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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]
The Supreme Court Of India in a landmark decision on 16 August 2022 widened the definition of family under Indian law. This case has allowed for further recognition of live-in relationships of LGBT couples.[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 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]
Status | Country | Legal since | Country population (Last Census count) |
---|---|---|---|
Marriage (2 countries) |
Taiwan | 2019 | 23,576,705 |
Thailand | 2024 | 69,183,173 | |
Subtotal | — | — | 92,759,878 (1.9% of the Asian population) |
Civil unions (1 country) |
Cyprus | 2015 | 1,117,000 |
Subtotal | — | — | 1,117,000 (0.05% of the Asian population) |
Limited cohabitation (3 countries) |
India | 2022 | 1,336,740,000 |
Israel | 2006 | 8,910,800 | |
Nepal | 2024 | 29,218,867 | |
Subtotal | — | — | 1,374,869,679 (29.71% of the Asian population) |
Total | — | — | 1,468,746,545 (30.75% of the Asian population) |
No recognition (39 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal |
Afghanistan* | — | 31,575,018 |
Azerbaijan | — | 9,898,085 | |
Bahrain | — | 1,496,300 | |
Bangladesh* | — | 165,159,000 | |
Bhutan | — | 727,145 | |
Brunei* | — | 422,678 | |
China | — | 1,393,970,000 | |
East Timor | — | 1,261,407 | |
Indonesia | — | 265,015,300 | |
Iran* | — | 81,773,300 | |
Iraq* | — | 39,339,753 | |
Japan | — | 126,490,000 | |
Jordan | — | 10,235,500 | |
Kazakhstan | — | 18,272,400 | |
Kuwait* | — | 4,226,920 | |
Laos | — | 6,961,210 | |
Lebanon | — | 6,093,509 | |
Malaysia* | — | 32,663,200 | |
Maldives* | — | 378,114 | |
Myanmar* | — | 53,862,731 | |
North Korea | — | 25,610,672 | |
Oman* | — | 4,633,752 | |
Pakistan* | — | 201,938,000 | |
Philippines | — | 106,438,000 | |
Qatar* | — | 2,450,285 | |
Saudi Arabia* | — | 33,413,660 | |
Singapore | — | 5,612,253 | |
South Korea | — | 51,635,256 | |
Sri Lanka* | — | 21,444,000 | |
Syria* | — | 18,284,407 | |
Tajikistan | — | 8,931,000 | |
Turkey | — | 80,810,525 | |
Turkmenistan* | — | 5,851,466 | |
United Arab Emirates* | — | 9,541,615 | |
Uzbekistan* | — | 32,653,900 | |
Vietnam | — | 94,660,000 | |
Yemen* | — | 28,915,284 | |
Subtotal | — | — | 2,982,645,645 (65.37% of the Asian population) |
Constitutional ban on marriage (6 countries) |
Armenia | 2015 | 2,969,800 |
Cambodia | 1993 | 16,069,921 | |
Georgia | 2018 | 3,729,600 | |
Kyrgyzstan | 2016 | 6,309,300 | |
Mongolia | 1992 | 3,225,080 | |
Russia | 2020 | 146,877,088 | |
Subtotal | — | — | 179,180,789 (3.9% of the Asian population) |
Total | — | — | 3,161,826,434 (70.54% of the Asian population) |
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 |
Status | Country | Since | State population (Last estimate count) |
---|---|---|---|
No recognition (4 states) * same-sex sexual activity illegal |
Abkhazia | — | 242,862 |
Northern Cyprus | 313,626 | ||
Palestine*[nb 1] | — | 4,780,978 | |
South Ossetia | — | 53,532 | |
Total | — | — | 5,390,998 (0.1% of the Asian population) |
Thailand: In November 2023 Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai Party announced that his Cabinet had approved a draft same-sex marriage law,[11] which Parliament began to debate on 21 December 2023.[12] Besides the government's version of the draft bill, three additional versions by the Move Forward Party, the Democrat Party and the civil sector were considered.[13][14] All four bills passed overwhelmingly at 369 to 10,[15] with the House of Representatives approving the formation of an ad-hoc committee to combine the four drafts into one over 15 days pending further debate expected in 2024.[16] On 27 March 2024, the House overwhelmingly passed the draft law by 400 to 10. On June 18, it was passed by the Senate on a vote of 130 to 4, with 18 abstentions.[17] It will come into effect 120 days after it receives Royal Assent and is published.[18][19]
