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 | July 10, 2020 | Danielle Taylor

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

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 | 2019

Characteristics of Same-Sex Couple Households: 2005 to Present

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 | September 10, 2019 | Rose Kreider and Benjamin Gurrentz

Updates to Collection and Editing of Household Relationship Measures

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

Working Paper | April 10, 2019 | Rose Kreider, Benjamin Gurrentz

Changes to Household Data in CPS

This presentation details new changes to household data in CPS, specifically the noted improvement in measuring same-sex families and greater family diversity.

Working Paper | April 02, 2018 | Jennifer Edgar, Polly Phipps, Robin Kaplan, Jessica L. Holzberg, Renee Ellis, Matthew Virgile, Dawn V. Nelson

Feasibility of Asking About SOGI in the CPS: Executive Summary

Cognitive testing and focus group results on the feasibility of adding sexual orientation and gender identity questions to the Current Population Survey.

VIEW ALL Working Papers

Tables

Table | November 2019 | Danielle Taylor

Percentage of Same-Sex Couple Households by Selected Cities: 2017

This table accompanies the America Counts Piece, "Where Same-Sex Couples Live", released on September 18, 2019.

Table | 2019

Characteristics of Same-Sex Couple Households: 2005 to Present

View and download these time series Same Sex Couple tables.

Table | April 25, 2012

Hispanic Origin and Race of Coupled Households (CPH-T-4)

This CPH-T-4 table is from the 2010 Decennial Census.

VIEW ALL Tables

Publications

Publication | February 23, 2021 | Laquitta Walker and Danielle Taylor

Same-Sex Couple Households: 2019

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

Publication | August 2013 | Jonathan Vespa, Jamie M. Lewis, Rose M. Kreider

America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2012

The goals of this report are to provide an updated picture of the composition of families and households and to describe trends in living arrangements.

Publication | April 01, 2012 | Daphne Lofquist, Terry Lugaila, Martin O’Connell, and Sarah Feliz

Households and Families: 2010

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

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America Counts

Most Kids With Parent in Same-Sex Relationship Live With Female Couple

Children whose parent was in a same-sex relationship in 2019 were more likely to be adopted than those living with a parent in an opposite-sex relationship.

LGBT Adults Report Anxiety, Depression During Pandemic

The Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey provides insight into the mental health and well-being of the LGBT population during COVID-19.

Census Bureau Survey Explores Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

New data visualization allows users to explore differences in characteristics and experiences during the pandemic between LGBT and non-LGBT populations.

View All Same-Sex Couples Stories

Other 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.

Children

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

Families and Households

All Census Bureau demographic surveys collect information about the residents of each housing unit and how they are related.

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.

Marriage and Divorce

The U.S. Census Bureau provides the current marital status of persons, by age, sex, and race and the estimated median age at first marriage for men and women.

Last Revised: August 5, 2022