Beginning in 2019, the ACS began collecting specific information about whether a household member is the opposite-sex spouse, opposite-sex unmarried partner, same-sex spouse, or same-sex unmarried partner of the householder. Collection of this detailed information addresses known data quality issues and improves the measurement of same-sex couple households.

Beginning in 2014, the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) increased the relationship to reference person answer categories. This update included splitting the unmarried partner and spouse categories into separate answer categories for same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

Learn about key points relating to Same-Sex Couples and answers to common questions.