Screen Readers Skip to Content

U.S. Same-Sex Couple Households - 2005 to 2015 Statistics

Author: Sexual Diversity
Published: 15th Feb 2018
Peer-Reviewed Publication: N/A
Additional References: LGBT Facts and Statistics Publications

Summary: Estimates of same-sex couple households in the American Community Survey including margin of errors for same-sex couple U.S. households.


Main Document

Estimates of same-sex couple households in the American Community Survey including margin of errors for same-sex couple households.

Table 1. Estimates of Same-sex Couple Households in the American Community Survey

(In percent. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see http://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/)

Year Total same-sex couples Same-sex spousal couples Same-sex unmarried partner couples
Total M/M F/F Total M/M F/F Total M/M F/F
2015 858,896 412,001 446,895 425,357 201,779 223,578 433,539 210,222 223,317
2014 783,100 377,903 405,197 334,829 163,239 171,590 448,271 214,664 233,607
2013 (1) 726,600 352,624 373,976 251,695 117,535 134,160 474,905 235,089
2012 639,440 305,794 333,646 181,922 80,727 101,195 457,518 225,067 232,451
2011 605,472 284,295 321,177 168,092 69,522 98,570 437,380 214,773 222,607
2010 593,324 287,687 305,637 152,335 68,513 83,822 440,989 219,174 221,815
2009 581,300 280,410 300,890 152,121 66,274 85,847 429,179 214,136 215,043
2008 (2)(3) 539,230 281,283 257,947 142,486 62,185 80,301 396,744 195,762 200,982
2007 753,618 395,572 358,046 340,848 190,004 150,844 412,770 205,568 207,202
2006 779,867 417,044 362,823 385,752 217,617 168,135 394,115 199,427 194,688
2005 776,943 413,095 363,848 392,314 214,477 177,937 384,629 198,618 186,011

(1) Beginning with 2013 data products, tables reflect edit/processing changes which show same-sex married couples along with all married couples. Tables that have a line for "married couples" will include same-sex married couples, unless otherwise noted, and the marital status for those adults will be shown as "now married" or "married, spouse present."

(2) Changes in the questionnaire format and data capture procedures between 2007 and 2008 resulted in significant declines in the number of reported same-sex spouses and hence the total number of same-sex unmarried partners in 2008. For more explanation, see the note on the Same-sex page: http://www.census.gov/hhes/samesex/data/acs.html

(3) Due to late changes to the 2008 data set, the 2008 estimates on this table will not match the estimates of the previously released Characteristics of Same-sex Couples: 2008.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005 through 2015 American Community Survey 1-year data files

Table A. Margin of errors for same-sex couple households in the American Community Survey.

(For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see http://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/)

Year Total same-sex couples Same-sex spousal couples Same-sex unmarried partner couples
Total M/M F/F Total M/M F/F Total M/M F/F
2015 12,814 9,271 9,971 8,229 6,498 5,835 9,420 6,642 7,217
2014 12,124 8,417 9,056 8,353 5,693 6,384 10,252 7,085 6,769
2013 (1) 12,147 9,373 7,636 6,858 5,099 4,555 10,163 7,518 6,568
2012 12,163 9,048 7,076 6,338 4,216 4,266 9,814 7,432 6,133
2011 12,502 8,484 8,659 5,914 3,891 4,683 10,150 6,975 6,948
2010 11,361 8,350 8,663 5,305 3,486 3,901 9,811 7,211 6,797
2009 5,886 4,122 4,201 5,454 2,017 2,243 8,529 3,582 3,545
2008 (2)(3) 9,918 7,335 6,771 6,038 4,629 4,253 8,443 5,335 6,061
2007 13,070 8,515 9,056 8,513 6,457 5,441 9,706 6,250 7,384
2006 6,807 4,979 4,641 9,178 3,385 3,174 9,291 3,606 3,372
2005 8,417 6,175 5,721 8,644 4,249 3,953 8,449 4,440 4,132

(1) - Beginning with 2013 data products, tables reflect edit/processing changes which show same-sex married couples along with all married couples. Tables that have a line for "married couples" will include same-sex married couples, unless otherwise noted, and the marital status for those adults will be shown as "now married" or "married, spouse present."

(2) - Changes in the questionnaire format and data capture procedures between 2007 and 2008 resulted in significant declines in the number of reported same-sex spouses and hence the total number of same-sex unmarried partners in 2008. For more explanation, see the note on the Same-sex page: http://www.census.gov/hhes/samesex/data/acs.html

(3) - Due to late changes to the 2008 data set, the 2008 estimates on this table will not match the estimates of the previously released Characteristics of Same-sex Couples: 2008.

(Article continues below image.)

Percent of all U.S. households reporting as same-sex couple households: 2010 Census - Image Credit: www.census.govPercent of all U.S. households reporting as same-sex couple households: 2010 Census - Image Credit: www.census.gov

(Continued...)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005 through 2015 American Community Survey 1-year data files.

Post to Twitter Add to Facebook

Latest LGBT Facts and Statistics Publications

The above information is from our reference library of resources relating to LGBT Facts and Statistics that includes:

West Virginia University LGTBQ button - Image Credit: WVU Photo/Sean Hines. thumbnail image
A survey of junior high and high school students in rural Appalachia about gender identity found over 7% shared a gender identity that did not fully align with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Publish Date: 8th Aug 2022 - Updated: 5th Jan 2023
Pathways Into Poverty for LGBTQ Adults Study thumbnail image.
Report by Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law provides exploration of common pathways into and prolonging poverty among diverse population of low-income LGBTQ people in California.
Publish Date: 30th Sep 2020
A Summary of Data on LGBT Suicide for Suicide Prevention Month thumbnail image.
Research shows that anti-LGBT discrimination and victimization contribute to an increase in the risk of suicidality and that LGBT people are at disproportionate risk of suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts.
Publish Date: 6th Sep 2020
Percent of all U.S. households reporting as same-sex couple households: 2010 Census - Image Credit: www.census.gov thumbnail image
Estimates of same-sex couple households in the American Community Survey including margin of errors for same-sex couple U.S. households.
Publish Date: 15th Feb 2018


1Local Dating for Adults
Find like minded people locally.

2Am I Gay? Questions to Ask
Think you may be gay or bisexual?

3Glossary of Sexuality Terms
Definitions of sexual terms & acronyms.

4LGBTQ+ Pride Flags
Symbols of Identity and Inclusion.

5LGBT Awareness Dates
Important LGBTQ community awareness days, remembrance dates, and coming pride events.

• Submissions: Send us your coming events and LGBTQ related news stories.


• Report Errors: Please report outdated or inaccurate information to us.



• (APA): Sexual Diversity. (2018, February 15). U.S. Same-Sex Couple Households - 2005 to 2015 Statistics. SexualDiversity.org. Retrieved April 27, 2025 from www.sexualdiversity.org/edu/stats/871.php


• Permalink: <a href="https://www.sexualdiversity.org/edu/stats/871.php">U.S. Same-Sex Couple Households - 2005 to 2015 Statistics</a>