra Andorra December 2014 Civil union[180][181] N/a 20 3 Signed Yes Yes
Portugal Portugal January 2015 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights)[182][183] N/a 89 119 No No
Portugal Portugal January 2015 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights)[182][183] N/a 91 119 No No
Portugal Portugal January 2015 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights)[182][183] N/a 91 120 No No
Portugal Portugal January 2015 Marriage (expansion: medically assisted reproduction)[182][183] N/a Failed No No
Republic of Ireland Ireland April 2015 Civil partnership and unregistered cohabitation (expansion: step-adoption rights)[184][185] 20 2 Passed Signed Yes Yes
Chile Chile April 2015 Civil union agreement[186][187] 25 6 78 9 Signed Yes Yes
Ecuador Ecuador June 2015 De facto union (expansion)[188][189][190][191] N/a 89 1 Signed Yes Yes
Israel Israel July 2015 Civil union[192] N/a 39 50 No No
Israel Israel July 2015 Marriage[192] N/a 39 50 No No
Republic of Ireland Ireland August 2015 Marriage (constitutional amendment)[193] 29 3 Passed Signed Yes Yes
Specific constitutional referendum (62.07%)
October 2015 Marriage (statutory legislation)[194][195][196] Passed Passed Signed
Germany Germany November 2015 Registered life partnership (expansion)[197][198] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes[a 2]
Cyprus Cyprus December 2015 Civil cohabitation[199][200] N/a 39 12 Signed Yes Yes
Romania Romania December 2015 Civil partnership[201][202][203] 8 49 Failed No No
Slovenia Slovenia December 2015 Marriage[204][205] N/a[a 4] 51 28 No No
Specific referendum (36.53%)
Greece Greece December 2015 Cohabitation agreement[206] N/a 194 55 Signed Yes Yes
Estonia Estonia October 2014 Cohabitation agreement (framework law)[207][208] N/a 40 38 Signed Yes Yes
January 2016 Cohabitation agreement (implementation law)[209][210] N/a Failed No No
Portugal Portugal February 2016 Marriage and de facto union (expansion: adoption rights)[211] N/a Passed Vetoed[a 6] Yes Yes
Israel Israel February 2016 Civil union[212] N/a 40 47 No No
Switzerland Switzerland March 2016 Registered partnership (expansion: immigration rights)[213][214] 122 62 No No
Luxembourg Luxembourg April 2016 Recognition of marriage performed abroad before 1 January 2015[215] N/a 50 3 N/a[a 8] Yes Yes
Slovenia Slovenia April 2016 Partnership (expansion)[216][217] N/a[a 4] 54 15 N/a[a 9] Yes Yes
Italy Italy May 2016 Civil union and cohabitation agreement[218][219][220] 173 71 372 51 Signed Yes Yes
Portugal Portugal June 2016 Marriage and de facto union (expansion: medically assisted reproduction)[221] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Switzerland Switzerland June 2016 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights)[222][223] 25 14 125 68 N/a Yes Yes
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein November 2016 Registered partnership (expansion)[224][225] N/a 25 0 Signed Yes Yes
Greece Greece December 2016 Cohabitation agreement (expansion)[226][227] N/a 201 21 Signed Yes Yes
Austria Austria December 2016 Registered partnership (expansion)[228] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Finland Finland February 2015 Marriage (framework law)[229] N/a 101 90 Signed Yes Yes
April 2016 Marriage (implementation laws)[230][231][232] N/a 106 42 Signed
January 2017 N/a 128 28 Signed
Malta Malta April 2017 Cohabitation[233] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Lithuania Lithuania June 2017 Partnership[234][235] N/a 29 59 No No
Republic of Ireland Ireland July 2017 Civil partnership and unregistered cohabitation (expansion: adoption rights)[236][237] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Germany Germany July 2017 Marriage[238][239][240] Passed 393 226 Signed Yes Yes
Malta Malta August 2017 Marriage[241][242] N/a 66 1 Signed Yes Yes
Philippines Philippines October 2017 Civil partnership[243] N/a Failed No No
Chile Chile November 2017 Civil union agreement (expansion)[244][245][246][247] 15 0 70 0 Signed Yes Yes
Australia Australia December 2017 Marriage[248][249] 43 12 131 4 Signed Yes Yes
Finland Finland April 2018 Marriage (expansion: automatic co-parenthood)[250] N/a 122 42 Signed Yes Yes
Greece Greece May 2018 Cohabitation agreement (expansion: foster care)[251][252] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Israel Israel June 2018 Marriage[253] N/a 39 42 No No
Malta Malta June 2018 Marriage, civil union and cohabitation (expansion: medically assisted reproduction)[254][255] N/a 34 27 Signed Yes Yes
Slovakia Slovakia September 2018 Registered partnership[256][257] N/a Failed No No
San Marino San Marino November 2018 Civil union[258][259] N/a 40 4 Signed Yes Yes
Mexico Mexico November 2018 Marriage (codification of federal recognition)[260][261][262][263][264] 110 0 415 0 Published Yes Yes
Cuba Cuba December 2018 Marriage[265][266] N/a Failed No No
Germany Germany December 2018 Marriage (codification)[267][268] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Romania Romania March 2019 Civil partnership[269][270][271] 2 68 Failed No No
Taiwan Taiwan May 2019 Permanent union[272][273] N/a 66 27 Signed Yes Yes
Philippines Philippines July 2019 Civil partnership[274][275] N/a Failed No No
Philippines Philippines July 2019 Registered partnership[276] Failed N/a No No
Austria Austria July 2019 Marriage (expansion)[277][278] Passed Passed N/a Yes Yes
United Kingdom United Kingdom
(Northern Ireland)
July 2019 Marriage[279][280] Passed 328 65 Signed Yes Yes
Montenegro Montenegro July 2019 Life partnership[281] N/a 38 4 No No
Monaco Monaco December 2019 Cohabitation agreement[282] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Montenegro Montenegro July 2020 Life partnership[283] N/a 42 5 Signed Yes Yes
Lithuania Lithuania May 2021 Partnership[284] N/a 63 58 No No
San Marino San Marino June 2021 Civil union (expansion)[285] N/a 31 1 Signed Yes Yes
France France August 2021 Marriage (expansion: medically assisted reproduction)[286][287][288] 326 115 Passed Signed Yes Yes
Switzerland Switzerland September 2021 Marriage[289][290][291] 22 15 132 52 N/a Yes Yes
Specific referendum (64.10%)
Chile Chile December 2021 Marriage[292][293][294][295][296] 218 8020 Signed Yes Yes
France France February 2022 Adoption (expansion to PACS)[297] Passed 96 15 Signed Yes Yes
Costa Rica Costa Rica May 2022 De facto union[298] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Andorra Andorra August 2022 Marriage[299][300] N/a 18 6 Signed Yes Yes
Cuba Cuba July 2022 Marriage and civil union[301] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
September 2022 Specific Referendum (66.87%)[302]
Slovenia Slovenia October 2022 Marriage and adoption rights (codification)[303][304] 17 11 48 29 Suspensory Veto Yes Yes
N/a 51 24 Published
Slovakia Slovakia October 2022 Civil cohabitation[305] N/a 31 53 No No
United States United States December 2022 Marriage (codification of federal recognition; requiring states and territories to recognize)[306] 61 36 259 168 Signed Yes Yes
Latvia Latvia December 2022 Civil union[307] N/a Failed No No
Peru Peru December 2022 Marriage[308] N/a Failed No No
Andorra Andorra January 2023 Marriage (codification)[309] N/a 23 1 Signed Yes Yes
Taiwan Taiwan June 2023 Permanent union (expansion: adoption rights)[310] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Estonia Estonia June 2023 Marriage[311][312] N/a 55 34 Signed Yes Yes
Latvia Latvia January 2024 Partnership[313][314] N/a 53 43 Signed Yes Yes
Greece Greece February 2024 Marriage[315][316] N/a 175 77 Signed Yes Yes
Czech Republic Czech Republic April 2024 Partnership[317][318][319] Passed 123 36 Signed Yes Yes
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein May 2024 Marriage[320][321] N/a 24 1 Signed Yes Yes
Thailand Thailand June 2024 Marriage 130 4 400 10 Signed Yes Yes
Serbia Serbia November 2024 Civil union[322] 26 Failed No No
Kosovo Kosovo Unknown Civil union[323] N/a Proposed
Peru Peru Unknown Civil union[324] N/a Proposed
Poland Poland July 2026 Closest person agreement[325] 55 29 230 198 Vetoed No No
Close

Notes:

  1. According to the 1974 Constitution, the King of Sweden is head of state but does not sign or veto any laws enacted by Parliament.
  2. Replaced by the gender-neutral marriage law.
  3. Only one of the two Co-Princes of Andorra signed the law.
  4. The Slovenian Parliament is incompletely bicameral.
  5. The Spanish Senate voted 131 "yes" to 119 "no" to veto the law. The veto was later overridden by the Spanish Congress of Deputies.
  6. Veto overridden.
  7. Ruled unconstitutional.
  8. Since the 2008 constitutional change, the assent of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg is not required for the enactment of laws adopted by the Parliament.
  9. The President merely promulgates the laws adopted by the Parliament.

