Recognition of same-sex relationships in Oceania Marriage
Marriages performed elsewhere in the country recognized (American Samoa)
No recognition of same-sex couples
Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples (Palau, Tuvalu)
Same-sex sexual activity illegal, but ban 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.)
Countries performing civil unions in Oceania Gender-neutral civil unions.
Civil unions never performed.
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.
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
2022
France
New Caledonia
French Polynesia
Wallis and Futuna
2013[ 6]
United Kingdom
2015[ 7]
United States
Varies
Recognizes marriages performed in other jurisdictions only(1 jurisdiction)
United States
2022
No recognition(3 jurisdictions) * same-sex sexual activity illegal
New Zealand
—
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
^ a b Also comprises: Don't know; No answer; Other; Refused.
See also
Notes
^ Excluding Tokelau, Niue and the Cook Islands.
References
Sovereign states Associated states of New Zealand Dependencies and other territories