Can same-sex couples adopt in South Africa?
Joint adoption legal
Joint adoption by same-sex couples has been legal since 2002.
South Africa is one of 48 countries classified “Joint adoption legal” for same-sex adoption — 33% 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
- Checked by hand against the source.
Nearby countries
- Yemen
- Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
- Saudi Arabia
- Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
- Oman
- Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
- Qatar
- Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
- United Arab Emirates
- Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
- Bahrain
- Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
Other laws in South Africa
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Marriage legal
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal
- Age of Consent
- 16–17
- Sex Work
- Illegal
- Pornography
- Restricted
- Divorce
- Heavily restricted
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 18+
Every law in South Africa → · 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.