Worldwide Status of Marriage & Relationship Rights

Over a billion people combined live in the 37 countries that have marriage equality.

11 of the 37 countries are in the Americas (including the Americas’ 6 most populous countries) and have a combined population exceeding 750 million.

21 of the 37 countries are in Europe and have a combined population of approximately 250 million.

Taiwan (approx. pop. 24 million) and Nepal are the countries in Asia with marriage equality.

Australia (approx. pop. 24 million) and New Zealand (approx. pop. 4.5 million) are the countries in Oceania with marriage equality.

South Africa (approx. pop. 53 million) is the only country in Africa with marriage equality.

The world’s population exceeds 7 billion. Over a billion people now have legal marriage equality, and we have many more hearts and minds to win over.

Marriage Equality

The following countries have marriage equality:

Andorra
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Columbia
Cuba
Denmark (including Greenland)
Ecuador
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Luxembourg
Malta
Mexico
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay

Some Legal Recognition or Protection

The following countries (or local jurisdictions within the country) provide some legal recognition or protection for LGBT couples. Legal recognition, rights, responsibilities, and protections vary widely among the countries from largely symbolic recognition in one or more local jurisdictions to nationwide partnerships or civil unions that provide extensive legal rights and protections. Only marriage equality provides LGBT couples full dignity, respect, and legal equality:

Aruba (Netherlands)
Bermuda (UK)
Cayman Islands (UK)
Bolivia
Cambodia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Hungary
Israel
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Monaco
Montenegro
San Marino

Last updated February 22, 2024