Brief

United States Census Snapshot 2010

September 2011

This fact sheet provides demographic information about same-sex couples who identified as spouses and unmarried partners on the 2010 U.S. Census. The analysis focuses on the couples’ geographic distribution, the sex of each of the partners, and the percentage of couples raising children.

AUTHORS
  • Gary J. Gates
    Research Director, Former
  • Abigail M. Cooke
    Assistant Professor, University at Buffalo
Highlights
51% of all same-sex couples in the U.S. are female and 49% are male.
17% of all same-sex couples in the country are raising their own children.
Washington, DC has the highest number of same-sex couples per 1,000 households. North Dakota has the least.
Brief

*Same-sex couples were identified in 93% of all US counties

*“Own” children are never-married children under 18 who are sons or daughters of one partner or spouse (Person 1) by birth, marriage (stepchild), or adoption.

Data and Methodology

Data are compiled using the US Census Bureau’s state-level preferred estimates for same-sex couples. Same-sex couples are identified in households where Person 1 describes his or her relationship with another adult of the same sex as either a “husband/wife” or “unmarried partner”. The Census Bureau preferred estimates to adjust original Census tabulations reported in the Census 2010 SF-1, PCT15 to account for the likelihood that a small portion of different-sex couples miscode the sex of a spouse or partner and are incorrectly counted as a same-sex couple.

Adjusted Data

The Census Bureau only released preferred estimates for states. County and city data used in this report are adjusted by the authors and do not represent official Census Bureau tabulations. Like the Census Bureau preferred estimates, the adjustment procedure accounts for the likelihood that a small portion of different-sex couples miscode the sex of a spouse or partner and are incorrectly counted as a same-sex couple. Note that the adjusted figures do not take into account the possibility that some same-sex couples may not be counted in Census tabulations due to concerns about confidentiality or because neither partner was Person 1 in the household.

United States Census Snapshot 2010