^ abNeither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.
^Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of marriage. Domestic civil marriage recognized by some cities.
^A "declaration of family relationship" is available in several of Cambodia's communes which may be useful in matters such as housing, but is not legally binding.
^Guardianship agreements, conferring some limited legal benefits, including decisions about medical and personal care.
^Inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.
Debate has occurred throughout Europe over proposals to legalise same-sex marriage as well as same-sex civil unions. Currently 33 of the 50 countries and the 8 dependent territories in Europe recognise some type of same-sex union, among them most members of the European Union (24/27). Nearly 43% of the European population lives in jurisdictions where same-sex marriage is legal.
Poland and Slovakia recognise private contractual cohabitation of two persons (regardless of sexual orientation or relationship type - including non-sexual non-intimate relationships) for limited purposes. Although they do not recognise same-sex unions themselves, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia are bound by a ruling by the European Court of Justice to recognise same-sex marriages performed within the EU and including an EU citizen for the purposes of granting legal residence,[1] though this ruling is not always respected in practice, as in the case of Romania which has not implemented the ruling.[2] In December 2023, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that by failing to legalise same-sex unions, Poland had violated the right to respect for private and family life.[3]
Of the countries that perform same-sex marriages, some still allow civil unions, e.g. the Benelux nations, France and the United Kingdom,[nb 1] whereas Germany, Ireland and the Nordic countries have ended their pre-marriage civil union legislation so that existing unions remain but new ones are not possible.
Over the years, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has handled cases that challenged the lack of legal recognition of same-sex couples in certain member states. The Court has held that the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) requires member states to provide legal recognition, but does not require marriage to be opened to same-sex couples.
In Schalk and Kopf v Austria (24 June 2010), the European Court of Human Rights decided that the European Convention on Human Rights does not oblige member states to legislate for or legally recognise same-sex marriages.[4] However, the Court, for the first time, accepted same-sex relationships as a form of "family life".
In Vallianatos and Others v Greece (7 November 2013),[5] the Court held that exclusion of same-sex couples from registering a civil union, a legal form of partnership available to opposite-sex couples, violates the convention. Greece had enacted a law in 2008 that established civil unions for opposite-sex couples only. A 2015 law extended partnership rights to same-sex couples.
Oliari and Others v Italy (21 July 2015)[6] went further and established a positive obligation upon member states to provide legal recognition for same-sex couples. Italy thus breached the convention; it eventually implemented civil unions in 2016. The decision set a precedent for potential future cases regarding the 23 member states, certain British and Dutch territories, and the states with limited recognition (excluding Kosovo), that currently do not recognise same-sex couples' right to family life.[7]
Chapin and Charpentier v France (9 June 2016)[8] largely confirmed Schalk and Kopf v. Austria, holding that denying a same-sex couple access to marriage does not violate the convention.[9][10] At the time of the judgment, France did allow same-sex marriage, however, the case originated from 2004 (regarding the validity of a same-sex marriage officiated by Noël Mamère), when only pacte civil de solidarité (PACS) was available to same-sex couples in France.
Fedotova and Others v. Russia (17 January 2023) ruled that states are obliged to recognize same-sex unions or civil unions. Other similar cases from other countries, including Poland, are awaiting the Tribunal.[11][12] The ECHR informed the Polish government that it had accepted complaints about the lack of access for same-sex couples to marriage or civil partnerships in Poland (2020).[13]
In a judgment issued on 12 December 2023 in the case of Przybyszewska and Others v. Poland (applications nos. 11454/17 and 9 others), the European Court of Human Rights ruled that by failing to legalise same-sex unions, Poland had violated the right to respect for private and family life (Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights). The Court found that the Polish State had failed to ensure a legal framework providing for the recognition and protection of their same-sex unions, preventing the applicants from formalising fundamental aspects of their lives, which amounted to a breach of their right to respect for their private and family life.[3]
Some debate occurred within the European Union about how to require member states to recognise same-sex marriages conducted in other member states, as well as any European citizens' civil unions or registered partnerships, so as to ensure the right of freedom of movement for citizens' family members.[14]
In 2010, Romanian LGBT activist Adrian Coman and his American partner, Robert Claibourn Hamilton, married in Belgium, and subsequently attempted to relocate to Romania. Romanian authorities refused to recognise their marriage and the case progressed to the European Court of Justice.[15] On 11 January 2018, the ECJ's advocate general, Melchior Wathelet, issued an official legal opinion stating that an EU member country cannot refuse residency rights to the same-sex spouse of an EU citizen on the grounds that it does not recognise same-sex marriage.[16]
On 5 June 2018, the ECJ ruled in Coman's favour, stating the term "spouse" was gender-neutral, and member states are therefore obliged to recognise EU residency rights for partners of EU citizens. However, the court confirmed that it will still be up to member states whether to authorise same-sex marriage.[17][1]
According to research from the European Parliament, some EU states still do not in practice grant residency to same-sex spouses, as required by Coman v. Romania. As of September 2021, Hamilton himself has not been granted residency by the Romanian government, despite the ruling. In September 2021, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning some states failure to implement the ruling, and calling on the European Commission to ensure rights of same-sex spouses are upheld.[2]
National level
Status
Country
Since
Country population (Last Census count)
Marriage (22 countries) * In eleven countries that have passed marriage, other types of partnerships are available too.
