Adoption by LGBT people in Europe differs in legal recognition from country to country. Full joint adoption or step-child adoption or both is legal in 22 of the 56 European countries, and in all dependent territories.
Full joint adoption by same-sex couples is legal in nineteen European countries, namely Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia (eff. 2024), Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. San Marino permits step-child adoption in which the registered partner can adopt the biological and, in some cases, the adopted child of his or her partner. In Italy stepchild adoption has been recognized by courts since 2016 after the Supreme Court of Cassation stated that a couple in a civil union can adopt their partner’s child. In Greece, same-sex couples in a civil partnership may become foster – but not adoptive – parents.[1]
In dependent territories, joint adoption by same-sex couples is legal in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, Guernsey, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, the Isle of Man and Jersey. Several countries are currently considering permitting full joint or step-child adoption by same-sex couples.
Jurisdiction | Entry into force | Notes | |
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[2] | ![]() |
25 December 2014 | |
[3] | ![]() |
1 January 2016 | |
[4] | ![]() |
30 June 2006 | |
[5] | ![]() |
26 May 2022 |
|
[6] | ![]() |
1 July 2010 |
|
[9] | ![]() |
1 January 2016 |
|
[10] | ![]() |
1 March 2017 | |
[11] | ![]() |
18 May 2013 |
|
[12] | ![]() |
1 October 2017 | |
[13] | ![]() |
27 June 2006 | |
[14] | ![]() |
6 May 2016 | |
[15] | ![]() |
1 July 2022 | |
[16] | ![]() |
1 January 2015 | |
[17] | ![]() |
17 April 2014 | |
[18][19] | ![]() |
1 April 2001 |
|
[20] | ![]() |
1 January 2009 | |
[21] | ![]() |
1 March 2016 | |
[22][23] | ![]() |
8 July 2022 |
|
[24] | ![]() |
3 July 2005 | |
[25] | ![]() |
1 February 2003 | |
[26][27] | ![]() |
1 July 2022 | |
[28][29] | ![]() |
7 November 2002 |
Non-European Territories: |
Jurisdiction | Entry into force | Notes | |
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11 February 2019 |
|
In Italy step-child adoption is not legal and can only be recognized by court order since 2016.[40]
Jurisdiction | Entry into force | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
[41] | ![]() |
10 May 2018 |
|
According to pollster Gallup Europe, women, younger generations, and the highly educated are more likely to support same-sex marriage and adoption rights for gay people than other demographics.[42]
Country | Pollster | Year | For | Against | Don't Know/Neutral/No answer/Other |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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IMAS | 2015 | 46%[43] | 48%[43] | 6% |
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Ipsos | 2021 | 72%[44] | 21% | 7% |
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Eurobarometer | 2006 | 12%[45] | 68%[45] | 20%[45] |
![]() |
Eurobarometer | 2006 | 10%[45] | 86%[45] | 4%[45] |
![]() |
CVVM | 2019 | 47%[46] | 47% | 6% |
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Pew Research Center | 2017 | 75%[47] | - | - |
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HumanrightsEE | 2023 | 47%[48] | 44%[48] | 9%[48] |
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Taloustutkimus | 2013 | 51%[49] | 42%[49] | 7%[49] |
![]() |
Ipsos | 2021 | 62%[44] | 29% | 10% |
![]() |
Ipsos | 2021 | 69%[44] | 24% | 6% |
![]() |
KAPA Research | 2023 | 53%[50] | 41%[50] | 6%[50] |
![]() |
Ipsos | 2021 | 59% [44] | 36% | 5% |
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Red C Poll | 2011 | 60%[51] | - | - |
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Eurispes | 2023 | 50.4% [52] | 49.6% | 0% |
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SKDS | 2023 | 27%[53] | 23%[53] | 46%[53] |
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Eurobarometer | 2006 | 12%[45] | 82%[45] | 6%[45] |
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Politmonitor | 2013 | 55%[54] | 44%[54] | 1%[54] |
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Misco | 2014 | 20%[55] | 80%[55] | - |
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Ipsos | 2021 | 83%[44] | 12% | 5% |
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YouGov | 2012 | 54%[56] | 34%[56] | 12%[56] |
![]() |
Ipsos | 2021 | 33%[44] | 58% | 10% |
![]() |
Pew Research Center | 2017 | 59%[57] | 28%[57] | 13%[57] |
![]() |
Eurobarometer | 2006 | 8%[45] | 82%[45] | 10%[45] |
![]() |
Ipsos | 2021 | 23%[44] | 67% | 10% |
![]() |
Civil Rights Defenders | 2020 | 22.5%[58] | - | - |
![]() |
Eurobarometer | 2006 | 12%[45] | 84%[45] | 4%[45] |
![]() |
Delo Stik | 2015 | 38%[59] | 55%[59] | 7%[59] |
![]() |
Ipsos | 2021 | 77%[44] | 17% | 6% |
![]() |
Ipsos | 2021 | 79%[44] | 17% | 4% |
![]() |
Pink Cross | 2020 | 67%[60] | 30%[60] | 3%[60] |
![]() |
Gay Alliance of Ukraine | 2013 | 7%[61] | 68%[61] | 12% 13% would allow some exceptions[61] |
![]() |
Ipsos | 2021 | 72%[44] | 19% | 9% |