Recognition of same-sex unions in Oceania

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

Recognition of same-sex relationships in Oceania

  Marriage

  Marriages performed elsewhere are recognized (American Samoa)

  No recognition of same-sex couples

  Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples (Palau, Tuvalu)

  Same-sex sexual activity illegal, but criminalisation not enforced

  Same-sex sexual activity illegal

(Country names will appear with mouse-overs when map is viewed at full size. Encircling lines are the exclusive economic zones of each state.)

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Countries performing civil unions in Oceania

  Gender-neutral civil unions.

  Civil unions never performed.

Currently two countries and eight territories in Oceania recognize some type of same-sex unions. Two Oceanian countries, Australia and New Zealand,^{[nb 1]} and eight territories or states, namely Easter Island, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, New Caledonia, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Pitcairn Islands and Wallis and Futuna allow same-sex couples to legally marry. In American Samoa, same-sex marriage is not performed, but same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions are recognized.

Current situation

National level

Status	Country	Legal since	Country population (Last Census count)
Marriage (2 countries)	Australia	2017[1]	24,754,000
	New Zealand	2013[2]	4,840,750
Total	—	—	29,594,750 (80% of the Oceanian population)
No recognition (10 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal
	Federated States of Micronesia	—	135,869
	Fiji	—	856,346
	Kiribati *	—	96,335
	Marshall Islands	—	73,630
	Nauru	—	12,329
	Papua New Guinea *	—	5,172,033
	Samoa *	—	179,000
	Solomon Islands *	—	494,786
	Tonga *	—	106,137
	Vanuatu	—	240,000
Subtotal	—	—	7,366,465 (19.44% of the Oceanian population)
Constitutional ban on marriage ( 2 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal	Palau	2008[3][4]	19,409
	Tuvalu *	2023[5]	11,146
Subtotal	—	—	30,555 (0.1% of the Oceanian population)
Total	—	—	7,397,020 (20% of the Oceanian population)

Sub-national level

Status	Country	Jurisdiction	Legal since
Marriage (8 jurisdictions)
	Chile	Easter Island	2022
	France	New Caledonia French Polynesia Wallis and Futuna	2013[6]
	United Kingdom	Pitcairn Islands	2015[7]
	United States	Guam (2015)[8] Hawaii (2013)[9] Northern Mariana Islands (2015)[10]	Varies
Recognizes marriages performed in other jurisdictions only (1 jurisdiction)	United States	American Samoa[11][12][13]	2022
No recognition (3 jurisdictions)	New Zealand	Cook Islands Niue Tokelau	—

Public opinion

  Indicates the country/territory has legalized 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 same-sex sexual activity is illegal

Opinion polls for same-sex marriage by country

Country	Pollster	Year	For	Against	Neutral[a]	Margin of error	Source
Australia	Ipsos	2023	63%	27% [16% support some rights]	10% not sure	±3.5%	[14]
New Zealand	Ipsos	2023	70%	20% [11% support some rights]	9%	±3.5%	[14]

Opinion polls for same-sex marriage by dependent territory and sub-national entities

Country	Pollster	Year	For	Against	Neutral[a]	Margin of error	Source
Guam	University of Guam	2015	55%	29%	16%	-	[15]

Notes

1. Also comprises other responses, including: Don't know; No answer; Other; Refused.

See also

• LGBTQ portal
• Oceania portal

• LGBT rights in Oceania
• Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey
• Recognition of same-sex unions in Africa
• Recognition of same-sex unions in the Americas
• Recognition of same-sex unions in Asia
• Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe

Notes

1. Excluding Tokelau, Niue and the Cook Islands.