Recognition of same-sex unions in Asia

Debate has occurred throughout Asia over proposals to legalize same-sex marriage as well as civil unions.

Following a Constitutional Court ruling and a subsequent legislative act, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide on 24 May 2019,[1] followed by Thailand on 23 January 2025.[2]

In addition, Israel recognises same-sex marriages performed abroad, though not as full marriage, and same-sex marriages are legal in the UK sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia and the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Israel also recognises unregistered cohabitation for same-sex couples.[3] Some cities in Cambodia provide same-sex couples with some limited rights and benefits, including hospital visitation rights.[4][5] Several prefectures in Japan issue partnership certificates for same-sex couples.[6][7][8] In Hong Kong, the same-sex partners of residents can receive spousal visas and spousal benefits.[9][10]

Current situation

National level

Status Country Legal since Country population
(Last Census count)
Marriage
(2 countries) 		Taiwan 2019 23,400,220
Thailand 2025 65,932,105
Subtotal — — 89,332,325
(1.9% of the Asian population)
Civil union
(1 country) 		Cyprus 2015 1,117,000
Subtotal — — 1,117,000
(0.05% of the Asian population)
Recognition of foreign marriage
(1 country)
Israel 2006 10,026,900
Subtotal — — 10,026,900
(0.1% of the Asian population)
Temporary marriage-like union
(1 country)
Nepal 2024 29,164,578
Subtotal — — 29,164,578
(0.7% of the Asian population)
Total — — 133,640,803
(2.75% of the Asian population)
No recognition
(38 countries)
* same-sex sexual activity illegal 		Afghanistan* — 31,575,018
Azerbaijan — 10,218,536
Bahrain — 1,496,300
Bangladesh* — 165,159,000
Bhutan — 727,145
Brunei* — 422,678
China — 1,393,970,000
East Timor — 1,261,407
India — 1,402,737,000
Indonesia — 265,015,300
Iran* — 81,773,300
Iraq* — 39,339,753
Japan — 126,490,000
Jordan — 10,235,500
Kazakhstan — 20,286,084
Kuwait* — 4,226,920
Laos — 6,961,210
Lebanon — 6,093,509
Malaysia* — 34,112,400
Maldives* — 378,114
Myanmar* — 53,862,731
North Korea — 25,610,672
Oman* — 4,633,752
Pakistan* — 201,938,000
Philippines — 114,123,600
Qatar* — 2,450,285
Saudi Arabia* — 33,413,660
Singapore — 6,036,900
South Korea — 51,207,874
Sri Lanka* — 21,444,000
Syria* — 24,672,760
Tajikistan — 8,931,000
Turkey — 85,664,944
Turkmenistan* — 7,057,841
United Arab Emirates* — 9,541,615
Uzbekistan* — 32,653,900
Vietnam — 100,309,209
Yemen* — 28,915,284
Subtotal — — 4,385,382,645
(95.37% of the Asian population)
Constitutional ban on marriage
(6 countries)
 Armenia 2015 2,969,800
Cambodia 1993 17,336,307
Georgia 2018 3,694,600
Kyrgyzstan 2016 7,161,900
Mongolia 1992 3,504,741
Russia 2020 146,150,789
Subtotal — — 179,180,789
(3.9% of the Asian population)
Total — — 4,564,563,434
(97.25% of the Asian population)

Sub-national level

Status Country Jurisdiction Legal since Jurisdiction population

(Last Census count)

Marriage

(2 jurisdictions)

United Kingdom Akrotiri and Dhekelia 2014 15,700
British Indian Ocean Territory 2014 3,000 (military personnel only)
Total 18,700

Partially-recognized and unrecognized states

Status Country Since State population
(Last estimate count)
No recognition
(4 states)
Abkhazia — 242,862
Northern Cyprus 476,214
Palestine[nb 1] — 4,780,978
South Ossetia — 53,532
Total — — 5,390,998
(0.1% of the Asian population)
Part of the LGBTQ rights series
Marriage

Recognized

Civil unions or registered partnerships but not marriage
Minimal recognition
See also
Notes
  1. ^ a b Performed in the Netherlands proper (including the Caribbean Netherlands), as well as in Aruba and Curaçao. May be registered in Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.
  2. ^ Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.
  3. ^ Neither performed nor recognized in six British Overseas Territories.
  4. ^ a b Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations of the US. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.
  5. ^ Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights in Israel. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of marriage. Domestic civil marriage recognized by some cities.
  6. ^ a b c d The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens. Some member states, including Romania, do not follow the ruling.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Guardianship agreements confer some limited legal benefits in China, including decisions about medical and personal care.
  9. ^ Hong Kong provides inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.
  10. ^ Indian courts have recognised guru–shishya, nata pratha or maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not legally binding.
  11. ^ Most Japanese cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, but they are not legally binding.
  12. ^ Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse provide residency rights in Namibia.
  13. ^ Romania provides hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status.
LGBTQ portal