Total - Countries with some form of recognition of same-sex unions
—
—
502,747,040 (58.1% of the European population)
No recognition (8 countries) † As part of the European Union, is legally bound to provide residency rights to foreign same-sex spouses of EU citizens in compliance with case C-673/16 of the European Court of Justice.
Constitutional ban on marriage (14 countries) † As part of the European Union, is legally bound to provide residency rights to foreign same-sex spouses of EU citizens in compliance with case C-673/16 of the European Court of Justice. * Other types of partnerships are available.
Lithuania: In May 2022, a group of MPs drafted a civil union bill which would provide limited protections for registered same-sex couples. The proposal is a compromise after a more expansive civil partnership bill was defeated in 2021.[95] On 26 May 2022 the bill passed its first reading in the Seimas with 70 votes in favour, 49 votes against and 6 abstentions.[96] It passed a second reading on 23 May 2023, by a vote of 60–52.[97] In the last few days of the legislative session in July 2024, the parties came to an agreement on the bill and placed it on the agenda for a final reading on the last day of the session. The Social Democrats announced they would boycott the final reading, meaning the bill would be unable to pass without their votes. On 25 July, the government voluntarily pulled the bill from the schedule rather than allowing it to fail,[98] which will allow the bill to be brought back by a new parliament following the October parliamentary election, rather than starting the process over again.
Poland: On 27 December 2023, Poland's new Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, announced that a bill to legalise same-sex unions would be introduced and debated in the Sejm in 2024.[99] On 9 July 2024, a bill allowing both opposite-sex and same-sex couples to form legally registered partnerships (thereby introducing same-sex civil partnerships) was added to the Polish government's agenda.[100]
Ukraine: On 12 July 2022, a petition on same-sex marriage reached 28,000 signatures (above the 25,000 signatures needed to trigger a debate in parliament).[101] President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on 2 August 2022 that while a change of the constitution, which defines marriage as union of a man and a woman, is not allowed as long as martial law is in place, he endorses the introduction of civil unions and asked his government to evaluate legal options.[102] As of 26 May 2023[update], the Ukrainian Parliamentary Judicial Committee is considering Bill № 9103, which would introduce civil partnerships in Ukraine.[103] In August 2024, the Committee on National Health, Medical Assistance and Medical Insurance recommended the bill for adoption in its first reading.[104]
Legal rulings
Romania: In May 2023, the European Court of Human Rights ordered the government to legalize same-sex civil partnerships, in order to protect the rights of same-sex couples to a family life, as protected under the Charter.[105] The government had three months to appeal.
After the approval of same-sex marriage in Portugal in January 2010, 52% of the Portuguese population stated that they were in favor of the legislation.[108] In 2008, 58% of the Norwegian voters supported same-sex marriage, which was introduced in the same year, and 31 percent were against it.[109] In January 2013, 54.1% of Italians respondents supported same-sex marriage.[110] In a late January 2013 survey, 77.2% of Italians respondents supported the recognition of same-sex unions.[111] According to an Ipsos poll published in 2021, 83% of Italians were in favour of legal recognition for same-sex couples, 10% stated they were against and 7% did not have a specific position on the issue.[112] 59% of surveyed Italians stated they were in favour of same-sex couples jointly adopting children, while 36% were opposed.[112]
In Greece, support more than tripled between 2006 and 2017. In 2006, 15% of Greeks said that they agreed with same-sex marriage being allowed throughout Europe,[107] rising to 50.04% by 2017. A survey in 2020 indicated that 56% of the Greek population accept same-sex marriage.[113][114]
In Ireland, a 2008 survey revealed 84% of people supported civil unions for same-sex couples (and 58% for same-sex marriage),[115] while a 2010 survey showed 67% supported same-sex marriage[116] by 2012 this figure had risen to 73% in support.[117] On 22 May 2015, 62.1% of the electorate voted to enshrine same-sex marriage in the Irish constitution as equal to heterosexual marriage.