Sub-national level

In countries with a federal system of governance, states and territories often may grant recognition to same-sex couples in their own jurisdictions, although unitary states with a level of devolution, such as Spain or the United Kingdom, also offer such powers to local authorities. The first jurisdiction to enact unregistered cohabitation was British Columbia in Canada in July 1992. The first jurisdiction to legalize registered partnership was Greenland as part of the Kingdom of Denmark in April 1996. Finally, the first sub-national jurisdiction to legalize same-sex marriage was the Canadian province of Ontario in June 2003.

As of 29 August 2026, there are 33 sub-national jurisdictions worldwide that have legalized some kind of alternative form of legal union of same-sex couples other than marriage. Those are:

  • In Japan:
    • 31 prefectures of Japan (Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hyōgo, Ibaraki, Kagawa, Mie, Nagano, Nara, Niigata, Okinawa, Osaka, Ōita, Saga, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, and Yamanashi);
  • Two British overseas territories (Bermuda, Cayman Islands).

For the time being, 63 sub-national jurisdictions worldwide have legalized same-sex marriage in nations where same-sex marriage is not legal throughout the nation's territory. Those are:

More information State/Territory, Country ...
State/Territory Country Date Same-sex union Upper House Lower house Head of State Law
enacted?
Yes No Yes No
British Columbia British Columbia Canada Canada July 1992 Marriage-like relationship[326][327] N/a 30 17 Signed Yes Yes
British Columbia British Columbia Canada Canada July 1993 Marriage-like relationship (expansion)[328] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
British Columbia British Columbia Canada Canada July 1993 Marriage-like relationship (expansion)[329] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
British Columbia British Columbia Canada Canada July 1993 Marriage-like relationship (expansion)[330] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory Australia Australia May 1994 Domestic relationship[331] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Ontario Ontario Canada Canada June 1994 Domestic partnership[332] N/a 58 69 No No
British Columbia British Columbia Canada Canada June 1995 Marriage-like relationship (expansion)[333] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
British Columbia British Columbia Canada Canada July 1995 Marriage-like relationship (expansion: adoption rights)[334] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Greenland Greenland Denmark Denmark May 1993 Inatsisartut: Registered partnership (resolution)[335] N/a 15 0 N/a Yes Yes
April 1996 Folketing: Registered partnership (statutory law)[336][337] N/a 104 1 Signed
Ceuta Ceuta Spain Spain April 1997 De facto union[338] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
British Columbia British Columbia Canada Canada July 1997 Marriage-like relationship (expansion)[339] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Catalonia Catalonia Spain Spain June 1998 Stable couple union[340][341] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Yukon Yukon Canada Canada December 1998 Unregistered cohabitation[342] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Aragon Aragon Spain Spain March 1999 Stable non-married couple[340][343] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Yukon Yukon Canada Canada April 1999 Unregistered cohabitation (expansion)[344][345] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Alberta Alberta Canada Canada May 1999 Unregistered cohabitation[346] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Quebec Quebec Canada Canada May 1999 De facto union[347] N/a 80 0 Signed Yes Yes
New South Wales New South Wales Australia Australia June 1999 De facto relationship[348] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
British Columbia British Columbia Canada Canada July 1999 Marriage-like relationship (expansion)[349] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Ontario Ontario Canada Canada October 1999 Conjugal relationship[350] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Navarre Navarre Spain Spain July 2000 Stable couple[340][351] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Castilla–La Mancha Castile-La Mancha Spain Spain July 2000 De facto couple[352] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
British Columbia British Columbia Canada Canada July 2000 Marriage-like relationship (expansion)[353] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory Australia Australia August 2000 Domestic relationship (expansion)[354] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Canada Canada November 2000 Domestic partnership[355][356] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Canada December 2000 Conjugal relationship[357] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
New Brunswick New Brunswick Canada Canada December 2000 Family relationship[358] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Canton of Geneva Geneva Switzerland Switzerland February 2001 Registered partnership[359][360] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Valencian Community Valencia Spain Spain April 2001 De facto union[361] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Victoria (state) Victoria Australia Australia June 2001 Domestic relationship[362] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Manitoba Manitoba Canada Canada July 2001 Common-law relationships[363] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Canada Canada July 2001 Spousal relationship[364] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Canada Canada July 2001 Spousal relationship (expansion: adoption rights)[365] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Victoria (state) Victoria Australia Australia November 2001 Domestic relationship (expansion)[366] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Canada December 2001 Conjugal relationship (expansion)[367] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Balearic Islands Balearic Islands Spain Spain December 2001 Stable couple[368] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Community of Madrid Madrid Spain Spain December 2001 De facto union[340][369] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Canada April 2002 Conjugal relationship (expansion: adoption rights)[370] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Western Australia Western Australia Australia Australia April 2002 De facto relationship[371] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Yukon Yukon Canada Canada May 2002 Unregistered cohabitation (expansion: adoption rights)[372] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Asturias Asturias Spain Spain May 2002 Stable couple[373] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Northwest Territories Northwest Territories Canada Canada June 2002 Unregistered cohabitation[344][374] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Quebec Quebec Canada Canada June 2002 Civil union[375] N/a 87 0 Signed Yes Yes
Manitoba Manitoba Canada Canada August 2002 Common-law relationship (expansion: adoption rights)[376] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Manitoba Manitoba Canada Canada August 2002 Common-law relationship (expansion)[377] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Canton of Zurich Zürich Switzerland Switzerland September 2002 Registered partnership[378] Specific cantonal referendum (62.70%) Yes Yes
New South Wales New South Wales Australia Australia October 2002 De facto relationship (expansion)[379][380] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Castile and León Castile and León Spain Spain October 2002 De facto union[381] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Alberta Alberta Canada Canada December 2002 Adult interdependent relationship[382] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Queensland Queensland Australia Australia December 2002 De facto relationship[383] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Andalusia Andalusia Spain Spain December 2002 De facto couple[340][384] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island Canada Canada December 2002 Unregistered cohabitation[385] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Buenos Aires Autonomous City of Buenos Aires Argentina Argentina January 2003 Civil union[386][387] N/a 29 10 Signed Yes Yes
Canary Islands Canary Islands Spain Spain March 2003 De facto couple[340][388] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Extremadura Extremadura Spain Spain March 2003 De facto couple[340][389] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Basque Country (autonomous community) Basque Country Spain Spain May 2003 De facto couple[340][390] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Río Negro Province Río Negro Argentina Argentina May 2003 Civil union[391] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
South Australia South Australia Australia Australia June 2003 Unregistered cohabitation[392] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Tasmania Tasmania Australia Australia September 2003 Significant relationship and caring relationship[393] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory Australia Australia January 2004 Domestic relationship (expansion: adoption rights)[394] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Canton of Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Switzerland Switzerland January 2004 Registered partnership[395] N/a 65 38 Signed Yes Yes
Northern Territory Northern Territory Australia Australia January 2004 De facto relationship[396][397] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Aragon Aragon Spain Spain May 2004 Stable non-married couple (expansion: adoption rights)[398] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Canton of Fribourg Fribourg Switzerland Switzerland May 2004 Registered partnership[395][399] General cantonal referendum (58.03%) Yes Yes
City of Sydney Australia Australia July 2004 Relationship declaration program[400] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Quebec Quebec Canada Canada November 2004 Marriage (codification)[401] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Ontario Ontario Canada Canada March 2005 Marriage (codification)[402] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Northwest Territories Northwest Territories Canada Canada March 2005 Unregistered cohabitation (expansion)[403] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Catalonia Catalonia Spain Spain April 2005 Stable couple union (expansion: adoption rights)[404][405] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Cantabria Cantabria Spain Spain May 2005 De facto couple[406] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Akrotiri and Dhekelia Akrotiri and Dhekelia United Kingdom United Kingdom November 2005 Civil partnership[407] N/a Signed Yes Yes
Isle of Man Isle of Man United Kingdom United Kingdom November 2005 Recognition of civil partnership performed in the United Kingdom[408] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Norfolk Island Norfolk Island Australia Australia February 2006 De facto relationship[409] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory Australia Australia June 2006 Civil union[410] N/a Passed Signed No No[b 1]
