Part of the LGBT rights series |
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Debate has occurred throughout Oceania over proposals to legalize same-sex marriage as well as civil unions.
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.
Status | Country | Legal since | Country population (Last Census count) |
---|---|---|---|
Marriage (2 countries) |
![]() |
2017 [1] | 24,754,000 |
![]() |
2013 [2] | 4,840,750 | |
Total | — | — | 29,594,750 (80% of the Oceanian population) |
No recognition (10 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | |||
![]() |
— | 135,869 | |
![]() |
— | 856,346 | |
![]() |
— | 96,335 | |
![]() |
— | 73,630 | |
![]() |
— | 12,329 | |
![]() |
— | 5,172,033 | |
![]() |
— | 179,000 | |
![]() |
— | 494,786 | |
![]() |
— | 106,137 | |
![]() |
— | 240,000 | |
Subtotal | — | — | 7,366,465 (19.44% of the Oceanian population) |
Constitutional ban on marriage ( 2 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal |
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2008 [3] [4] | 19,409 |
![]() |
2023 [5] | 11,146 | |
Subtotal | — | — | 30,555 (0.1% of the Oceanian population) |
Total | — | — | 7,397,020 (20% of the Oceanian population) |
Status | Country | Jurisdiction | Legal since |
---|---|---|---|
Marriage (8 jurisdictions) | |||
![]() |
2022 | ||
![]() |
2013 [6] | ||
![]() |
2015 [7] | ||
![]() |
Varies | ||
Recognizes marriages performed in other jurisdictions only (1 jurisdiction) |
![]() |
2022 | |
No recognition (3 jurisdictions) * same-sex sexual activity illegal |
![]() |
— |
Country | Pollster | Year | For | Against | Neutral [a] | Margin of error |
Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Ipsos | 2023 | 63% |
27% [16% support some rights] |
10% not sure | ±3.5% | [14] |
![]() |
Ipsos | 2023 | 70% |
20% [11% support some rights] |
9% | ±3.5% | [14] |
Country | Pollster | Year | For | Against | Neutral [a] | Margin of error |
Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
University of Guam | 2015 | 55% | 29% | 16% | - | [15] |
Part of the LGBT rights series |
![]() |
Debate has occurred throughout Oceania over proposals to legalize same-sex marriage as well as civil unions.
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.
Status | Country | Legal since | Country population (Last Census count) |
---|---|---|---|
Marriage (2 countries) |
![]() |
2017 [1] | 24,754,000 |
![]() |
2013 [2] | 4,840,750 | |
Total | — | — | 29,594,750 (80% of the Oceanian population) |
No recognition (10 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | |||
![]() |
— | 135,869 | |
![]() |
— | 856,346 | |
![]() |
— | 96,335 | |
![]() |
— | 73,630 | |
![]() |
— | 12,329 | |
![]() |
— | 5,172,033 | |
![]() |
— | 179,000 | |
![]() |
— | 494,786 | |
![]() |
— | 106,137 | |
![]() |
— | 240,000 | |
Subtotal | — | — | 7,366,465 (19.44% of the Oceanian population) |
Constitutional ban on marriage ( 2 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal |
![]() |
2008 [3] [4] | 19,409 |
![]() |
2023 [5] | 11,146 | |
Subtotal | — | — | 30,555 (0.1% of the Oceanian population) |
Total | — | — | 7,397,020 (20% of the Oceanian population) |
Status | Country | Jurisdiction | Legal since |
---|---|---|---|
Marriage (8 jurisdictions) | |||
![]() |
2022 | ||
![]() |
2013 [6] | ||
![]() |
2015 [7] | ||
![]() |
Varies | ||
Recognizes marriages performed in other jurisdictions only (1 jurisdiction) |
![]() |
2022 | |
No recognition (3 jurisdictions) * same-sex sexual activity illegal |
![]() |
— |
Country | Pollster | Year | For | Against | Neutral [a] | Margin of error |
Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Ipsos | 2023 | 63% |
27% [16% support some rights] |
10% not sure | ±3.5% | [14] |
![]() |
Ipsos | 2023 | 70% |
20% [11% support some rights] |
9% | ±3.5% | [14] |
Country | Pollster | Year | For | Against | Neutral [a] | Margin of error |
Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
University of Guam | 2015 | 55% | 29% | 16% | - | [15] |