In Croatia, a poll conducted in November 2013 revealed that 59% of Croats think that marriage should be constitutionally defined as a union between a man and a woman, while 31% do not agree with the idea.[118] In Poland, support for same sex marriages has increased from 17% in 2006[119] to 45% in 2019,[120] according to Eurobarometer; other polls show a majority supporting registered partnerships.[121][122]
In the European Union, support tends to be the lowest in Bulgaria, Latvia, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Lithuania. The average percentage of support for same-sex marriage in the European Union as of 2006 when it had 25 members was 44%, which had descended from a previous percentage of 53%. The change was caused by more socially conservative nations joining the EU.[107] In 2015, with 28 members, average support was at 61%.[106]
Opinion polls
Indicates the country/territory has legalised same-sex marriage nationwide
Indicates that same-sex marriage is legal in certain parts of the country
Indicates that the country has civil unions or registered partnerships
Indicates that the country has pending civil union or registered partnership legislation
Indicates that the country has pending same-sex marriage legislation
^ abBecause some polls do not report 'neither', those that do are listed with simple yes/no percentages in parentheses, so their figures can be compared.
^ abComprises: Neutral; Don't know; No answer; Other; Refused.
^Cohabitation agreement (Greek: σύμφωνο συμβίωσης) since 2015.
^Registered partnership (Icelandic: staðfest samvist) from 1996 until 2010; cohabitation (Icelandic: óvígð sambúð) since 2006.
^Civil partnership (Irish: páirtnéireacht shibhialta) from 2010 until 2015.
^Registered partnership (German: eingetragene Partnerschaft) from 2011 until 2024.
^Partnership (Luxembourgish and German: Partnerschaft; French: partenariat) since 2004.
^Civil union (Maltese: unjoni ċivili) since 2014 and cohabitation (Maltese: koabitazzjoni) since 2017.
^Registered partnership (Dutch: geregistreerd partnerschap) since 1998; also cohabitation (Dutch: samenwonen) gives some rights to non-married couples.
^Registered partnership (Norwegian: registrert partnerskap; Northern Sami: registrerejuvvon párragaskavuohta) from 1993 until 2008.
^De-facto union (Portuguese: união de facto) since 2001.
^Partnership (Slovene: partnerska skupnost) between 2006 and 2017; Expanded partnership (Slovene: partnerska zveza) from 2017 until 2023.
^De-facto couple (Spanish: pareja de hecho; Basque: izatezko bikote; Galician: parella de feito), stable couple (Spanish: pareja estable; Catalan: parella estable; Basque: bikote egonkorra) or de-facto union (Spanish: unión de hecho; Catalan: unió de fet) available in each autonomous community, legalized between 1998 and 2018. Since 1994, limited rights for cohabiting couples.
^Registered partnership (Swedish: registrerat partnerskap) from 1994 until 2009.
^Registered partnership (German: eingetragene Partnerschaft; French: partenariat enregistré; Italian: unione domestica registrata; Romansh: partenadi registrà) from 2004 until 2022.
^Civil partnership (Welsh: partneriaeth sifil) since 2004; same-sex marriage in England, Scotland, and Wales since 2014 and in Northern Ireland since 2020.
^Unregistered cohabitation between 2003 and 2014; Life partnership (Croatian: životno partnerstvo) since 2014.
^Excluding the disputed region of Northern Cyprus.
^Unregistered cohabitation since 2001 and registered partnership (Czech: registrované partnerství) since 2006. Limited rights for a "close person" (osoba blízká) since 1964.
^Unregistered cohabitation (Hungarian: élettársi kapcsolat) and registered partnership (Hungarian: bejegyzett élettársi kapcsolat) since 2009.
^Civil union (Italian: unione civile) and cohabitation contract (Italian: contratto di convivenza) since 2016.
^Legalised by judicial decision in 2022. Partnership (Latvian: partnerība) since 2024.
^Limited residency rights for foreign spouses since 2012.
^Limited rights for a "close person" (blízke osoby) since 1964.
^While Armenia's Constitutional Court has never confirmed that the Constitution of Armenia actually bans same-sex marriage, following the 2015 constitutional referendum article 35 now states that "A woman and a man having attained the marriageable age shall have the right to marry and form a family with free expression of their will." (in Armenian: Ամուսնական տարիքի հասած կինը և տղամարդը միմյանց հետ իրենց կամքի ազատ արտահայտությամբ ամուսնանալու և ընտանիք կազմելու իրավունք ունեն). The article 143 of the Family Code recognizes foreign marriages as long as they conform with the legality of the territory where they were celebrated. Article 152, however, limits the application of foreign family law norms that contradict the internal public order, thus making the registration of same-sex marriages performed overseas possibly incompatible with Armenian law.
^"Mémorial A n° 125 de 2014"(PDF) (in French). Journal officiel du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. 17 July 2014. Archived from the original(PDF) on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
^"Constitution of the Republic of Serbia". Srbija.gov.rs. Retrieved 22 June 2015. Contracting, duration or dissolution of marriage shall be based on the equality of man and woman.