1.5 billion people now live in countries where same-sex marriage is legal — but that’s only one in five worldwide

The first nationwide law allowing same-sex couples to marry was passed in the Netherlands in 2001. Amsterdam’s mayor, Job Cohen, officiated the first couples. Twenty-five years on, these rights to same-sex marriage now cover 1.5 billion people worldwide.

These people live in 39 countries with marriage equality, mainly across Western Europe and the Americas.

This change in marriage laws has made a huge difference to the lives of many. But they are still in the minority globally. Four in five people still live in countries where same-sex couples are not equal under the law.

Explore which countries have legalized same-sex marriage →

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