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
54
Illegal
54 regions (27%)
Illegal
48
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
48 regions (24%)
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
17 regions (39%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (25%)

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 2015
  43. Chile 2022
  44. Colombia 2015
  45. Uruguay 2009

Second parent adoption only

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

  1. Europe (3)
  2. 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 2007
  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 2006

Illegal

Same-sex adoption is illegal in 54 regions.

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

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on same-sex adoption is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 48 regions.

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

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