Mexico City Mexico City Mexico Mexico November 2006 Coexistence partnership[411] N/a 43 17 Signed Yes Yes
South Australia South Australia Australia Australia December 2006 Domestic partnership agreement[412] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Coahuila Coahuila Mexico Mexico January 2007 Civil pact of solidarity[413] N/a 20 13 Signed Yes Yes
Scotland Scotland United Kingdom United Kingdom January 2007 Civil partnership (expansion: adoption rights)[414][415] N/a 101 6 Signed Yes Yes
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory Australia Australia February 2007 Civil partnership[416] N/a Passed Signed No No[b 1]
Alberta Alberta Canada Canada February 2007 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights)[417] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
New Brunswick New Brunswick Canada Canada March 2007 Marriage (expansion: adoption rights)[346] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Victoria (state) City of Melbourne Australia Australia April 2007 Relationship declaration program[418] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Victoria (state) City of Yarra Australia Australia May 2007 Relationship declaration program[419] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Argentina Villa Carlos Paz Argentina Argentina November 2007 Civil union[420] N/a 12 6 Signed Yes Yes
New South Wales New South Wales Australia Australia November 2007 De facto relationship (expansion)[421] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Galicia (Spain) Galicia Spain Spain December 2007 De facto couple[422] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Melilla Melilla Spain Spain January 2008 De facto couple[423] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Victoria (state) Victoria Australia Australia April 2008 Registered domestic relationship[424] 29 10 54 24 Signed Yes Yes
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory Australia Australia May 2008 Civil partnership[425] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island Canada Canada May 2008 Marriage (codification and expansion: adoption rights)[426] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
New South Wales New South Wales Australia Australia June 2008 De facto relationship (expansion)[427] Passed 64 11 Signed Yes Yes
Manitoba Manitoba Canada Canada October 2008 Marriage (codification)[428] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Victoria (state) Victoria Australia Australia December 2008 Registered domestic relationship (expansion)[429] Passed 47 34 Signed Yes Yes
New South Wales Municipality of Woollahra Australia Australia December 2008 Relationship declaration program[430] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
New Brunswick New Brunswick Canada Canada December 2008 Marriage (codification) and family relationship (expansion)[431] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Río Cuarto Argentina Argentina May 2009 Civil union[432] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Greenland Greenland Denmark Denmark May 2009 Registered partnership (expansion: adoption rights)[433] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
New Caledonia New Caledonia France France May 2009 Civil solidarity pact and concubinage[434][435] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna France France May 2009 Civil solidarity pact and concubinage[434][435] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Canada May 2009 Marriage (codification)[436] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Scotland Scotland United Kingdom United Kingdom June 2009 Civil partnership (expansion)[437] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Tasmania Tasmania Australia Australia September 2009 Significant relationship (expansion)[438] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory Australia Australia November 2009 Civil partnership (expansion)[439] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Canada December 2009 Marriage (codification)[440] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Mexico City Mexico City Mexico Mexico December 2009 Marriage[441] N/a 39 20 Signed Yes Yes
Queensland Queensland Australia Australia February 2010 De facto relationship (expansion)[442] N/a 45 36 Signed Yes Yes
New South Wales City of Blue Mountains Australia Australia March 2010 Relationship declaration program[443] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
New South Wales New South Wales Australia Australia May 2010 Registered relationship[444][445] 32 5 62 9 Signed Yes Yes
La Rioja La Rioja Spain Spain May 2010 De facto couple[446] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Vienna Vienna Austria Austria June 2010 Registered partnership (expansion)[447][448] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Catalonia Catalonia Spain Spain July 2010 Marriage (codification)[449] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
New South Wales New South Wales Australia Australia September 2010 Registered relationship (expansion: adoption rights)[450][451][452] 22 15 45 43 Signed Yes Yes
Tasmania Tasmania Australia Australia October 2010 Out-of-state unions as significant relationship[453][454] Passed 22 3 Signed Yes Yes
New South Wales New South Wales Australia Australia November 2010 Registered relationship (expansion: surrogacy)[455] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Netherlands Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Netherlands Netherlands December 2010 Recognition of unions performed aboard[456] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Isle of Man Isle of Man United Kingdom United Kingdom March 2011 Civil partnership[457] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
South Australia South Australia Australia Australia June 2011 Domestic partnership agreement (expansion)[458] 14 5 24 15 Signed Yes Yes
South Australia South Australia Australia Australia July 2011 Domestic partnership agreement (expansion)[459] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Nunavut Nunavut Canada Canada October 2011 Marriage (codification and expansion: adoption rights)[460] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
British Columbia British Columbia Canada Canada November 2011 Marriage (codification)[461] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Queensland Queensland Australia Australia December 2011 Civil partnership[462][463] N/a 47 40 Signed Yes Yes[b 2]
Guernsey Guernsey United Kingdom United Kingdom December 2011 Recognition of civil partnership performed in the United Kingdom[464] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Jersey Jersey United Kingdom United Kingdom December 2011 Civil partnership[465][466] N/a 33 0 Signed Yes Yes
Queensland Queensland Australia Australia June 2012 Registered relationship[467][468] N/a 69 8 Signed Yes Yes[b 3]
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory Australia Australia September 2012 Civil union[469][470] N/a 11 6 Signed Yes Yes
Tasmania Tasmania Australia Australia September 2012 Marriage[471][472] 6 8 13 11 No No
Netherlands Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Netherlands Netherlands October 2012 Marriage[473] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Tasmania Tasmania Australia Australia October 2012 Significant relationship (expansion)[474][475] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Western Australia City of Vincent Australia Australia December 2012 Relationship declaration program[476] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Macau Macau China China March 2013 Civil union[477] N/a Failed No No
South Australia South Australia Australia Australia July 2013 Marriage[478] Failed No No
Tasmania Tasmania Australia Australia July 2013 Significant relationship (expansion: adoption rights)[479][480] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Colima Colima Mexico Mexico July 2013 Civil union[481][482][483] N/a 17 2 N/a Yes Yes[b 4]
August 2013 N/a Passed Signed
Tasmania Tasmania Australia Australia October 2013 Marriage[484] 6 8 No No
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory Australia Australia October 2013 Marriage[485] N/a 9 8 Signed No No[b 5]
Jalisco Jalisco Mexico Mexico October 2013 Civil union[486] N/a 20 15 Signed Yes Yes
New South Wales New South Wales Australia Australia November 2013 Marriage[487] 19 21 No No
Campeche Campeche Mexico Mexico December 2013 Civil union[488] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Coahuila Coahuila Mexico Mexico February 2014 Civil pact of solidarity (expansion: adoption rights)[489] N/a 23 2 Signed Yes Yes
Scotland Scotland United Kingdom United Kingdom March 2014 Marriage[490][491] N/a 105 18 Signed Yes Yes
Faroe Islands Faroe Islands Denmark Denmark March 2014 Marriage[492] N/a 11 20 No No
Gibraltar Gibraltar United Kingdom United Kingdom March 2014 Civil partnership[493][494] N/a 16 0 Signed Yes Yes
Durango Durango Mexico Mexico April 2014 Marriage[495] N/a Failed No No
Akrotiri and Dhekelia Akrotiri and Dhekelia United Kingdom United Kingdom April 2014 Marriage[496] N/a Signed Yes Yes
British Indian Ocean Territory British Indian Ocean Territory United Kingdom United Kingdom April 2014 Marriage[496] N/a Signed Yes Yes
Alberta Alberta Canada Canada May 2014 Marriage (codification)[497] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Coahuila Coahuila Mexico Mexico September 2014 Marriage[498][499][500] N/a 19 1 Signed Yes Yes
New South Wales New South Wales Australia Australia November 2014 Out-of-state unions as registered relationship[501] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Yukon Yukon Canada Canada December 2014 Marriage (codification)[502] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Pitcairn Islands Pitcairn Islands United Kingdom United Kingdom May 2015 Marriage[503] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Western Australia Town of Port Hedland Australia Australia August 2015 Relationship declaration program[504][505][506] N/a 6 2 Signed Yes Yes
Michoacán Michoacán Mexico Mexico September 2015 Domestic partnership[507][508] N/a 34 0 Signed Yes Yes
Alderney Alderney United Kingdom United Kingdom November 2015 Recognition of marriage and civil partnership performed abroad[509][510][511] N/a 10 0 Signed Yes Yes
Guernsey Guernsey United Kingdom United Kingdom December 2015 Recognition of marriage performed abroad[512][513][514] N/a Passed N/a[b 6] Yes Yes
Victoria (state) Victoria Australia Australia December 2015 Registered domestic relationship and domestic relationship (expansion: adoption rights)[515][516] 31 8 Passed Signed Yes Yes
Queensland Queensland Australia Australia December 2015 Civil partnership[517][518] N/a 64 22 Signed Yes Yes
Nayarit Nayarit Mexico Mexico December 2015 Marriage and concubinage[519] N/a 26 1 Signed Yes Yes
Greenland Greenland Denmark Denmark May 2015 Inatsisartut: Marriage (resolution)[520][521] N/a 27 0 N/a Yes Yes
February 2016 Folketing: Marriage (statutory law)[522] N/a 108 0 Signed
