Image credit: Unsplash
                            
            
                            Countries Where Same-Sex Marriage Is Legal
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            3 March 2024
                            
          
      
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
            
         
         
         
            
                            Image credit: Pexels
                            
            
                            As demand grows for LGBTQ+ rights, here is a list of countries where marriage equality exists. The data was sourced from the Human Rights Campaign's report
                            
            
                            
                            
          
         
                                   
                                         
      
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
            
         
         
         
            
                            Image credit: Unsplash
                            
            
                            Twenty-five countries across the globe have legalised same-sex marriage after nationwide voting while 10 countries have legalised it through court decisions
                            
            
                            
                            
          
         
                                   
                                         
      
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
            
         
         
         
            
                            Image credit: Unsplash
                            
            
                            The Netherlands was the first country to legalise same-sex marriages in 2001. This was followed by Canada and Spain in 2005 and South Africa in 2006
                            
            
                            
                            
          
         
                                   
                                         
      
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
            
         
         
         
            
                            Image credit: Unsplash
                            
            
                            In 2009-10, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Portugal, and Argentina also recognised marriage equality
                            
            
                            
                            
          
         
                                   
                                         
      
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
            
         
         
         
            
                            Image credit: Pexels
                            
            
                            Denmark's passed the legislation in June 2012 and the year 2013 witnessed Uruguay, New Zealand, France and Brazil allow same-sex couples to wed
                            
            
                            
                            
          
         
                                   
                                         
      
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
            
         
         
         
            
                            Image credit: Pexels
                            
            
                            In 2014-15, England and Wales, Scotland, Luxembourg, Ireland and the United States allowed same-sex couples to have marriage licenses 
                            
            
                            
                            
          
         
                                   
                                         
      
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
            
         
         
         
            
                            Image credit: Pexels
                            
            
                            The next two years witnessed Greenland, Colombia, Finland, Germany, Malta and Australia recognising marriage equality
                            
            
                            
                            
          
         
                                   
                                         
      
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
            
         
         
         
            
                            Image credit: Pexels
                            
            
                            Austria, Taiwan and Ecuador legalised it in 2019 whereas Ireland and Costa Rica did it in 2020
                            
            
                            
                            
          
         
                                   
                                         
      
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
            
         
         
         
            
                            Image credit: Pexels
                            
            
                            Switzerland, Mexico, Chile, Slovenia and Cuba legally recognised same-sex marriage in 2022 while Andorra extended civil marriage to same-sex couples in 2023
                            
            
                            
                            
          
         
                                   
                                         
      
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
            
         
         
         
            
                            Image credit: Pixaby
                            
            
                            Greece and Estonia are new entrants to the list with the legislation passed this year
                            
            
                            
                            
          
         
                                   
                                         
      
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
            
         
         
         
            
                            Image credit: Pixaby
                            
            
                            Debates on marriage equality are also going on in the Czech Republic, Japan, Philippines and Thailand
                            
            
                            
                            
          
         
                                   
                                         
      
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
            
         
         
         
            
                            Image credit: Unsplash
                            
            
                            Check more stories
                            
            
                            
                            
            
          ndtv.com