Japan: A bill was introduced by the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan in March 2023.[20]
Philippines: In 2022, two same-sex civil union bills were proposed to the Philippine Congress. The first bill, named the "Civil Partnership Act", was proposed by Bagong Henerasyon party-list representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy in July 2022. This bill would provide recognition of same-sex couples in the Philippines and grant them the same benefits and protections as opposite-sex married couples on a national level. This bill was also proposed in previous Congresses, but did not pass.[21] In August 2022, senator Robin Padilla proposed a similar bill named the "Civil Unions Act", which would provide benefits and protections for same-sex couples similar to Herrera-Dy's, as well as inheritance rights, adoption rights, and other privileges granted to married couples.[22] On February 2023, Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez proposed a new Civil Partnership Bill, which allows both same-sex and opposite-sex couples to enter into a civil partnership and enjoy equal rights and protection under the law[23]
Country or territory | Pollster | Year | For | Against | Neutral[lower-alpha 1] | Margin of error |
Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armenia | Pew Research Center | 2015 | 3% | 96% | 1% | ±3% | [24][25] |
Cambodia | Pew Research Center | 2023 | 57% | 42% | 1% | [26] | |
China | Ipsos | 2021 | 43% | 19% | - | [citation needed] | |
Georgia | Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group | 2021 | 10% (12%) |
75% (88%) |
15% | [27] | |
Hong Kong | Pew Research Center | 2023 | 58% | 40% | 2% | [26] | |
India | Pew Research Center | 2023 | 53% |
43% | 4% | ±3.6% | [28] |
Indonesia | Pew Research Center | 2023 | 5% | 92% | 3% | ±3.6% | [28] |
Israel | Pew Research Center | 2023 | 36% | 56% | 8% | ±3.6% | [28] |
Japan | Kyodo News | 2023 | 64% (72%) |
25% (28%) |
11% | [29] | |
Asahi Shimbun | 2023 | 72% (80%) |
18% (20%) |
10% | [30] | ||
Ipsos | 2023 | 38% | 40% [31% support some rights] |
22% not sure | ±3.5% | [31] | |
Pew Research Center | 2023 | 68% |
26% | 6% | ±2.75% | [26] | |
Kazakhstan | Pew Research Center | 2016 | 7% | 89% | 4% | - | [32][25] |
Malaysia | Pew Research Center | 2023 | 17% | 82% | 1% | [26] | |
Philippines | SWS | 2018 | 22% | 61% | 16% | [33] | |
Russia | Ipsos | 2021 | 17% | 52% | - | [citation needed] | |
Singapore | Ipsos | 2023 | 32% |
50% [23% support some rights] |
19% | ±3.5% | [31] |
Pew Research Center | 2023 | 45% | 51% | 4% | [26] | ||
South Korea | Ipsos | 2023 | 35% |
42% [18% support some rights] |
23% not sure | ±3.5% | [31] |
Pew Research Center | 2023 | 41% | 56% | 3% | [26] | ||
Sri Lanka | Pew Research Center | 2023 | 23% | 69% | 8% | [26] | |
Taiwan | CNA | 2023 | 63% | 37% | [34] | ||
Pew Research Center | 2023 | 45% |
43% | 12% | [26] | ||
Thailand | Ipsos | 2023 | 55% |
29% [18% support some rights] |
16% not sure | ±3.5% | [31] |
Pew Research Center | 2023 | 60% | 32% | 8% | [26] | ||
Turkey | Ipsos | 2023 | 20% |
52% [22% support some rights] |
28% not sure | ±3.5% [lower-alpha 2] | [31] |
Vietnam | Pew Research Center | 2023 | 65% | 30% | 5% | [26] |
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.[35][36]
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