Victoria (state) Victoria Australia Australia February 2016 Out-of-state union as registered domestic relationship[523][524] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Azuay Ecuador Ecuador March 2016 Registered symbolic marriage[525] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Campeche Campeche Mexico Mexico May 2016 Marriage[526][527][528][529] N/a 34 1 Signed Yes Yes
Guernsey Guernsey United Kingdom United Kingdom May 2016 Recognition of marriage and civil partnership performed abroad (expansion)[530][531][532] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Colima Colima Mexico Mexico June 2016 Marriage[533][534] N/a 24 0 Signed Yes Yes
Michoacán Michoacán Mexico Mexico June 2016 Marriage and concubinage[535][536] N/a 27 0 Signed Yes Yes
Ascension Island Ascension Island United Kingdom United Kingdom June 2016 Marriage[537][538] N/a 5 0 Signed Yes Yes
South Australia South Australia Australia Australia July 2016 Domestic partnership agreement (expansion)[539][540][541] Passed 29 12 Signed Yes Yes
Morelos Morelos Mexico Mexico July 2016 Marriage and concubinage[542] N/a 20 6 Signed Yes Yes
Isle of Man Isle of Man United Kingdom United Kingdom July 2016 Marriage[543][544][545] 6 3 17 3 Signed Yes Yes
Aruba Aruba Netherlands Netherlands September 2016 Registered partnership[546][547][548] N/a 11 5 Signed Yes Yes
British Antarctic Territory British Antarctic Territory United Kingdom United Kingdom October 2016 Marriage[549][550] N/a Signed Yes Yes
Gibraltar Gibraltar United Kingdom United Kingdom November 2016 Marriage[551][552] N/a 15 0 Signed Yes Yes
Queensland Queensland Australia Australia November 2016 Civil partnership and de facto relationship (expansion: adoption rights)[553][554] N/a 44 43 Signed Yes Yes
San Luis Potosí San Luis Potosí Mexico Mexico November 2016 Marriage[555][556] N/a Failed No No
Ontario Ontario Canada Canada December 2016 Marriage and conjugal relationship (expansion: automatic co-parenthood)[557][558] N/a 79 0 Signed Yes Yes
Victoria (state) Victoria Australia Australia December 2016 Marriage (expansion: ending forced divorce for transgender individuals)[559][b 7] 19 19 45 35 No No
South Australia South Australia Australia Australia December 2016 Registered relationship[560] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
South Australia South Australia Australia Australia December 2016 Registered relationship and domestic partnership agreement (expansion: adoption rights)[561][562][563] 13 4 27 16 Signed Yes Yes
South Australia South Australia Australia Australia December 2016 Marriage (expansion: ending forced divorce for transgender individuals)[564][b 8] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Tlaxcala Tlaxcala Mexico Mexico January 2017 Domestic partnership[565][566][567] N/a 18 4 Signed Yes Yes
Durango Durango Mexico Mexico January 2017 Marriage[568] N/a 4 15 No No
Mexico City Mexico City Mexico Mexico January 2017 Marriage (constitutional codification)[569] N/a Passed N/a Yes Yes
Northwest Territories Northwest Territories Canada Canada March 2017 Marriage (codification)[570] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
South Australia South Australia Australia Australia March 2017 Registered relationship and domestic partnership agreement (expansion: surrogacy)[571] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
South Australia South Australia Australia Australia April 2017 Registered relationship (expansion)[572] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Falkland Islands Falkland Islands United Kingdom United Kingdom April 2017 Marriage and civil partnership[573][574] N/a 7 1 Signed Yes Yes
Guernsey Guernsey United Kingdom United Kingdom December 2015 Marriage (agreement in principle)[575][576] N/a 37 7 N/a Yes Yes
December 2016 Marriage (primary legislation)[577][578] N/a 33 5 Signed
April 2017 Marriage (secondary legislation)[579] N/a Passed N/a
Faroe Islands Faroe Islands Denmark Denmark April 2016 Løgting: Marriage (resolution)[580][581][582] N/a 19 14 N/a Yes Yes
May 2017 Folketing: Marriage (statutory law)[583][584] N/a 108 0 Signed
Tristan da Cunha United Kingdom United Kingdom August 2017 Marriage[585][586] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Canada Canada October 2017 Marriage (codification)[587][588] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Saint Helena Saint Helena United Kingdom United Kingdom December 2017 Marriage[589][590] N/a 9 2 Signed Yes Yes
Bermuda Bermuda United Kingdom United Kingdom February 2018 Domestic partnership[591][592] 8 3 24 10 Signed Yes Yes
Northern Territory Northern Territory Australia Australia April 2018 Marriage and de facto relationship (expansion: adoption rights)[593] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Jersey Jersey United Kingdom United Kingdom September 2015 Marriage (agreement in principle)[594] N/a 37 4 N/a Yes Yes
May 2018 Marriage (statutory legislation)[595] N/a 42 1 Signed
Victoria (state) Victoria Australia Australia May 2018 Marriage (expansion: ending forced divorce for transgender individuals)[596][597] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Alderney Alderney United Kingdom United Kingdom December 2017 Marriage (primary legislation)[598] N/a 9 0 Signed Yes Yes
June 2018 Marriage (secondary legislation)[599] N/a Passed N/a
New South Wales New South Wales Australia Australia June 2018 Marriage (codification and expansion)[600] 34 2 Passed Signed Yes Yes
Queensland Queensland Australia Australia June 2018 Marriage (expansion: ending forced divorce for transgender individuals)[601][602] N/a 86 4 Signed Yes Yes
Region of Murcia Murcia Spain Spain July 2018 De facto couple[603][604] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Northern Territory Northern Territory Australia Australia December 2018 Marriage (codification and expansion)[605] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Western Australia Western Australia Australia Australia February 2019 Marriage (expansion: ending forced divorce for transgender individuals)[606] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Tasmania Tasmania Australia Australia May 2019 Marriage (codification and expansion)[607] 7 6 12 11 Signed Yes Yes
San Luis Potosí San Luis Potosí Mexico Mexico May 2019 Marriage and concubinage[608][609] N/a 14 12 Signed Yes Yes
Hidalgo (state) Hidalgo Mexico Mexico May 2019 Marriage and concubinage[610] N/a 18 2 Signed Yes Yes
Sinaloa Sinaloa Mexico Mexico June 2019 Marriage and concubinage[611] N/a 18 20 No No
Ibaraki Prefecture Ibaraki Prefecture Japan Japan June 2019 Partnership certificate[612] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Baja California Sur Baja California Sur Mexico Mexico June 2019 Marriage[613] N/a 14 5 Signed Yes Yes
Zacatecas Zacatecas Mexico Mexico August 2019 Marriage[614] N/a 11 13 No No
Oaxaca Oaxaca Mexico Mexico October 2019 Marriage (codification)[615] N/a 25 10 Signed Yes Yes
Sark Sark United Kingdom United Kingdom October 2019 Marriage (agreement in principle)[616] N/a Passed N/a Yes Yes
March 2020 Marriage (primary legislation)[617] N/a Passed Signed
April 2020 Marriage (secondary legislation)[618] N/a Passed N/a
Cayman Islands Cayman Islands United Kingdom United Kingdom July 2020 Domestic partnership[619] N/a 8 9 No No
Baja California Baja California Mexico Mexico July 2020 Marriage (Constitutional codification)[620][621][622] N/a 16 9 No No
Curaçao Curaçao Netherlands Netherlands September 2020 Marriage[623] N/a Withdrawn[624] No No
Cayman Islands Cayman Islands United Kingdom United Kingdom September 2020 Civil partnership[625] N/a Signed Yes Yes
Puebla Puebla Mexico Mexico November 2020 Marriage (codification)[626][627] N/a 31 5 Signed Yes Yes
Gunma Prefecture Japan Japan December 2020 Partnership oath[628] N/a N/a Signed Yes Yes
Tlaxcala Tlaxcala Mexico Mexico December 2020 Marriage[629] N/a 16 3 Signed Yes Yes
Western Australia Western Australia Australia Australia 2020 Marriage and de facto relationship (expansion: surrogacy)[630] -- Passed No No
Sinaloa Sinaloa Mexico Mexico June 2021 Marriage[631] N/a 23 0 Signed Yes Yes
Baja California Baja California Mexico Mexico June 2021 Marriage (Constitutional codification)[632] N/a 18 4 Ratified by municipalities Yes Yes
Yucatán Yucatán Mexico Mexico August 2021 Marriage (Constitutional codification)[633] N/a 20 5 Published Yes Yes
Saga Prefecture Japan Japan August 2021 Partnership certificate[634] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Mie Prefecture Japan Japan September 2021 Partnership certificate[635] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Querétaro Querétaro Mexico Mexico September 2021 Marriage, concubinage, adoption[636][637] N/a 20 3 Published Yes Yes
Sonora Sonora Mexico Mexico September 2021 Marriage[638] N/a 25 8 Signed Yes Yes
Zacatecas Zacatecas Mexico Mexico December 2021 Marriage[639] N/a 18 10 Published Yes Yes
Aomori Prefecture Japan Japan February 2022 Partnership certificate[640] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Yucatán Yucatán Mexico Mexico March 2022 Marriage[641] N/a 25 0 Published Yes Yes
Akita Prefecture Japan Japan April 2022 Partnership certificate[642] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Fukuoka Prefecture Japan Japan April 2022 Partnership certificate[643] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Jalisco Jalisco Mexico Mexico April 2022 Marriage (codification)[644] N/a 25 8 Published Yes Yes
Tamaulipas Tamaulipas Mexico Mexico May 2022 Marriage[645] N/a Failed No No
Veracruz Veracruz Mexico Mexico June 2022 Marriage (codification)[646][647][648] N/a 38 4 Published Yes Yes
Aguascalientes Aguascalientes Mexico Mexico August 2022 Marriage[649] N/a Failed No No
Quintana Roo Quintana Roo Mexico Mexico August 2022 Marriage expansion (adoption)[650] Passed Signed Yes Yes
Tochigi Prefecture Japan Japan September 2022 Partnership certificate[651] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Durango Durango Mexico Mexico September 2022 Marriage (codification)[652][647][653] N/a 15 9 Signed Yes Yes
Tabasco Tabasco Mexico Mexico October 2022 Marriage[654] N/a 23 5 Signed Yes Yes
Tokyo Metropolis Japan Japan November 2022 Partnership certificate[655] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
State of Mexico Edomex Mexico Mexico November 2022 Marriage and concubinage[656][657] N/a 50 16 Signed Yes Yes
Tamaulipas Tamaulipas Mexico Mexico November 2022 Marriage[658][659] N/a 23 12 Signed Yes Yes
Guerrero Guerrero Mexico Mexico December 2022 Marriage and concubinage[660] N/a 38 6 Signed Yes Yes
Nuevo León Nuevo León Mexico Mexico June 2023 Marriage (codification) and concubinage[661] N/a 23 10 Signed Yes Yes
Baja California Sur Baja California Sur Mexico Mexico March 2024 Marriage (expansion: adoption)[662] N/a Passed Vetoed Pending
Aruba Aruba Netherlands Netherlands June 2024 Marriage[663][664][665] N/a 10 10 Failed No No
Chiapas Chiapas Mexico Mexico December 2024 Marriage[666] N/a 30 4 Signed Yes Yes
Guanajuato Guanajuato Mexico Mexico May 2025 Marriage[667] N/a 18 18 No No
Guanajuato Guanajuato Mexico Mexico June 2025 Marriage[668] N/a 17 19 No No
Guanajuato Guanajuato Mexico Mexico December 2025 Marriage[668] N/a 25 9 Signed Yes Yes
Chihuahua (state) Chihuahua Mexico Mexico Unknown Marriage[669] N/a Pending
Aguascalientes Aguascalientes Mexico Mexico Unknown Marriage[670] N/a Pending
Hong Kong Hong Kong China China September 2025 Partnership[671] N/a 14 71 No No
Close

