Same-Sex Marriage around the World: Statistical Reporting, Trends and Patterns

José Antonio Ortega , Universidad de Salamanca

The legalization of same-sex marriages (SSM) started in 2001 in the Netherlands and cover today more than 40 territories. This contribution elicits trends and patterns in SSM using available data. The websites of National Statistical Offices (NSOs) of countries with legal SSM have been systematically reviewed compiling all available data. Wherever marriage microdata was available, it has been used. When no information is provided by NSOs, official statistics have been searched in regional statistical offices, Wikipedia or the press. A first finding is the lack of data for many countries, including some of the biggest countries with legal SSM as Canada, US or Argentina. Many countries report only on total numbers by marriage type, and only a few provide data on age patterns needed to calculate total marriage rates (TMR) by type, or age at marriage. 6 countries provide marriage microdata. The analysis shows differences in the incidence of SSM with SSM from less than 1 percent to 8 percent of total marriages. Countries differ in the predominance of male-male (MM) and female-female marriages (FF), with a general trend to a higher proportion FF. In many countries, a peak in SSM is observed right after legalization. The COVID pandemic led to a temporary decline in SSM marriages. In general, age-patterns are consistent: MM marriages are more age-heterogamous, whereas FF age-patterns are very similar to FM marriages. This is the first comprehensive comparative study of SSM computing TMRs. In many countries statistical reporting of marriage has not adapted to SSM, with a discontinuation of previous tables or a nonsensical continuation.

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 Presented in Session P8. Demographic Trends, History, Data and Methods