# 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, followed by Thailand on 23 January 2025.
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. Some cities in Cambodia provide same-sex couples with some limited rights and benefits, including hospital visitation rights. Several prefectures in Japan issue partnership certificates for same-sex couples. In Hong Kong, the same-sex partners of residents can receive spousal visas and spousal benefits.

## Current situation
### National level

| Status | Country | Legal since | Country population (Last Census count) |
| Marriage (2 countries) | Taiwan | 2019 | 23,400,220 |
| Marriage (2 countries) | 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 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Azerbaijan | — | 10,218,536 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Bahrain | — | 1,496,300 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Bangladesh* | — | 165,159,000 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Bhutan | — | 727,145 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Brunei* | — | 422,678 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | China | — | 1,393,970,000 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | East Timor | — | 1,261,407 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | India | — | 1,402,737,000 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Indonesia | — | 265,015,300 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Iran* | — | 81,773,300 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Iraq* | — | 39,339,753 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Japan | — | 126,490,000 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Jordan | — | 10,235,500 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Kazakhstan | —it | 20,286,084 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Kuwait* | — | 4,226,920 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Laos | — | 6,961,210 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Lebanon | — | 6,093,509 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Malaysia* | — | 34,112,400 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Maldives* | — | 378,114 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Myanmar* | — | 53,862,731 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | North Korea | — | 25,610,672 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Oman* | — | 4,633,752 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Pakistan* | — | 201,938,000 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Philippines | — | 114,123,600 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Qatar* | — | 2,450,285 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Saudi Arabia* | — | 33,413,660 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Singapore | — | 6,036,900 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | South Korea | — | 51,207,874 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Sri Lanka* | — | 21,444,000 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Syria* | — | 24,672,760 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Tajikistan | — | 8,931,000 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Turkey | — | 85,664,944 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Turkmenistan* | — | 7,057,841 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | United Arab Emirates* | — | 9,541,615 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Uzbekistan* | — | 32,653,900 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | Vietnam | — | 100,309,209 |
| No recognition (38 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | 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 |
| Constitutional ban on marriage (6 countries) | Cambodia | 1993 | 17,336,307 |
| Constitutional ban on marriage (6 countries) | Georgia | 2018 | 3,694,600 |
| Constitutional ban on marriage (6 countries) | Kyrgyzstan | 2016 | 7,161,900 |
| Constitutional ban on marriage (6 countries) | Mongolia | 1992 | 3,504,741 |
| Constitutional ban on marriage (6 countries) | 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 |
| Marriage (2 jurisdictions) | United Kingdom | 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 |
| No recognition (4 states) | Northern Cyprus | | 476,214 |
| No recognition (4 states) | Palestine | — | 4,780,978 |
| No recognition (4 states) | South Ossetia | — | 53,532 |
| Total | — | — | 5,390,998 (0.1% of the Asian population) |

## Future legislation

Part of the LGBTQ rights series :
Legal status of same-sex unions :
Marriage
Andorra
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Denmark
Ecuador
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malta
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Recognized
Israel
United States:
 • American Samoa :
Civil unions or registered partnerships but not marriage
Bolivia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Monaco
Montenegro
San Marino
United Kingdom:
 • Bermuda
 • Cayman Islands :
Minimal recognition
Bulgaria
Cambodia
China
 • Hong Kong
India
Japan
Lithuania
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands:
 • Sint Maarten
Poland
Romania
Slovakia :
See also
Same-sex union legislation
Same-sex union court cases
Timeline of same-sex marriage
Recognition of same-sex unions in Africa
Recognition of same-sex unions in Asia
Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe
Recognition of same-sex unions in the Americas
Recognition of same-sex unions in Oceania
Marriage privatization
Divorce of same-sex couples
Domestic partnership
Military policy
Adoption
Listings by country
LGBTQ rights by country or territory :
Notes
1 2 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.
↑ Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.
↑ Neither performed nor recognized in six British Overseas Territories.
1 2 Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations of the US. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.
↑ 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.
1 2 3 4 5 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.
↑ 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 confer some limited legal benefits in China, including decisions about medical and personal care.
↑ Hong Kong provides inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.
↑ Indian courts have recognised guru–shishya, nata pratha or maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not legally binding.
↑ Most Japanese cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, but they are not legally binding.
↑ Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse provide residency rights in Namibia.
↑ Romania provides hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status. :
LGBTQ portal :
vte :

### Marriage
#### Opposition proposals or proposals without a parliamentary majority

Japan: A bill was introduced by the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan in March 2023.

### Non-marital partnership
#### Opposition proposals or proposals without a parliamentary majority

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. 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. In 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

## Public opinion

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