We recently 20 countries with the highest approval rates for same-sex marriage In this article, we’ll look at the most gay-friendly countries and trends in public approval of gay and lesbian weddings around the world.
Same-Sex Marriage Recognition in the United States
Public support for same-sex marriage varies around the world and shows dramatic variations. In the United States, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, but according to data collected by the Pew Research Center, only 63% support it, while 34% oppose it. These sentiments are heavily skewed by religious and political beliefs. For example, Democrats are almost twice as likely to approve of same-sex marriage compared to Republicans. While 82% of Democrats support same-sex marriage, only 44% of Republicans express the same sentiment. Age also plays a significant role in the approval of same-sex marriage, with about 73% of Americans under the age of 40 supporting same-sex and lesbian marriage as considered legal. This means that about three-quarters of the total population of the United States is under the age of 40. In contrast, only 57% of U.S. citizens over the age of 40 are in favor of same-sex marriage, about 16 percentage points lower than those under the age of 40.
Public support for same-sex marriage by region
Public sentiment towards same-sex marriage also varies across different geographical regions of the world. Western European countries openly support same-sex marriage, with Sweden leading the way with 92% support. Nearly eight in 10 people in the country are in favor of same-sex marriage, according to data from the Pew Research Center. The Netherlands, Spain, and France follow suit, with 89%, 87%, and 82% of their total populations in favor of same-sex marriage. Germany is also on the list, with around 80% of its citizens in favor. Same-sex marriage is legal in all of these countries. However, not all European countries have legalized same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage is illegal in Poland and Hungary, where it is supported by 41% and 31% of the population, respectively.
In North America, same-sex marriage is legal in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Approximately 79% of Canadians support same-sex marriage, while 63% of people in both the United States and Mexico support it. Similarly, same-sex marriage is also legal in Brazil and Argentina, with 52% and 67% of people in both countries supporting it, respectively.
However, public opinion changes when you go to the Asia-Pacific and African continents. Nearly three-quarters of Australian adults support same-sex marriage, while Japan is the only country in the Asia-Pacific region with a significantly higher level of support for same-sex marriage. However, same-sex marriage is not legal in Japan, and only 56% of Japanese people support same-sex marriage. somewhat Support for same-sex marriage rises to 65% in Vietnam and 53% in India. Taiwan is the only country in Asia where same-sex marriage is legal, but around 43% of people in the country oppose it. Similarly, 56% of South Koreans oppose same-sex marriage. Indonesia has the highest proportion of people in Asia who are opposed to same-sex marriage, with around nine in 10 people opposed to LGBTQ+ people marrying openly and 88% strongly opposed. Only 5% of Indonesians support same-sex marriage.
South Africa is the only country in Africa where same-sex marriage is legal. Despite an official ruling in 2006, around 59% of South Africans oppose the movement. In fact, homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria, where only 2% of adults support same-sex marriage. The situation is similar in Kenya, where only 9% are in favor of recognizing lesbian and gay marriage. In the Middle East, 56% of Israelis do not support the prospect of legalizing same-sex marriage, with religious affiliation and politics playing a large role in driving such sentiments.
The ups and downs of public support
Despite the majority of U.S. residents supporting the LGBTQ+ community, the challenge has faced some obstacles over the years. In 2023, Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) faced a national boycott and media backlash after deciding to sell special swimwear for transgender people. The retailer was accused (albeit falsely) of marketing the swimwear to children. Other children’s pride-themed clothing featured slogans such as “Just be you” and “Transgender people will always be there!” On May 10, Bloomberg reported that Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) had decided to sell LGBTQ-themed clothing only in select stores nationwide. This year’s merchandise will only be sold for adults, as the national boycott has hurt the retailer’s revenue.
Now that we have an overview of public opinion towards LGBTQ+ people around the world, let’s take a look at the countries with the highest approval rates for same-sex marriage.
Top 20 gay cities in florida.
Pixabay/Public Domain
Our Methodology
In creating the list of the 20 countries with the highest approval rates for same-sex marriage, the primary and only indicator was the percentage of people who approve of same-sex marriage. The data was taken from a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 32 countries in 2023. We also incorporated additional information from the Pew Research Center into the list. The 20 countries with the highest approval rates for same-sex marriage are ranked in ascending order of the aforementioned indicators.
At Insider Monkey, we stick to stocks that hedge funds concentrate their investments in. The reason is simple: our research shows that by mimicking the top stock picks of the best hedge funds, you can outperform the market. Our quarterly newsletter strategy selects 14 small- and large-cap stocks each quarter, and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating the benchmark by 150 percentage points (more details here).
The most gay friendly countries in the world
1. Sweden
Percentage of people in Japan who will approve same-sex marriage in 2023: 92%
Sweden ranks first in the list of the 20 countries with the highest approval rate for same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples have been allowed to marry in the country since 2009, and 92% of residents approve of it. According to the Pew Research Center, the country has allowed same-sex couples to register civil unions since 1995. As of 2021, the country has a global acceptance index of 9.18. The Nordic country shares borders with the other Scandinavian countries of Finland and Norway, and has a population of 10.49 million as of 2022, according to World Bank estimates.
To find out which countries outside of Sweden have the highest approval rates for same-sex marriage, check out the report below. 20 countries with the highest approval rates for same-sex marriage.
If you’re looking for AI stocks that have better prospects than Micron but trade at less than five times earnings, check out our report. Cheapest AI Stocks.
Read next:
Analysts’ top 7 alternative energy stocks to buy.
Disclaimer: None. This article was originally published on Insider Monkey.