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The world has undoubtedly come a long way since the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2000. Canada became the first North American country to do so (in 2005); South Africa the first, and still only, in Africa (2006); Norway was the first Scandinavian country (2009); Argentina the first in Latin America (2010); New Zealand the first Asia-Pacific country (2013); and in May 2019, Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. Add to this more than 20 other examples, all with their own intricacies, from court rulings to parliamentary votes.
For a rainbow-paved tour of the world, click through the following gallery and discover all the countries where same-sex marriage is legal.
On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, Thailand's senate approved a marriage equality bill to legalize same-sex marriage. It was passed overwhelmingly with 130 votes in favor and only four votes against. The final step required is the King's endorsement of the bill, but this is considered a formality. The law will come into effect 120 days later. “The bill represents a monumental step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand," said Panyaphon Phiphatkhunarnon, founder of the LGBTQ+ rights NGO Love Foundation. Thailand is now the third country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, after Nepal earlier in 2024 and Taiwan in 2019.
Same-sex marriage became legal nationwide in Nepal on April 27, 2024, after years of legal battles by queer couples.
On February 15, 2024, Greece became the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage. The landmark ruling came after the Greek parliament voted 176 for and 76 against the proposed bill. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted that they are "proud to become the 16th (European Union) country to legislate marriage equality,” and declared it "a milestone for human rights, reflecting today’s Greece — a progressive, and democratic country, passionately committed to European values.”
The first Baltic and central European country joined the list when Estonia's parliament voted to legalize same-sex marriage, by 55 votes to 34. Speaking to Reuters after the vote on June 20, 2023, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said her message to central Europe was that “it’s a difficult fight, but marriage and love is something that you have to promote." The law came into effect on January 1, 2024.
As of October 4, 2022, Slovenia became the first Eastern European country to legalize same-sex marriage following a parliamentary vote. Forty-eight members of parliament voted in favor of the amendment that would allow same-sex couples to marry and have children, while 29 voted against it and one person abstained. The vote was held as a result of a high court ruling in July that determined that the country's previous laws discriminated against same-sex couples and needed to be updated. Before the vote, Slovenia’s State Secretary Simon Maljevac said, “With these changes, we are recognizing the rights of same-sex couples that they should have had for a long time."
In September of 2022, Cuba finally recognized same-sex marriage rights after a historic national referendum in which Cubans voted in favor of a family code which also increased protections to women, children, and the elderly, while also allowing LGBTQ couples to adopt. The country’s National Electoral Council announced on September 26 that 74.1% of those eligible to vote had turned out to cast their ballot, and the results signaled an overwhelming support for the new law which is a win for so many minorities.
Andorra became the 33rd country to recognize same-sex marriage rights, as lawmakers in the tiny nation of just 77,000 voted unanimously to allow same-sex couples access to civil marriage on July 21. In 2014, same-sex couples were allowed to form civil unions in Andorra, and in 2020 the bill to recognize same-sex marriages was introduced but pushed back in parliament 10 times until it finally passed in 2022. The new law essentially turns civil unions into civil marriages, eliminating the differences between them. The bill also creates a system for transgender people to change names and gender markers on legal documents without having to provide proof of medical care.
The legalization of same-sex marriage was proposed in Chile back in 2017, and on December 7, 2021, the bill finally passed. It was voted in by the country's congress with an overwhelming majority. Same-sex civil unions had been recognized in Chile since 2015, but this new bill grants same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples, including the ability to adopt children.
Switzerland joined the list after 64.1% of the country voted to allow same-sex couples to marry in a nationwide referendum on September 26, 2021. Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said on Twitter that the government would implement the “Marriage for All” measure quickly, hopefully taking effect on July 1, 2022. The measure will also put same-sex partners on an equal legal footing with heterosexual couples by allowing them to adopt children and use regulated sperm banks, and by facilitating citizenship for same-sex spouses.
On May 26, 2020, Costa Rica became the first country in Central America to recognize and perform same-sex marriages. This was the result of a Supreme Court ruling.
Following a high court ruling, same-sex marriage is legal across Ecuador as of June 12, 2019.
In December 2017, parliament passed legislation allowing for same-sex marriage. Three weeks earlier, a majority of Australians had voted in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage in a nationwide non-binding postal plebiscite.
As an autonomous territory of Denmark, Greenland was not subject to the former's 2012 decision to legalize same-sex marriage. Instead, legislators in Greenland passed a bill to this effect in May 2015, and same-sex marriage was legal in the country by April 2016.
Following parliamentary approval in April 2013, New Zealand became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to legalize same-sex marriage. The decision came into effect the following August.
In July 2010, Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage, after a bill was passed in both houses of the Argentine legislature. The passage of the law also granted married same-sex couples the right to adopt children.
Norway was the first Scandinavian country to legalize same-sex marriage. Passed in parliament in June 2008, same-sex marriage officially became legal in the country on January 1, 2009.
South Africa was the first and still only African country to legalize same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples have been able to wed in the country since November 2006, thanks to a process that involved the high courts and parliament.
Canada became the first country in North America to legalize same-sex marriage, this back in July 2005 via parliamentary vote.
In December 2000, the Netherlands became both the first European country and the first nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. The parliamentary decision officially went into effect in April 2001, also permitting adoption by same-sex couples.
Every country where same-sex marriage is legal
Liechtenstein is the most recent nation to legalize same-sex marriage
LIFESTYLE Lgbtq
The world has undoubtedly come a long way since the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2000. Canada became the first North American country to do so (in 2005); South Africa the first, and still only, in Africa (2006); Norway was the first Scandinavian country (2009); Argentina the first in Latin America (2010); New Zealand the first Asia-Pacific country (2013); and in May 2019, Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. Add to this more than 20 other examples, all with their own intricacies, from court rulings to parliamentary votes. For a rainbow-paved tour of the world, click through the following gallery and discover all the countries where same-sex marriage is legal.