Note:

  1. Legislation overturned by the Australian Federal Government.
  2. Replaced with registered relationship on 27 June 2012.
  3. Replaced with civil partnership in December 2015.
  4. Repealed in May 2016.
  5. Legislation overturned by the High Court on 12 December 2013.
  6. Ordinances and regulations do not require royal assent.
  7. Same-sex marriage was not legal in Australia when the bill was debated.
  8. Same-sex marriage was not legal in Australia when the bill was passed.

Prohibition of same-sex unions

Legislative efforts

Various countries have passed (or tried to pass) legislation to prevent same-sex marriage or repeal the existing laws (in some cases including criminalization or fines). Sometimes approving explicit bans or defining marriage as solely the union between a man and a woman, excluding all others.

National level

More information Country, Date ...
Country Date Ban on Upper house Lower house Head of state Final
outcome
Yes No Yes No
El Salvador El Salvador February 1858 Marriage[672] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Suriname Suriname December 1859 Marriage[673] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Colombia Colombia May 1873 Marriage[674] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes [e 1]
Costa Rica Costa Rica January 1888 Marriage[675] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes [e 2]
Jamaica Jamaica 1897 Marriage[676] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Zambia Zambia October 1918 Marriage[677] Passed by Order in Council in times of colonial North Rodhesia. Not parlametary votation required. Signed Yes Yes
Italy Italy March 1942 Marriage[678] Passed by Regio Decreto of King Vittorio Emanuele III, first proposed by Consiglio dei Ministri. Not parlametary votation required. Signed Yes Yes
Eswatini Eswatini 1952 Adoption[679] Passed by Order in Council. Not parlament existed at that time. Signed Yes Yes
Cape Verde Cape Verde January 1968 Marriage and adoption[680] Passed by portuguese government. Cape Verde was a portuguese colonial dependence at that time. Signed Yes Yes
Fiji Fiji January 1969 Marriage[681] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Liberia Liberia April 1973 Marriage[682] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
United Kingdom United Kingdom (England and Walles) July 1973 Marriage[683] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes[e 3]
Indonesia Indonesia January 1974 Marriage[684] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Costa Rica Costa Rica August 1974 Marriage[685] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes[e 4]
Scotland Scotland May 1977 Marriage[686] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes[e 5]
Bhutan Bhutan 1980 Marriage[687] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Venezuela Venezuela July 1982 Marriage[688] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Peru Peru July 1984 Marriage[689] Passed by Decreto Legislativo (Ley N.º 23403 May 17, 1982) and then confirmed by Decreto Legislativo N.º 295 of 1984. Congress didn´t vote on it. Signed Yes Yes
Algeria Algeria June 1984 Marriage[690] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Ecuador Ecuador July 1984 Marriage[691][692] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes [e 6]
Honduras Honduras August 1984 Marriage[693] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Paraguay Paraguay January 1985 Marriage and free union[694] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Cuba Cuba 1987 Marriage[695] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes [e 7]
Philippines Philippines July 1987 Marriage (explicit recognition of only heterosexual marriage)[696] N/a N/a Signed Yes Yes
Angola Angola December 1988 Marriage and de facto union[697] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Cambodia Cambodia July 1989 Marriage[697] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Laos Laos December 1990 Marriage[698] N/a Unanimous vote. Signed Yes Yes
China China 1992 Adoption[699] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Panama Panama May 1994 Marriage[700] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
El Salvador El Salvador September 1994 Marriage[701] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Costa Rica Costa Rica August 1995 Cohabitation[685] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes[e 8]
United States United States September 1996 Marriage (federal recognition and allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted under the laws of other states)[702] 85 14 342 67 Signed Yes Yes[e 9]
Philippines Philippines 1998 Marriage (explicit limitation of marriage to heterosexual cisgender couples)[703] Failed N/a N/a No No
United States United States July 1999 Adoption (federal law, ban only for District of Columbia)[704] N/a 213 215 No No
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan December 1999 Marriage[705] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Moldova Moldova October 2000 Marriage[706] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Kenya Kenya July 2001 Adoption (couples and single LGBT person)[707] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Botswana Botswana December 2001 Marriage[708] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Fiji Fiji 2002 Marriage (explicit ban)[709] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Ukraine Ukraine January 2003 Marriage[710] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland October 2003 Marriage[711] Passed as a Order in Council, not by vote in the Northern Ireland Assembly. It was approved without a recorded vote in the UK Parliament Signed Yes Yes[e 10]
Philippines Philippines July 2004 Marriage (explicit non-recognition of unions performed abroad)[712] Failed N/a N/a No No
Philippines Philippines 2004 Marriage (explicit limitation of marriage to heterosexual cisgender couples)[703][713] Failed Failed N/a No No
Australia Australia August 2004 Marriage[714][715] 38 6 Passed Signed Yes Yes[e 11]
Madagascar Madagascar May 2005 Adoption[716] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
New Zealand New Zealand May 2005 Marriage[717] N/a 47 73 No No
Canada Canada December 2006 Marriage[718] N/a 123 175 No No
China China May 2007 Adoption of Chinese children by LGBT couples and single people in foreign countries[699] N/a N/a Signed Yes Yes
Madagascar Madagascar June 2007 Marriage (explicit ban)[719] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Greece Greece July 2008 Civil Union[720] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes[e 12]
The Bahamas Bahamas 2008 Marriage[721] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Ethiopia Ethiopia July 2009 Marriage[722] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Philippines Philippines December 2009 Marriage (criminalization)[723] N/a Failed N/a No No
Timor-Leste East Timor September 2011 Marriage[724] N/a 27 1 Signed Yes Yes
Lesotho Lesotho 2011 Adoption[725] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Mali Mali December 2011 Marriage and adoption[726][727] N/a 121 0 Signed Yes Yes
Russia Russia September 2012 Marriage[728] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Russia Russia June 2013 Adoption of Russian children by LGBT couples and single people in foreign countries that recognise same-sex unions[729][730][731] 131 0 443 0 Signed Yes Yes
Uganda Uganda December 2013 All types of same-sex unions and adoption (criminalization)[732] N/a Passed Signed No No[e 13]
Nigeria Nigeria January 2014 All types of same-sex unions and adoption(criminalization)[733] 109 0 Passed Signed Yes Yes
Vietnam Vietnam June 2014 Ban legal marriage and cohabitation but also allows simbolic same-sex marriages (previously criminalized)[734][735] N/a 237 160 Signed Yes Yes
Malawi Malawi April 2015 Marriage (criminalization)[736][737] N/a 193 0 Signed Yes Yes
Nicaragua Nicaragua April 2015 Marriage, free unions and adoption[738] N/a 64 0 Signed Yes Yes
Panama Panama October 2015 Marriage (recognition of foreign unions)[739] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Benin Benin November 2015 Adoption (at national level restricted only for heterosexual couples and explicit ban on foreign same sex couples)[740] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Nauru Nauru 2017 Marriage[741] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Haiti Haiti August 2017 Marriage (criminalization)[742][743] 14 1 Failed No No
Estonia Estonia August 2017 Civil Union[744] N/a 19 47 No No
Bolivia Bolivia June 2018 Marriage and free union[745] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Honduras Honduras August 2018 Adoption[746] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Nepal Nepal August 2018 Marriage[747] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes [e 14]
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe May 2019 Marriage[748] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Ivory Coast Ivory Coast June 2019 Marriage[749] N/a 213 10 Signed Yes Yes
Armenia Armenia November 2019 Marriage and adoption (explicit ban)[750] N/a Failed No No
Mozambique Mozambique December 2019 Marriage and domestic unions[751][752] N/a Passed unanimously and by acclamation Signed Yes Yes
Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea 2021 Adopcion by same sex couples (by individuals is unclear)[753] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
China China January 2021 Marriage[754][755] N/a 2879 2 Signed Yes Yes
Panama Panama March 2021 Adoption[756] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Guatemala Guatemala March 2022 Marriage (criminalization)[757][758] N/a 152 8 No No[e 15]
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe September 2022 Civil Partnership[759] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Latvia Latvia April 2023 Adoption[760] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Uganda Uganda June 2023 All types of same-sex unions and adoption (criminalization)[761][762] N/a 384 1 Signed Yes Yes
Hungary Hungary July 2023 Adoption (report same-sex couples which raise children to the state authorities)[763] N/a Passed Vetoed No No
Russia Russia July 2023 Marriage, adoption and foster care for trans people.[764][765] Unanimous vote Unanimous vote Signed Yes Yes
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan 2024 Adoption[766] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Ghana Ghana February 2024 Same sex unions (criminalization)[767] N/a Passed through an unopposed voice vote Not signed No No
Belarus Belarus July 2024 Marriage[768] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Georgia (country) Georgia September 2024 Marriage and adoption[769] N/a 84 0 Signed Yes Yes
Namibia Namibia October 2024 Marriage and recognition of foreign unions (not criminalization)[770] Passed Passed[771] Signed Yes Yes
Vanuatu Vanuatu November 2024 Marriage, regardless of religious, civil or traditional type marriages[772] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Iraq Iraq February 2025 Marriage[773] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Namibia Namibia March 2025 Marriage and recognition of foreign unions (criminalization and fines)[774][775] Unanimous vote Unanimous vote Vetoed No No
Tonga Tonga August 2025 Marriage (explicit ban)[776] N/a 17 0 Signed Yes Yes
Burkina Faso Burkina Faso September 2025 Marriage, adoption and same sex intimacy (sodomy criminalization)[777] N/a 71 0 Signed Yes Yes
Niger Niger June 2026 Marriage and same sex intimacy (criminalization)[778] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Ukraine Ukraine 2026 Same sex unions Pending Pending
Ghana Ghana 2026 Same sex unions (criminalization) N/a Passed through an unopposed voice vote Pending
Close

