Australia has voted in favour of legalising same-sex marriage.

The postal survey delivered an overwhelming victory of 61.6% to 38.4%, with 16 million registered voters out of the country's 24 million population asking for the prohibition to be overturned.

Although the vote is non-binding, the turnout of 79.5% is bigger than the Brexit vote and the US presidential election.

Australia's parliament will vote later this month on whether to legalise same-sex marriage.

Some 7,817,247 people cast ballots saying yes, with 4,873,987 saying no.

All six states carried the yes vote, with 64.9% in Victoria, 57.8% in New South Wales, 60.6% in the Northern Territory and 74% in Australian Capital Territory.