With England and Wales joining the places on Earth where gay marriage is legal, let us look at the list of countries where same-sex marriage is legal.
The Netherlands, 2000: Gay marriage enjoys an approval rating of 82 percent — the highest in the European Union.
Belgium, 2003: Legislation enacted in October 2004 however, permits any couple to marry in Belgium if at least one of the spouses has lived in the country for a minimum of three months.
Canada, 2005: First country outside Europe to legalize gay marriage.
Spain, 2005: Approximately 4,500 same-sex couples married in Spain during the first year of the law.
South Africa, 2006: The first in Africa, the first in the southern hemisphere, and the second outside Europe to legalize same-sex marriage.
Norway, 2009: Became the first Scandinavian country and the sixth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.
Sweden, 2009: Same-sex marriages have been performed by the church since 1 November 2009.
Iceland, 2010: No members of parliament voted against the bill, and public opinion polls suggest that the bill is very popular in Iceland.
Portugal, 2010: Became the sixth country in Europe and the eighth country in the world to allow same-sex marriage nationwide.
Argentina, 2010: The first country in Latin America and the second in the Americas to allow same-sex marriage nationwide. It was the tenth country worldwide to allow same-sex marriage.
Denmark, 2012: The legislation covers metropolitan Denmark only and is not extended to Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
France, 2013: The first official same-sex ceremony took place on 29 May 2013 in the city of Montpellier.
Brazil, 2013: Same-sex marriage in the entire country was legalized in a 14-1 vote.