Can same-sex couples adopt in North Korea?

Not permitted

Same-sex couples cannot adopt.

North Korea is one of 72 countries classified “Not permitted” for same-sex adoption — 49% of the 147 with data. (Also searched as LGBT adoption.)

Source

Taken from
Wikipedia: LGBTQ adoption
Last checked
15 September 2026
How it was classified
Read directly from the source’s own table, without interpretation.

Nearby countries

South Korea
Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
Japan
Limited (step-child / single) Joint adoption is not open to same-sex couples; step-child or single-person adoption is.
China
Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
Mongolia
Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
Hong Kong
Limited (step-child / single) Joint adoption is not open to same-sex couples; step-child or single-person adoption is.
Macau
Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.

Other laws in North Korea

Same-Sex Marriage
Not recognized
Same-Sex Activity
Legal
Age of Consent
14–15
Sex Work
Illegal
Pornography
Illegal
Divorce
Heavily restricted
Incest Laws
Criminal offense
Marriage Age
18+

Every law in North Korea → · Where can same-sex couples adopt? →

A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.