Recognition of same-sex unions in Africa
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Debate has occurred throughout Africa over proposals to legalize same-sex marriage as well as civil unions.
Currently, South Africa is the only African country that legally recognizes same-sex marriage.[1] In addition, the Spanish regions of the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, as well as the Portuguese territories of Madeira and the Azores Islands, the French territories of Mayotte and Réunion and the British Overseas Territory of St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha recognize and perform same-sex marriage.
Civil partnerships or de facto unions are also recognized in South Africa, and the French, Spanish and Portuguese territories.
Current situation[]
National level[]
Status | Country | Legal since | Country population (last census) |
---|---|---|---|
Marriage (1 country) |
South Africa | 2006 | 54,956,900 |
Subtotal | — | — | 54,956,900 (4.5% of the African population) |
No recognition (45 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal | |||
Algeria * | — | 40,400,000 | |
Angola | — | 25,789,024 | |
Benin | — | 10,872,298 | |
Botswana | — | 2,250,260 | |
Cameroon * | — | 23,439,189 | |
Cape Verde | — | 539,560 | |
Central African Republic | — | 4,594,621 | |
Chad * | — | 13,670,084 | |
Comoros * | — | 795,601 | |
Djibouti | — | 942,333 | |
Egypt * | — | 96,474,100 | |
Equatorial Guinea | — | 1,221,490 | |
Eritrea * | — | 4,954,645 | |
Ethiopia * | — | 102,403,196 | |
Gabon | — | 1,979,786 | |
Gambia * | — | 2,051,363 | |
Ghana * | — | 27,043,093 | |
Guinea * | — | 12,395,924 | |
Guinea-Bissau | — | 1,815,698 | |
Ivory Coast | — | 23,740,424 | |
Lesotho | — | 2,203,821 | |
Liberia * | — | 4,503,000 | |
Libya * | — | 6,293,253 | |
Madagascar | ��� | 24,894,551 | |
Malawi * | — | 18,091,575 | |
Mali | — | 14,517,176 | |
Mauritania * | — | 4,301,018 | |
Mauritius * | — | 1,262,132 | |
Morocco * | — | 33,848,242 | |
Mozambique | — | 28,829,476 | |
Namibia * | — | 2,113,077 | |
Niger | — | 20,672,987 | |
Nigeria * | — | 185,989,640 | |
Republic of the Congo | — | 5,125,821 | |
São Tomé and Príncipe | — | 199,910 | |
Senegal * | — | 15,411,614 | |
Seychelles | — | 94,228 | |
Sierra Leone * | — | 7,075,641 | |
Somalia * | — | 14,317,996 | |
South Sudan * | — | 12,230,730 | |
Swaziland * | — | 1,343,098 | |
Tanzania * | — | 55,572,201 | |
Togo * | — | 7,965,055 | |
Tunisia * | — | 11,304,482 | |
Zambia * | — | 16,591,390 | |
Subtotal | — | — | 892,132,983 (73.2% of the African population) |
Constitutional ban on marriage ( 8 countries) * same-sex sexual activity illegal |
Burkina Faso | — | 20,107,509 |
Burundi * | — | 10,524,117 | |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | — | 78,736,153 | |
Kenya * | — | 49,125,325 | |
Rwanda | — | 11,262,564 | |
Sudan * | — | 39,578,828 | |
Uganda * | — | 41,487,965 | |
Zimbabwe * | — | 16,150,362 | |
Subtotal | — | — | 266,972,823 (21.9% of the African population) |
Total | — | — | 1,214,062,706 (99.6% of the African population) |
Partially-recognized and unrecognized states[]
Status | Country | Since | State population (last estimate) |
---|---|---|---|
No recognition (2 state) * same-sex sexual activity illegal |
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic * | — | 100,000 |
Somaliland * | — | 3,508,180 | |
Subtotal | — | — | 3,608,180 (0.3% of the African population) |
Total | — | — | 3,608,180 (0.3% of the African population) |
Sub-national level[]
Status | Country | Jurisdiction | Legal since | Jurisdiction population (last census) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Marriage (9 jurisdictions) |
France | French Southern and Antarctic Lands | 2013 | — |
Mayotte | 2013 | 256,518 | ||
Réunion | 2013 | 865,826 | ||
Portugal | Azores | 2010 | 246,772 | |
Madeira | 2010 | 289,000 | ||
Spain | Canary Islands | 2005 | 2,101,924 | |
Ceuta | 2005 | 82,376 | ||
Melilla | 2005 | 78,476 | ||
United Kingdom | Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | 2017 | 5,633 | |
Subtotal | — | — | — | 3,926,525 (0.3% of the African population) |
Total | — | — | — | 3,926,525 (0.3% of the African population) |
Legislative proposals and court challenges[]
Namibia: Several court cases pertaining to the recognition of same-sex marriages performed in South Africa await a verdict from the High Court.[2]
Public opinion[]
Country | Pollster | Year | For | Against | Neutral[a] | Margin of error |
Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mozambique (3 cities) | Lambda | 2017 | 28% (32%) |
60% (68%) |
12% | [3] | |
South Africa | HSRC | 2015 | 37% (45%) |
46% (55%) |
17% | [4] | |
South Africa | Ipsos | 2021 | 59% (80%) |
15% (20%) |
12% some rights, 14% not sure | ±4.8% [+ more urban/educated than representative] | [5] |
See also[]
- LGBT rights in Africa
- Recognition of same-sex unions in the Americas
- Recognition of same-sex unions in Asia
- Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe
- Recognition of same-sex unions in Oceania
Notes[]
- ^ Also comprises: Don't know; No answer; Other; Refused.
References[]
- ^ "Same-Sex Unions to Become Legal in South Africa". New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
- ^ "Same-sex couples join forces". Namibian Sun. 5 September 2019.
- ^ "Most Mozambicans against homosexual violence, study finds". MambaOnline - Gay South Africa online. June 4, 2018., (full report)
- ^ A survey of attitudes towards homosexuality and gender non-conformity in South Africa, page 54
- ^ "LGBT+ Pride 2021 Global Survey" (PDF). Retrieved June 23, 2021.
- LGBT rights in Africa
- Recognition of same-sex relationships by continent