Here are gay marriage facts and statistics. This post is updated for 2024. I gather facts and statistics from around the internet so you don’t have to. I keep this post up to date.
Legal Status
Global: As of 2023, 34 countries have legalized same-sex marriage.
Source: Pew Research Center
United States: Same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide on June 26, 2015, following the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges.
Source: Supreme Court Ruling: Obergefell v. Hodges
Public Opinion
United States: According to a 2022 Gallup poll, 71% of Americans support same-sex marriage.
Source: Gallup
Global: Support varies widely; for example, a 2021 Ipsos survey found 80% support in Western Europe, but much lower support in many African and Middle Eastern countries.
Source: Ipsos
Economic Impact
The Williams Institute estimated in 2020 that legalizing same-sex marriage in the U.S. has contributed over $3.8 billion to the national economy, primarily through weddings and associated spending.
Source: The Williams Institute
Marriage Rates
United States: From 2015 to 2020, over 513,000 same-sex marriages were recorded.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Europe: In countries like the Netherlands, which legalized same-sex marriage in 2001, same-sex marriages have been steadily increasing, with thousands of same-sex couples getting married each year.
Source: Statistics Netherlands
Divorce Rates
United States: Data indicates that same-sex couples have slightly lower divorce rates compared to opposite-sex couples. For example, a 2019 study showed a divorce rate of 1.1% for same-sex couples versus 2% for opposite-sex couples.
Source: UCLA School of Law
Adoption and Parenting:
United States: Same-sex couples are four times more likely to be raising adopted children compared to opposite-sex couples. Approximately 21% of same-sex couples are raising children.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Health and Well-being:
Studies indicate that legal recognition of same-sex marriage is associated with improved mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ individuals, including reductions in depression and anxiety.
Source: JAMA Psychiatry
Legal Challenges
In many countries, same-sex marriage remains a contentious issue, with ongoing legal and political battles. For instance, in Poland and Hungary, there have been significant political pushbacks against LGBTQ+ rights.
Source: Human Rights Watch on Poland
Workplace Impact
Research has shown that in jurisdictions where same-sex marriage is legal, LGBTQ+ employees report higher levels of job satisfaction and are less likely to experience workplace discrimination.
Source: The Economist
International Comparison
Countries with the earliest legalization: The Netherlands (2001), Belgium (2003), and Canada (2005).
Source: CNN
Recent adopters include Switzerland (2022) and Chile (2022).
Source: Reuters on Switzerland
Source: NBC News on Chile
About the Author
I’m an attorney who specializes in asset protection planning. I graduated with honors from Emory University Law School and have been practicing law for almost 15 years.
I have helped thousands of clients protect their assets from creditors. Before private practice, I represented the federal government while working for the IRS Office of Chief Counsel.