Notes:

  1. Struck down in April 2016
  2. Struck down in May 2020
  3. Repealed in December 2013
  4. Struck down by Supreme Court in 2018
  5. Repealed in February 2014
  6. Struck down in July 2019
  7. Repealed in September 2022
  8. Repealed in 2022
  9. Repealed in December 2022
  10. Repealed in July 2019
  11. Repealed in December 2017
  12. Repealed in December 2015.
  13. Struck down by Supreme Court in 2014 on technical grounds
  14. Struck down in June 2026
  15. Passed by Congress, archived after threat of presidential veto.

Sub-national level

In countries with a federal system of governance, states and territories often may forbid recognition to same-sex couples in their own jurisdictions.

More information State/Territory, Country ...
State/Territory Country Date Same-sex union Upper House Lower house Head of State Law
enacted?
Yes No Yes No
Goa Goa India India 1867/1961 Marriage[779] N/a It comes from the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867, which was extended to the overseas provinces by decree[780] Signed Yes Yes
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu India India 1869 Marriage[781] N/a Adopted by decree in 1869 Extended from the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867, which was extended to the overseas provinces[782] Signed Yes Yes
Andaman and Nicobar Islands Andaman and Nicobar Islands India India July 1958 Marriage[783] N/a n/a Passed by Chief Commissioner Yes Yes
Chuuk State Chuuk Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia 1966 Marriage[784] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Jammu and Kashmir (union territory) Jammu and Kashmir India India May 1981 Marriage[785] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Assam Assam India India April 1989 Marriage[786] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Pohnpei State Pohnpei Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia April 1989 Statutory civil marriage, statutory religious marriage[787] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh India India September 1997 Marriage[788] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Kosrae Kosrae Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia 2000 Marriage[789] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh India India May 2002 Marriage Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Gujarat Gujarat India India March 2006 Marriage[790] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Bihar Bihar India India August 2006 Marriage[791] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Chhattisgarh Chhattisgarh India India November 2006 Marriage[792] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Cook Islands Cook Islands New Zealand New Zealand April 2007 Marriage (explicit ban)[793] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Niue Niue New Zealand New Zealand 2007 Marriage[794] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Tokelau Tokelau New Zealand New Zealand September 2007 Marriage[795] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Haryana Haryana India India April 2008 Marriage[796] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Arunachal Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh India India January 2009 Marriage[797] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Zanzibar Zanzibar Tanzania Tanzania 2011 Adoption[798] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Republika Srpska Republika Srpska  Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina February 2023 Marriage[799] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Nigeria Cross River  Nigeria Nigeria July 2026 Same sex unions (criminalization)[800] N/a Unanimous vote Signed Yes Yes
Nigeria Kano  Nigeria Nigeria Unknown Marriage (criminalization)[801] N/a pending
Close

Note: In India all States must record all marriages under federal laws but no federal law allows or recognizes same-sex unions of any kind. In addition, States may pass their own laws on same-sex unions if they wish.

Constitutional efforts

Thirty-two countries have passed constitutional amendments banning a variety of same-sex unions. These amendments have taken several forms. Some are limited to banning only marriage. Others ban marriage and prohibit legislation providing "similar rights".

National level

Cuba was the first country to prohibit same-sex marriage in February 1976.[802] Paraguay, Honduras and Bolivia are the only cases that not only marriage is prohibited but also de facto unions.[803] Vietnam, Cuba, and Ecuador repealed their same-sex marriage bans in November 2013, April 2019, and June 2019, respectively.

As of 29 August 2026, thirty-three countries prohibit same-sex marriage on a national level. Those are Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, the Central African Republic, Croatia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Georgia, Honduras, Hungary, Jamaica, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Palau, Paraguay, Poland, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Slovakia, South Sudan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

More information Country, Date ...
Country Date Ban on Upper house Lower house Head of state Final
outcome
Yes No Yes No
Cuba Cuba February 1976 Marriage[804] General referendum (97.7%) Yes Yes[c 1]
Burkina Faso Burkina Faso June 1991 Marriage[805] General referendum (92.83%) Yes Yes
Bulgaria Bulgaria July 1991 Marriage[806] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Vietnam Vietnam April 1992 Marriage[807] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes[c 2]
Paraguay Paraguay June 1992 Marriage and de facto union[810] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Lithuania Lithuania October 1992 Marriage[811] General referendum (78.24) Yes Yes
Cambodia Cambodia September 1993 Marriage[812][813] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Belarus Belarus March 1994 Marriage[814] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Moldova Moldova July 1994 Marriage[815] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Ukraine Ukraine June 1996 Marriage[816] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Poland Poland May 1997 Marriage[817][818][819][820][821][822] General referendum (52.71%) Signed Yes Yes
Venezuela Venezuela December 1999 Marriage and de facto union[823] General referendum (71.78%) Yes Yes
Rwanda Rwanda May 2003 Marriage[824] General referendum (93.42%) Yes Yes
United States United States July 2004 Marriage[825] 48 50 227 186 No No
Burundi Burundi February 2005 Marriage[826] General referendum (92.02%) Yes Yes
Honduras Honduras March 2005 Marriage and de facto union[827][828] N/a 128 0 Signed Yes Yes
Uganda Uganda September 2005 Marriage[829] N/a 111 17 Signed Yes Yes
Latvia Latvia December 2005 Marriage[830] N/a 65 5 Signed Yes Yes
Democratic Republic of the Congo DR Congo December 2005 Marriage[831][832] General referendum (84.31%) Yes Yes
United States United States July 2006 Marriage[833] 49 48 236 187 No No[c 3]
Serbia Serbia October 2006 Marriage[834] General referendum (53.04%) Yes Yes
Montenegro Montenegro October 2007 Marriage[835][836] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes
Ecuador Ecuador September 2008 Marriage[837] General referendum (69.46%) Yes Yes[c 4]
Palau Palau November 2008 Marriage[838][839] Specific referendum (83.56%) Yes Yes
Bolivia Bolivia January 2009 Marriage and free union[840] General referendum (61.43%) Yes Yes
El Salvador El Salvador October 2009 Marriage[841] N/a 46 38 No No[c 3]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines November 2009 Marriage[842][843] General referendum (43.71%) No No
Angola Angola 2010 Marriage and de facto union [844] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Dominican Republic Dominican Republic January 2010 Marriage[845] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Kenya Kenya August 2010 Marriage[846] General referendum (68.55%) Yes Yes
Zambia Zambia March 2011 Marriage[847][848] N/a Failed No No
Jamaica Jamaica April 2011 Marriage and any other similar relationship[849] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Hungary Hungary April 2011 Marriage[850][851][852] N/a 262 44 Signed Yes Yes
South Sudan South Sudan July 2011 Marriage[853][854] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
Liberia Liberia June 2012 Marriage[855] Passed Failed No No
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe March 2013 Marriage[856] General referendum (94.49%) Yes Yes
North Macedonia North Macedonia September 2013 Marriage[857] N/a Failed No No
Croatia Croatia December 2013 Marriage[858] Specific referendum (65.87%) Yes Yes
El Salvador El Salvador February 2014 Marriage[859] N/a Failed No No
Slovakia Slovakia June 2014 Marriage[860] N/a 102 18 N/a Yes Yes
North Macedonia North Macedonia January 2015 Marriage[861][862] N/a Failed No No
Slovakia Slovakia February 2015 Marriage[863] Specific referendum (94.50%) No No[c 5]
Armenia Armenia December 2015 Marriage[864][865] General referendum (63.37%) Yes Yes
Switzerland Switzerland February 2016 Marriage[866] Specific referendum (49.16%) No No[c 6]
Central African Republic Central African Republic March 2016 Marriage[867][868] General referendum (93.00%) Signed Yes Yes
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan December 2016 Marriage[869] General referendum (79.59%) Yes Yes
Colombia 2017 Same-sex adoption (overturn Supreme Court ruling)[870][871] 55 25 12 20 Not Placed on Ballot Failed No
Georgia (country) Georgia October 2017 Marriage[872][873][874] N/a 117 2 Vetoed[c 7] Yes Yes
Czech Republic Czech Republic June 2018 Marriage[875][876] N/a Failed No No
Romania Romania October 2018 Marriage[877][878][879] 107 13 232 22 N/a No No[c 8]
Specific referendum (93.40%)
Panama Panama October 2019 Marriage[880] N/a Withdrawn No No
Russia Russia July 2020 Marriage[881][882] Passed Passed Signed Yes Yes
General referendum (77.92%)
Estonia Estonia January 2021 Marriage[883] N/a 29 49 No No
Hungary Hungary December 2020 Adoption[884] N/a 134 45 N/a Yes Yes
Honduras Honduras January 2021 Marriage and de facto union (special majorities of the Assembly (3/4) to modify prohibition)[885][886] N/a 88 28 Signed Yes Yes
Belarus Belarus February 2022 Marriage (explicit ban)[887] General referendum (65.2%) Yes Yes
Mali Mali June 2023 Marriage (explicit ban)[888] General referendum (97%)[889] Yes Yes
Tuvalu Tuvalu November 2023 Marriage[890] N/a[891] Unanimous vote Signed Yes Yes
Gabon Gabon November 2024 Marriage (perpetual ban)[c 9][892] General referendum (91.6%) Yes Yes
Slovakia Slovakia September 2025 Adoption[893] N/a 90 7 N/a Yes Yes
Kazakhstan Kazakshtan July 2026 Marriage[894] General referendum (89.9%) Yes Yes
Senegal Senegal July 2026 Marriage[895] N/a 129 0 N/a No No[896]
Lithuania Lithuania 2026 Marriage and civil unions (explicit ban)[897] N/a Pending
Close

