Same-sex households have doubled over past two decades, study shows

The number of same-sex couples living together in the United States has more than doubled over the past two decades. This significant demographic growth arrives even as conservative political opposition to marriage equality gains new momentum.

According to recent U.S. Census Bureau data, roughly 1.7 million households were led by same-sex couples in 2024, representing about 1 percent of all U.S. households. This is a sharp increase from the 777,000 recorded in 2004, Advocate reports. Following the 2015 Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which guaranteed nationwide marriage equality, married same-sex couples have consistently outnumbered unmarried couples. The latest census figures indicate approximately 836,000 married and 551,000 unmarried same-sex households.

The data also reveals shifting demographics within the LGBTQ+ community. Married female couples now hold the majority, totaling about 450,000 compared to 386,000 married male couples—a direct reversal of 2004 trends. Financially, median household incomes for lesbian couples stand at $108,500, slightly above the $104,500 median for gay men. Furthermore, same-sex married couples are more likely to have dual incomes. Census records show 60.8 percent of married same-sex households have both partners employed, compared to 49.8 percent of married opposite-sex couples.

Despite these gains, the legal foundation protecting same-sex marriage faces renewed pressure. A coalition of conservative and anti-LGBTQ+ groups—including the Family Research Council, CatholicVote, and Focus on the Family—is actively campaigning to overturn the Obergefell decision. Public opinion polling reflects a growing partisan divide. A Gallup poll reported a 14-point drop in Republican support for same-sex marriage, falling from 55 percent in 2021 to 41 percent today.

The U.S. Census figures coincide with new international data from the Pew Research Center, released 25 years after the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. Forty nations have since legalized the practice, with Liechtenstein and Thailand acting most recently. Overall U.S. public approval has grown substantially over time, reaching 63 percent in 2023, up from 35 percent in 2001. Globally, Sweden maintains the highest acceptance rate, with 92 percent of adults supporting marriage equality.