Same-sex adoption

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

DATE

Same-sex adoption

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

Summary

39
Legal
39 regions (20%)
Legal
57
Somewhere in between
57 regions (29%)
Somewhere in between
53
Illegal
53 regions (27%)
Illegal
49
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
49 regions (25%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
46%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
23 regions (46%)
Somewhere in between
18 regions (36%)
Illegal
8 regions (16%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Oceania
14%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
2 regions (14%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
3 regions (21%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
9 regions (64%)
South America
42%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
5 regions (42%)
Somewhere in between
3 regions (25%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
3 regions (25%)
North America
22%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
5 regions (22%)
Somewhere in between
10 regions (44%)
Illegal
5 regions (22%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
3 regions (13%)
Africa
2%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
1 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
13 regions (24%)
Illegal
20 regions (37%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
20 regions (37%)
Asia
7%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
3 regions (7%)
Somewhere in between
13 regions (30%)
Illegal
16 regions (36%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
12 regions (27%)

Timeline of same-sex adoption

Number of countries to legalize same-sex adoption over the past 61 years.

Recent Changes

2025

2024

2023

2022

Same-sex adoption by Country

Legal

Same-sex adoption is legal in 39 regions.

  1. Asia (3)
  2. Israel 2023
  3. Taiwan 2023
  4. Thailand 2025
  5. Europe (23)
  6. Andorra 2014
  7. Austria 2015
  8. Belgium 2006
  9. Croatia 2022
  10. Denmark 2009
  11. Estonia 2024
  12. Finland 2017
  13. France 2013
  14. Germany 2017
  15. Greece 2024
  16. Iceland 2006
  17. Ireland 2015
  18. Liechtenstein 2023
  19. Luxembourg 2015
  20. Malta 2014
  21. Netherlands 2000
  22. Norway 2009
  23. Portugal 2016
  24. Slovenia 2022
  25. Spain 2005
  26. Sweden 2002
  27. Switzerland 2022
  28. United Kingdom 2003
  29. North America (5)
  30. Canada 2011
  31. Costa Rica 2020
  32. Cuba 2022
  33. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  34. United States 2017
  35. Africa (1)
  36. South Africa 2010
  37. Oceania (2)
  38. Australia 2018
  39. New Zealand 2013
  40. South America (5)
  41. Argentina 2010
  42. Brazil
  43. Chile 2022
  44. Colombia 2015
  45. Uruguay 2009

Second parent adoption only

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

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

Single only

Same-sex adoption is single only in 54 regions.

  1. Asia (13)
  2. China
  3. India
  4. Indonesia
  5. Lebanon
  6. Malaysia 1826
  7. Myanmar
  8. Palestine
  9. Philippines
  10. Singapore
  11. Syria
  12. Timor-Leste
  13. Turkmenistan 2020
  14. Vietnam 2000
  15. Europe (15)
  16. Albania 2003
  17. Armenia
  18. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  19. Bulgaria
  20. Cyprus
  21. Kosovo 2006
  22. Latvia
  23. Lithuania
  24. Moldova
  25. North Macedonia
  26. Romania 2023
  27. Russia 2023
  28. Slovakia 2017
  29. Turkey
  30. Ukraine 2016
  31. North America (10)
  32. Bahamas
  33. Barbados
  34. Belize
  35. El Salvador
  36. Grenada
  37. Guatemala 2007
  38. Haiti 2013
  39. Jamaica
  40. Saint Lucia
  41. Trinidad and Tobago 1947
  42. Africa (13)
  43. Algeria 1966
  44. Angola
  45. Botswana
  46. Côte d’Ivoire
  47. Equatorial Guinea 2021
  48. Eswatini 1952
  49. Ghana
  50. Malawi
  51. Mauritius
  52. Mozambique
  53. Nigeria
  54. Zambia
  55. Zimbabwe
  56. South America (3)
  57. Guyana
  58. Peru
  59. Venezuela

Illegal

Same-sex adoption is illegal in 53 regions.

  1. Asia (16)
  2. Bahrain
  3. Bangladesh
  4. Brunei 1951
  5. Iran
  6. Jordan
  7. Kazakhstan
  8. North Korea
  9. Oman 1979
  10. Pakistan
  11. Qatar 1915
  12. South Korea
  13. Sri Lanka
  14. Tajikistan
  15. United Arab Emirates
  16. Uzbekistan
  17. Yemen
  18. Europe (8)
  19. Azerbaijan 1999
  20. Belarus
  21. Georgia 2024
  22. Hungary 2020
  23. Monaco
  24. Montenegro 2007
  25. Poland 2021
  26. Serbia 2005
  27. North America (5)
  28. Antigua and Barbuda 2016
  29. Dominican Republic
  30. Honduras 2018
  31. Nicaragua
  32. Panama 2021
  33. Africa (20)
  34. Benin 2015
  35. Burundi
  36. Cameroon
  37. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  38. Djibouti 2017
  39. Egypt
  40. Ethiopia 2018
  41. Kenya 2002
  42. Lesotho 1966
  43. Libya
  44. Madagascar 2005
  45. Mali 2011
  46. Mauritania 1983
  47. Morocco
  48. Namibia
  49. Niger
  50. Rwanda
  51. Seychelles
  52. Tanzania
  53. Uganda
  54. Oceania (3)
  55. Fiji
  56. Papua New Guinea
  57. Tonga 2013
  58. South America (1)
  59. Paraguay 2020

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on same-sex adoption is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 49 regions.

  1. Asia (12)
  2. Afghanistan N/A
  3. Bhutan
  4. Cambodia Ambiguous
  5. Iraq N/A
  6. Japan Ambiguous
  7. Kuwait N/A
  8. Kyrgyzstan
  9. Laos Ambiguous
  10. Maldives N/A
  11. Mongolia
  12. Nepal
  13. Saudi Arabia N/A
  14. Europe (1)
  15. Vatican City N/A
  16. North America (3)
  17. Dominica
  18. Mexico Varies by Region
  19. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  20. Africa (20)
  21. Burkina Faso
  22. Cape Verde
  23. Central African Republic
  24. Chad
  25. Comoros
  26. Eritrea
  27. Gabon
  28. Gambia
  29. Guinea
  30. Guinea-Bissau
  31. Liberia
  32. Republic of the Congo
  33. Sao Tome and Principe
  34. Senegal
  35. Sierra Leone
  36. Somalia
  37. South Sudan
  38. Sudan
  39. Togo
  40. Tunisia
  41. Oceania (9)
  42. Federated States of Micronesia
  43. Kiribati
  44. Marshall Islands
  45. Nauru
  46. Palau
  47. Samoa
  48. Solomon Islands
  49. Tuvalu
  50. Vanuatu
  51. South America (3)
  52. Bolivia Ambiguous
  53. Ecuador Ambiguous
  54. Suriname
  55. Antarctica (1)
  56. Antarctica N/A

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