Public opinion

  Indicates the country/territory has legalized same-sex marriage nationwide
  Indicates that same-sex marriage rights are pending
  Indicates that the country has civil unions or registered partnerships
  Indicates that same-sex sexual activity is illegal
Opinion polls for same-sex marriage by country
Country or territory Pollster Year For Against Neutral[a] Margin
of error 		Source
Armenia Pew Research Center 2015 3% 96% 1% ±3% [11][12]
Cambodia Pew Research Center 2023 57% 42% 1% [13]
China Ipsos 2021 43% 19% -
Georgia Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group 2021 10%
(12%) 		75%
(88%) 		15% [14]
Hong Kong Pew Research Center 2023 58% 40% 2% [13]
India Pew Research Center 2023 53%
 43% 4% ±3.6% [15]
Indonesia Pew Research Center 2023 5% 92% 3% ±3.6% [15]
Israel Pew Research Center 2023 36% 56% 8% ±3.6% [15]
Japan Kyodo News 2023 64%
(72%) 		25%
(28%) 		11% [16]
Asahi Shimbun 2023 72%
(80%) 		18%
(20%) 		10% [17]
Ipsos 2023 38% 40% [31% support some rights]
 22% not sure ±3.5% [18]
Pew Research Center 2023 68%
 26% 6% ±2.75% [13]
Kazakhstan Pew Research Center 2016 7% 89% 4% - [19][12]
Malaysia Pew Research Center 2023 17% 82% 1% [13]
Philippines SWS 2018 22% 61% 16% [20]
Russia Ipsos 2021 17% 52% -
Singapore Ipsos 2023 32%
 50% [23% support some rights]
 19% ±3.5% [18]
Pew Research Center 2023 45% 51% 4% [13]
South Korea Ipsos 2023 35%
 42% [18% support some rights]
 23% not sure ±3.5% [18]
Pew Research Center 2023 41% 56% 3% [13]
Sri Lanka Pew Research Center 2023 23% 69% 8% [13]
Taiwan CNA 2023 63% 37% [21]
Pew Research Center 2023 45%
 43% 12% [13]
Thailand Ipsos 2023 55%
 29% [18% support some rights]
 16% not sure ±3.5% [18]
Pew Research Center 2023 60% 32% 8% [13]
Turkey Ipsos 2023 20%
 52% [22% support some rights]
 28% not sure ±3.5% [b] [18]
Vietnam Pew Research Center 2023 65% 30% 5% [13]

In 2019, a survey by The Economist found that 45% of respondents in the Asia-Pacific region believed same-sex marriage is inevitable in the region, with 31% of respondents disagreeing. Also, three-quarters of those surveyed reported a more open climate for LGBT rights compared to three years ago. Of those reporting an improving climate for LGBT people, 38% cited a change in policies or laws, while 36% said coverage of LGBT issues in mainstream media was a major factor. The top reason cited for diminishing openness was anti-LGBT advocacy by religious institutions.[22][23]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Same-sex sexual activity legal in the West Bank, but legal status in the Gaza Strip is unclear.
  1. ^ Also comprises: Don't know; No answer; Other; Refused.
  2. ^ [+ more urban/educated than representative]

References

  1. ^ "Taiwan's high court paves the way for same-sex marriage, a first in Asia". Los Angeles Times. 24 May 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  2. ^ "Same-sex couples in Thailand speak of happiness before marriage equality law takes effect". AP News. 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  3. ^ Cohen v. Shushan, 212 So.3d 1113 (2017) ("Our decision upholds a fine — but very clear — distinction that has been set within Israel's marital law, one we must maintain out of respect to Israel's law-making authority. Because Ms. Shushan and the late Mr. Cohen's legal union was not entered into through any recognized religious authority, they were not married under Israeli law. Ms. Shushan, therefore, could not be a surviving spouse of Mr. Cohen").
  4. ^ Same-sex couples tie the knot in Cambodia in a stunning public ceremony, Gay Star News, 24 May 2018
  5. ^ "Rainbow Community Kampuchea: What we do?". Archived from the original on 2018-05-30. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  6. ^ Williams, Joe (December 26, 2015). "Another Japanese city to recognise same-sex relationships". Pink News. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  7. ^ Masanori, Hiuchi (1 March 2016). "City in Mie Prefecture to recognize same-sex partnerships in April". Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
  8. ^ "3rd municipality in Japan starts issuing same-sex partnership papers". Japan Today. 3 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Hong Kong's top court sides with gay civil servant in application for spousal benefit and tax assessment". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  10. ^ "Breakthrough for LGBT rights as Hong Kong to recognise same-sex partnerships in spousal visa applications". South China Morning Post. 18 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Religious Belief and National Belonging in Central and Eastern Europe" (PDF). Pew. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Religious belief and national belonging in Central and Eastern Europe - Appendix A: Methodology". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "How people in 24 countries view same-sex marriage". Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  14. ^ "წინარწმენიდან თანასწორობამდე (From Prejudice to Equality), part 2" (PDF). WISG. 2022.
  15. ^ a b c "How people in 24 countries view same-sex marriage". Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  16. ^ Staff (February 13, 2023). "64% favor recognizing same-sex marriage in Japan: Kyodo poll". Kyodo News. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  17. ^ Isoda, Kazuaki (February 21, 2023). "Survey: 72% of voters in favor of legalizing gay marriages". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  18. ^ a b c d e LGBT+ PRIDE 2023 GLOBAL SURVEY (PDF). Ipsos. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  19. ^ "Being Christian in Western Europe" (PDF). Pew Research Center. p. 152. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  20. ^ "First Quarter 2018 Social Weather Survey: 61% of Pinoys oppose, and 22% support, a law that will allow the civil union of two men or two women". 29 June 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  21. ^ Strong, Matthew (19 May 2023). "Support for gay marriage surges in Taiwan 4 years after legalization". Taiwan News. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  22. ^ Glauert, Rik (2019-05-30). "Survey finds 45% believe same-sex marriage inevtiable in Asia-Pacific". Gay Star News. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  23. ^ "Legalisation of same-sex marriage will inevitably spread across Asia-Pacific, say nearly half of respondents in new Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) survey". vietnamnews.vn. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
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