The Pew Research Center released a new study that looks at views on same-sex marriage in 24 countries around the world. The continent with the most representation is Europe while the Middle East has the least amount of representation in the study. The current study illuminates some interesting findings about global views on same-sex marriage.

Which Countries Support Same-Sex Marriage?

In line with previous years of research, the countries that support same-sex marriage are mostly in Europe and North America. The country with the highest level of support is Sweden, where more than 90% of the population is in favor of same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage is also legal in Sweden. Similarly, in countries where same-sex marriage has a legal foundation, the majority of people said they support the right of LGBTQIA+ individuals to get married. Some of these countries include:

• Canada 
• Mexico
• U.S.A.
• Argentina
• Germany

In some countries where same-sex marriage is not legal, more than 50% of people support same-sex unions, which brings about an interesting question of when it will become legal in these places, including:

• Italy
• Japan 
• India

Which Countries Oppose Same-Sex Marriage?

Many people still oppose same-sex marriage, showing that the issue is polarizing around the globe. The countries where survey takers responded with the lowest amount of support are: 

• Nigeria (2% of people support same-sex marriage)
• Indonesia (5% of people support same-sex marriage) 
• Kenya (9% of people support same-sex marriage)

The idea of same-sex marriage is also not very popular in South Korea, Israel, Hungary, Greece, and Poland. About a third of survey takers in those countries responded that they supported the idea of same-sex marriage. 

One significant point of difference among the countries that showed a lack of support for same-sex marriage is found in South Africa. The country legalized same-sex marriage in 2006, but as of 2023, only 38% of the South Africans surveyed said they supported it.

What Geographic Patterns Emerged from the Study?

Some telling geographic patterns have emerged from this new Pew Research Center study on global views of same-sex marriage. Western Europe and Scandinavia have the most accepting populations by far, followed by the three North American nations of Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Even in South America, support for same-sex marriage is fairly common.

Compared to both North and South America, Europe remains divided on same-sex marriage. Eastern Europeans have more conservative and hard-line views on LGBTQIA+ people, and support for same-sex marriage is lacking in Poland, Hungary, and Greece.

Looking at the current state of anti-LGBTQIA+ laws in Africa, it is not surprising that both Nigeria and Kenya strongly oppose same-sex marriage. In Asia, the issue is divisive but has quite a lot of support. For example, in India, 53% of people support the idea of same-sex marriage, and the country’s supreme court is currently hearing cases that may lead to legalizing it.

What Are the Important Takeaways from the Study?

There are many important takeaways from the Pew Research Center’s study, especially when looking at demographics. Across the globe, young people are far more in favor of same-sex marriage than people over 40. Gender, level of education, and political affiliation play important roles in peoples’ views. Women tend to be more supportive of same-sex marriage than men, and educated people are more in favor as well.

Political affiliation is a crucial factor when it comes to views on LGBTQIA+ rights. In America, 90% of liberals said they supported same-sex marriage, while only 36% of conservatives said the same. 

Over time, these types of studies are revealing that attitudes towards LGBTQIA+ people are shifting in a positive direction from year to year. The results are illuminating and hopeful at the same time.