Notes:

  1. Repealed in April 2019
  2. Repealed on 1 January 2014, as the 1992 Constitution was replaced by the new one, which does not contain a definition of marriage.[808][809]
  3. Failed to meet the required threshold.
  4. Struck down by the Constitutional Court on 12 June 2019
  5. Although the amendment received 94.5% of the vote, turnout was only at 21.4%. For referendums in Slovakia to be valid, turnout has to surpass 50% of registered voters.[863]
  6. declared invalid by the Federal Supreme Court in 2019
  7. Although the amendment received majority of the vote, turnout was only at 20.41%. For referendums in Romania to be valid, turnout has to surpass 30% of registered voters.
  8. According to article 169, the constitutional definition of marriage as a heterosexual union cannot be modified in any way.

Sub-national level

The first jurisdiction to explicitly ban same-sex marriage in its Constitution was the U.S. state of Alaska in November 1998, however, same-sex marriage was legalised in the state in October 2014. The first jurisdiction to enact such a ban was Yucatán, in July 2009, but since August 2010 the state recognizes same-sex marriages performed in Mexico and in August 2021 local congress removed the heterosexual definition of marriage from the state's constitution.

More information State/Territory, Country ...
State/Territory Country Date Ban on Upper House Lower house Head of
state
Final
outcome
Yes No Yes No
Morelos Morelos Mexico Mexico November 1930 Marriage[898] N/a Passed N/a Yes Yes[d 1]
Kosrae Kosrae Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia January 2005 Marriage[900] N/a Failed N/a No No
Yucatán Yucatán Mexico Mexico July 2009 Marriage[901] N/a Passed N/a Yes Yes[d 2]
Baja California Baja California Mexico Mexico May 2011 Marriage[902][903] N/a Passed Signed Yes Yes[d 3]
Colima Colima Mexico Mexico July 2013 Marriage[481][482][906] N/a 17 2 N/a Yes Yes[d 4]
Canton of Zurich Zurich Switzerland Switzerland November 2016 Marriage[908][909] N/a 52 110 N/a No No
Specific referendum (19.09%)
Veracruz Veracruz Mexico Mexico July 2018 Marriage[910] N/a 32 10 N/a No No[d 5]
British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands United Kingdom United Kingdom 2026 Marriage[911] N/a Pending
Close

National level (Non Constitution)

Some countries have explicit bans on same sex marriage but it is not in the constitution but rather laid out in other laws.

More information Country, Date ...
Country Date Info
Azerbaijan Unknown Article 2.3 of the Family Code reads: "Marriage is a voluntary union of a man and a woman registered in the relevant executive authority for the purpose family."[912]
Bahamas Unknown The Bahamas Marriage Act defines marriage as only being possible between a man and a woman.[913]
Bahrain Unknown Under Islamic law, same sex marriage is illegal.[914]
Bangladesh Unknown Islamic law prohibits same sex marriage.[915]
Brunei Unknown Same-sex marriage is prohibited by Sharia law, which is enforced in Brunei.[916]
Egypt Unknown Egypt has never accepted same-sex marriage, and anyone caught trying to perform a ceremony could be arrested.[917]
Guinea-Bissau Unknown The Civil Code's Article 1577 states that "Marriage is the contract concluded between two people of different sexes who intend to legitimately form a family through a full communion of life."[918]
Iraq Unknown Article 3.1 of the Personal Status Law defines that "Marriage is a contract between a man and a woman who is lawfully permissible to him, the purpose of which is to establish a bond for a mutual life and procreate children."[919]
Jordan Unknown Article 5 of the Personal Status Law states that marriage is a contract between a man and a woman who are legally permitted to form a family.[920]
Lebanon Unknown In Lebanon, only religious marriages are permitted. 15 separate family laws are in force in Lebanon and are administered by separate religious courts.

The country does not recognize same-sex marriage or any other form of legal partnership for same-sex couples.[921]

Malaysia Unknown Islamic law prohibits same sex marriage.[922]
Maldives Unknown Section 410 (a) (8) of Maldives penal code states: “A person commits an offense if two persons of the same sex enter into a marriage.”[923]
Myanmar Unknown Myanmar does not recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions under its national laws. The country’s legal framework, influenced by colonial-era legislation and religious family laws, does not provide provisions for such unions. Specifically, the Special Marriage Act of 1872, which governs interfaith marriages, assumes heterosexual partnerships and does not explicitly permit same-sex marriages. Additionally, religious family laws applicable to Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, and Hindus in Myanmar do not recognize same-sex unions

On March 2, 2014, Myo Min Htet and Tin Ko Ko held what is considered Myanmar’s first public same-sex wedding ceremony. Dressed in traditional Burmese attire, they celebrated their union in front of approximately 200 guests at a hotel in Yangon. Despite the ceremony’s cultural significance, it held no legal standing under Myanmar law.[924]

Nicaragua Unknown Article 72 of the constitution states that marriage is between a man and a woman.[925]
Oman Unknown Same-sex marriage is prohibited by Sharia law, which is enforced in Oman.[926]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Unknown Same sex marriage is banned in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.[927]
Saudi Arabia Unknown Sharia law defines marriage as between a man and a woman, therefore banning same-sex marriage.[928]
Sierra Leone Unknown [929]
Turkmenistan Unknown The Family Code of Turkmenistan defines marriage as a voluntary equal union of a man and a woman.[930]
United Arab Emirates Unknown Because each has different needs, marriage in the United Arab Emirates is defined as a union between a man and a woman.[931]
Uzbekistan Unknown Chapter 14 of the Uzbek constitution declares marriage to be based on "traditional family values".[932]
Vatican City Unknown Same-sex marriage is forbidden in Vatican City due to canon law.[933]
Qatar 1915 In Qatar, same-sex marriage is not permitted by law. The strict Muslim nation of Qatar forbids same-sex marriage and all other same-sex relationships. LGBTQ+ people face significant discrimination in the nation's laws and cultural standards, and homosexuality carries a jail sentence or fine. Because of this, LGBTQ+ people in Qatar are not granted the same rights and protections as heterosexual couples, and homosexual marriage is neither permitted nor permitted.
Syria 1949 Same sex marriage has been banned in the country since 1949.[934]
Libya 1953 [935]
Ghana 1960 [936]
Guatemala 1963 Article 78 of the Civil Code of Guatemala (1963) defines marriage as a social institution where a man and a woman are legally united.[937]
Algeria 1966 [938]
Lesotho 1966 The common law definition of marriage is “a union of one man with one woman, to the exclusion, while it lasts, of all others”[939]
Cameroon 1967 [940]
Cape Verde 1968 Marriage, according to Article 1551 of the Civil Code, is the "voluntary union between two people of different sexes, in accordance with the law, who intend to form a family through a full communion of life."

