Where Same-Sex Marriage is Legal in 2025

One of the core rights of LGBT+ people is to love whoever they love without fear of prosecution.

Freely choosing one’s intimate partner has become more possible since the second half of the 20th century, when same-sex relationships became legally protected in many countries.

Using data from Equaldex, this map shows the few dozen countries allowing same-sex partners to marry, affirming their right to love and form a family. Most of them also allow same-sex couples to adopt together, giving more children a stable and loving home.

More countries legally recognize these partnerships through civil unions or allow couples to live together.

Most countries, though, don’t recognize same-sex marriage or outright ban it. In them, same-sex couples cannot have the state formally acknowledge their partnership, are unable to claim marital benefits such as pensions, and cannot share custody of their children.