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Same-Sex Couples

Same-Sex Couples

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Same-Sex Couples

All Census Bureau demographic surveys collect information about same-sex couples. The level of detail collected varies, as well as the availability of other characteristics of the partners.

Featured

Visualization

Data Collection for Same-Sex Married Couple Households - A Timeline

July 10, 2020

A historical time-line of the methods used by the Bureau to collect, process, and release data for same-sex married couples between 1995 and 2020.
Table

Characteristics of Same-Sex Couple Households: 2005 to Present

November 2024

View and download these time series Same Sex Couple tables.
Same-Sex Couples Working Papers

Census Bureau research made available to others to encourage discussion on a range of topics. They have not undergone official review or the editorial process.
Same-Sex Couples Publications

Official publications released by the U.S. Census Bureau have a report number and often list the lead author(s).

Working Papers

Working Paper

Age Differences Among Coresidential Partners

April 14, 2023

This poster uses the 2021 1yr ACS data to examine age gaps of coresidential partners.
Working Paper

Implementation of the Revised Relationship to Householder Item

September 2022

This paper evaluates the results of the implementation of the updated relationship to householder item.
Working Paper

Updates to Collection and Editing of Household Relationship Measures

September 10, 2019

The paper details the new data collection and processing of household data in the Current Population Survey

Tables

Table

Employment and Labor Force Characteristics for Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Married Householders and their Spouses: 2023

May 02, 2025

This table package presents employment and labor force estimates for same-sex and opposite-sex married householders and their spouses.
Table

Characteristics of Same-Sex Couple Households: 2005 to Present

November 2024

View and download these time series Same Sex Couple tables.
Table

Archived graphics

January 2023

View and download these time series Same Sex Couple tables.

Publications

Publication

Spouses in Opposite-Sex and Same-Sex Married Couples and Their Households: 2022

June 11, 2024

This brief reports on the characteristics and living arrangements of spouses in a same-sex marriage using 2022 American Community Survey 1-year estimates.
Publication

Same-Sex Couple Households: 2019

February 23, 2021

Information about the characteristics and geographic distribution of same-sex couple households using data from the 2019 American Community Survey (ACS).
Publication

Households and Families: 2010

April 01, 2012

Information on the number and types of living arrangements of American households in 2010.

America Counts

View All Same-Sex Couples Stories

America Counts Story

Where Do Male and Female Same-Sex Couples Live?

August 21, 2024

East Coast, West Coast or somewhere in between: Where do same-sex couples live? Explore the top 10 counties for female and male same-sex couples.
America Counts Story

Interracial Couples More Common Among Same-Sex Couples

November 08, 2023

Male same-sex couples had higher median household incomes than female same-sex couples even though the shares with both partners working did not differ.
America Counts Story

Share of U.S. Coupled Households Declined in 2020

May 25, 2023

Coupled households still made up more than half of all U.S. households but their share dropped since 2000.
America Counts Story

Number of Same-Sex Couple Households Exceeded 1 Million in 2021

November 22, 2022

Compare demographic and economic characteristics of U.S. same-sex and opposite-sex couple households in new Census Bureau table package and graphics.

All Subtopics Within Families and Living Arrangements

Child Care

Information collected on child care has evolved over the years to include comprehensive data on child care use, cost, and receipt of government assistance.
Child Support

Child support can be an important income source for children and their custodial parents who receive these payments.
Child Well-Being

Information collected on child wellbeing includes data on school experiences, participation in extracurricular activities and parental involvement.
Children

All Census Bureau demographic surveys collect information about children. The information collected varies.
Fertility

Information about the fertility of American women both for the nation as a whole as well as for individual states and lower level geography.
Grandparents and Grandchildren

Households include a variety of living arrangements, one being an increase in grandparents living with grandchildren.
Same-Sex Couples

Data about same-sex couples, including married and unmarried couples.