According to the Civil Code's Article 1587, "A marriage contracted by two people of the same sex is legally non-existent."[941]

Afghanistan 1971 Article 25 in Afghanistans Law on Marriage (1971) states: “The marriage certificate is a document of man and woman which proves the contract of marriage.”[942]
Liberia 1973 Sub. §2.1. of Title 9 of the Domestic Relations Law defines marriage as “a civil contract between a male and female”.[943]
Indonesia 1974 There is no legal recognition of same-sex unions in Indonesia. Article 1 of the Law No. 1 of the Year 1974 on Marriage states unequivocally that marriage is "a physical and spiritual bond between a man and a woman as husband and wife, having the purpose of establishing a happy and lasting family founded on the Belief in God Almighty".[1] Moreover, Article 2 states that a marriage is only lawful if it is in accordance with the laws of the religions of the respective parties. Meanwhile, Indonesians who have entered into same-sex marriage abroad are not allowed to register their marriage in Indonesia due to Article 1 of the Marriage Act.[2] Additionally, Article 34(1) of the Law No. 23 of the Year 2006 on Civil Administration obliges all marriages to be reported to the local authorities within 60 days after marriage, and the explanation of Article 34(1) states that "marriage" can only be performed by a man and a woman.[944]
Somalia 1975 According to the 1975 Marriage Law, a marriage is a contract with equal rights and responsibilities between a man and a woman with the goal of starting a family.[945]
Solomon Islands 1978 Banned since 1978.[946]
Barbados 1979 In Barbados, same-sex marriage is essentially prohibited by the 1979 Marriage Act, which defines a marriage as one between a man and a woman.[947]
Iran 1979 Definition of marriage used follows from the Islamic definition of a union between a man and women. The marriage is prohibited and same-sex sexual activity is punished as stated in the Penal code.[948]
Bhutan 1980 [687]
Togo 1980 [949]
Mauritania 1983 [950]
Kuwait 1984 Article 1 of the Kuwaiti Personal Status Law (1984) defines marriage as a contract between a man and a woman who is legally available to him, for the purpose of cohabitation, matrimony and strengthening the power of the nation.[951]
Republic of the Congo 1984 The Republic of Congo Family Code (Law No. 073-84):

Section II. Marriage. Article 127. - Definition. "Marriage is the public act by which a man and a woman establish between them a legal and lasting union, the conditions of formation, effects and dissolution of which are determined by this Code."[952]

Philippines 1987 Marriage (explicit recognition of only heterosexual marriage)[696]
Guinea 1988 [953]
Marshall Islands 1988 The Marshall Islands government Act, which was published in 1988, set down guidelines for marriage, birth, and death registration. Marriage-related terms only applied to couples of different sexes (i.e., one man and one woman).[954]
Senegal 1989 According to Article 101 of the Senegalese Family Code, "An engagement is a solemn agreement by which a man and a woman promise marriage to each other." This makes marriage between a man and a woman clear.[955]
Laos 1990 The Family Law defines marriage to be a union between a man and a woman. Laos has not introduced any specific legislation around marriage equality for same-sex couples.[956]
North Korea 1990 Marriage in North Korea is defined as between a man and a woman. Article 8 of the Family Law of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea states “Marriage may be done only between one man and one woman.”[957]
Sudan 1991 [958]
North Macedonia 1992 Family Law from 1992, section 6: "Marriage is a legally regulated union of life between a man and a woman in which the interests of the spouses, the family and society are realized."[959]
Peru 1993 Article 234 of the Civil Code establishes that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. The Civil Code establishes that "homosexuality" is grounds for divorce, separation and annulment of marriage.

The Constitution (1993) establishes that cohabitation is the stable union of a man and a woman (Article 5).[960]

Yemen 1993 Same sex marriage has been banned since 1993.[961]
Panama 1994 Article 57 of the 1972 constitution states that marriage is the legal basis of the family, and rests on the equality of rights of spouses (no mention of gender.)

Article 58 of the 1972 constitution provides for the right to register as civil marriage the de facto union of persons of different sex after cohabitating for at least five consecutive years in conditions of single partnership and stability.[962]

Article 34 of the Family Code (1994) establishes that people of the same sex cannot marry each other.

In 2018, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that the American convention on Human rights mandates the recognition of same-sex marriage, recommending that countries issue decrees until legislation was brought into place. In March 2023, after seven years of delay the court ruled that there is no positive right to same-sex marriage in Panama under the constitution, halting any potential change for the time being through the courts.[963]

Fiji 2001 The Fijian Marriage Act of 1968 was adjusted in 2002 to explicitly state that "marriage in this registry (or place) which is in law the voluntary union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others." Additionally, previous Fijian Prime Ministers have been opposed to same-sex marriage.[964]
Turkey 2001 The Civil Code of Turkey does not recognize same sex marriage.[965]
Benin 2002 "Marriage may only be contracted between a man of at least eighteen years of age and a woman of at least eighteen years of age," according to Article 123 of the Persons and Family Code (2002).[966]
Albania 2003 Article 7 of the 2003 Family Law states that "Marriage can be concluded between a man and a woman who are 18 years or older." In accordance with Article 163, "Cohabitation is a factual union between a man and a woman."[967]
Comoros 2005 Article 13 of the Family Code (2005) defines marriage as a legal union contract between a man and a woman.

Article 77 establishes that a woman may request a divorce if her husband is homosexual.[968]

Gambia 2005 [969]
Madagascar 2007 Law No. 2007-022 on Marriage and Matrimonial Regimes, Article 2, declares:

"Marriage between two persons of the same sex is prohibited, whether celebrated before the Civil Registrar or performed according to traditional ceremonies."

"Gender identity" is mentioned in Article 39 as a reason why marriage is completely null and void.[970]

Zambia 2007 Zambia's Matrimonial Causes Act, which specifically ruled same-sex marriages null and void, went into effect in 2007.

Zambia added a new provision to its constitution in 2010 that specifically prohibits same-sex marriage.

The term "domestic relationship" is defined by the Anti-Gender-Based Violence Act (2011) as "a relationship, between a victim and a respondent in any of the following ways: (b) the victim cohabits with the respondent in a relationship in the nature of a marriage notwithstanding that they are not married, were not married to each other, or could not or cannot be married to each other." Those in same-sex relationships are included in this definition.[971]

Tajikistan 2008 Same-sex marriage is banned in Tajikistan.[972]
Ethiopia 2009 Ethiopia's federal law places a statutory ban on same-sex marriage.[973]
Romania 2009 Romania's so-called Civil Code (Law no. 287/2009) forbids same-sex marriage by law.[974]
Kazakhstan 2010 The Marriage and Family Code defines marriage as a union with equal rights between a man and a woman. It also states "The factual cohabitation of a man and a woman, as well as persons of the same sex shall not be recognized as the marriage (matrimony)."

Article 11(1) states marriage shall not be allowed between persons of the same sex.[975]

East Timor 2011 The Civil Code (Law No. 10/2011), states the following:

Article 1467 (Notion of marriage): Marriage is the contract concluded between two people of different sex who want to start a family through a full communion of life, in accordance with the provisions of this Code.

Article 1517 (Non-existent marriages): 1. It is legally non-existent: e) Marriage contracted by two people of the same sex.[976]

Chad 2013 Marriage is defined as the union of a man and a woman in Article 28 of Law 13-008 2013-05-10 PR on the Organization of Civil Status in the Republic of Chad.[977]
Nigeria 2014 [733]
Eritrea 2015 Eritrea effectively bans same-sex marriage. The country does not recognize same-sex unions in any legal form, and there are no provisions for civil partnerships or domestic partnerships for same-sex couples.

Furthermore, Eritrea criminalizes same-sex sexual activity under Article 310 of its 2015 Penal Code, which applies to both men and women. This law carries a penalty of five to seven years’ imprisonment. The legal framework, coupled with the absence of anti-discrimination protections, creates a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ individuals.[978][979]

Malawi 2015 Malawi's Marriage, Divorce, and Family Relations Law went into force in April 2015. Among other reasons, the law forbids gay marriages from being acknowledged at all. Additionally, it defines cohabitation and marriage as involving a man and a woman.

By defining gender as the sex allocated at birth, the legislation also makes heterosexual partnerships between transgender and cisgender individuals of the opposite gender illegal.[980]

Vietnam 2015 Law on Marriage and Family (2015) states that marriage and cohabitation are between a man and a woman.

Article 8(2) states "The State shall not recognize marriage between persons of the same sex."[734]

El Salvador 2018 Article 90 of the Family Code establishes that it is a cause for absolute nullity of marriage when the parties are of the same sex.[981]
Nauru 2018 There is no legal recognition of same-sex couples in Nauru. Section 49 of The Births Deaths and Marriages Registration Act (2017) states that "Marriage in the Republic shall be the voluntary union of one man and one woman." Section 70 states that "A marriage solemnized in a foreign country shall not be recognized as a marriage in the Republic if the marriage is (a) between a male and another male; (b) between a female and another female."[982]
Singapore 2018 Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reaffirmed that marriage will continue to be "between a man and a woman" at the same time he declared that Section 377a of the criminal code would be abolished. On November 29 of the same year, Singapore further restricted homosexual marriage.[983]
Angola 2019 Marriage is defined as the voluntary union of a man and a woman in Article 20 of the Family Code.[984]
Ivory Coast 2019 Same-sex marriage is essentially prohibited in Côte d'Ivoire by the 2019 Law on Marriage, which defines a marriage as a partnership between a man and a woman.[985]
Mozambique Mozambique 2019 Marriage and domestic unions have been banned since 2019.[751]
China 2021 The Civil Code, which came into effect on January 1, 2021, defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, thereby excluding same-sex couples from legal marriage recognition.[754][755]
Vanuatu 2024 In 2024, the Vanuatu parliament passed an amendment to the Marriage Act, defining a marriage as being between a man and a woman, banning same-sex marriage.[986]
Close

Notes:

  1. Repealed in June 2016[899]
  2. Repealed in September 2021
  3. Unenforced since November 2017;[904] repealed in July 2021[905]
  4. Repealed in May 2016.[907]

See also

Notes

References

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks