Between same-sex marriage being legalized in England and Wales on March 29, 2014, and December 31, 2023, there have been over 63,100 same-sex marriages. Of these, around 36,700 were between two women, while just under 26,400 were between two men.

In 2022, around ******* married male-male couple households were counted in the United States, while the number of unmarried male-male couple households stood at *******. In total, there were about ******* same sex married couples in the United States in that year.

On May 17, 2013, France became the 9th European country and the 14th country in the world to allow gay marriage. Only a few days after the legalization, the first same-sex marriage was celebrated in the southern city of Montpellier. The number of homosexual marriages reached a record number of more than ****** unions in 2014. Only a year after the legalization of same-sex marriage, the enthusiasm of couples who were not previously allowed to marry each other was still high. In 2024, approximately ***** same-sex marriages were celebrated.

In 2023, 2,450 women aged between 30 and 34 married a same-sex partner in England and Wales, the most common age group for same-sex marriages among women. For men marrying a same-sex partner, the most common age group was also 30 to 34.

In 2022, there were 68,900 heterosexual marriages and 1,700 same-sex marriages. By comparison, in 2021 there were 55,200 heterosexual marriages, and 1,200 same-sex marriages. The number of same-sex marriages stayed relatively consistent from 2009 to 2022, with the fewest in 2020 and the most in 2001. The number of heterosexual marriages also remained stable between 2009 and 2019, with the highest in 2002 and the fewest in 2019 as a consequence of the coronavirus (COVID-19) oandemic.

Why were there fewer marriages in 2020?

There was a sudden drop in the number of marriages in the Netherlands in 2020, both for heterosexual and same-sex marriages. The primary reason for the fall in marriages was the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, making it difficult to host a wedding safely and within the restrictions, resulting in many weddings being postponed and canceled. While there were fewer weddings, the number of registered partnerships stayed relatively the same, possibly because they are less likely to host large gatherings of people than a traditional wedding.

How did the Netherlands compare to the rest of Europe?

The Netherlands was not the only country to experience a significant drop in marriages in Europe. Other European countries such as Italy, Norway, and France saw considerable declines in the number of weddings in 2020 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and each government’s restrictions.

Between 2021 and 2023, support for same-sex marriage declined in ** out of 23 surveyed countries worldwide. The major drops were seen in Canada and Germany, where the share of respondents agreeing with same-sex marriage went down *** percentage points. Still, over ** percent of respondents in those two countries supported it.

The way to legalization

As of 2021, ** countries have legalized same-sex marriages, most of them located in Western Europe. Switzerland was the latest to do so after a referendum, while the second to last was Costa Rica, as the only Central American country. While most countries have legalized same-sex marriage through legislation, in South Africa and Taiwan, this was enacted via courts' mandates. Taiwan and South Africa are the first and so far only countries in their continent to have legalized same-sex marriage.

Hostility and criminalization

The support and legalization of same-sex marriages is growing, and the acceptance of homosexuality is slowly but steadily increasing in more hostile countries. In Nigeria, for instance, homosexuality is a crime punishable with the death penalty. Despite a small increase, only ***** percent of people believe that homosexuality should be accepted by society. Africa, Asia, and the Middle East are still the most dangerous world regions for homosexuals. In fact, ** countries still criminalize homosexuality, and most of them are located in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

In 2023, there were in total ****** same-sex marriages registered in Brazil, out of which ***** were between two female spouses. This was the year that registered the most same-sex marriages since 2015.

Millennials are much more likely than older adults in the United States to support same-sex marriage, with ** percent of Millennial respondents in a 2019 poll expressing a favorable opinion. This compares to ** percent of respondents born in 1945 or earlier, and ** percent of Baby Boomers.

As of 2025, 73 percent of the surveyed population stated that same-sex marriage is completely acceptable. In contrast, only eight percent of respondents in Spain claimed that same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry.

The number of same-sex marriages in Colombia peaked in 2021 with ***** cases. During the last two years, the number fall to less than *** marriages, the lowest numbers since 2016, the year of legalization of this type of civil unions.

In 2021, there were 819 same-sex marriages in Scotland, of which 521 were between two women, and 298 between two men. Since same-sex marriage has been legal in Scotland in 2014, the year with the highest number of same-sex marriages was 2015, when there were 1,671.

In 2024, there were around ***** same-sex marriages in Germany. 2018 saw the highest number of same-sex marriages, this is probably because it was the first full year it was legalized in Germany.

When surveyed ahead of the 2024 Pride Month, ** percent of Canadians believed that same-sex couples should have the right to marry legally, and *** percent believed that same-sex couples should have the right to some form of legal recognition. On the other hand, ** percent of the surveyed population believed that non-heterosexual couples should not have the right to marriage or any form of legal recognition.

In 2022, 765 same-sex marriages took places between two men and 949 same-sex marriages took place between two women. Marriages between two women outnumbered marriages between two men since 2002, with the largest number of same-sex marriages between two women taking place in 2001. The total number of same-sex marriages in the Netherlands also peaked this year, with over 2,400 same-sex marriages.

In a survey conducted in January 2025, ** percent of the respondents in Brazil expressed support for same-sex marriage. Compared to the previous, the proportion of respondents who were opposed increased by *** percent, reaching ** percent in the latest survey.

Since the the law legalizing same-sex marriages in Denmark was implemented in June 2012, there have been constantly more same-sex marriages between women than among men. In 2022, 296 women married another woman, and 213 men married another man. The total number of registered marriages in Denmark decreased over the past 20 years.

Divorces

Simultaneously, the number of divorces in Denmark was approximately one half of the number of marriages in 2022. During that year, around 12.000 divorces were registered and out of them, 96 female couples and 42 male couples were divorced.

Marriages in Norway

In Norway, the number of contracted marriages decreased from 2011 to 2021. Around 63,600 marriages were registered in 2021. Among the homosexual couples, the situation was similar as to Denmark; most same-sex marriages were between women. 202 female couples and 94 male couples were married in Norway that year. Norway's Marriage Act made same-sex marriages legal in 2009.

This survey shows the opinion on legalization of same-sex marriages in the United States from 1996 to 2023. In 1996, 27 percent of respondents agreed that same-sex marriages should be recognized by law as valid with the same rights as traditional marriages. In 2023, 71 percent state that same-sex marriages should be recognized as valid, the highest share of the last decades.

In May 2025, approximately 77 percent of people in Great Britain supported the 2014 change in the law that allowed same-sex marriage, compared with 17 percent who opposed it, and nine percent who did not know if they supported or opposed it.

The support for same-sex marriage in the United States increased overall between 2016 and 2024. However, there was a decrease in support across both parties in 2024. According to a survey conducted across the years, this increase was particularly relevant among Republicans. This was consistently the party group least in favor of gay marriage, but in 2021, for the first time, a slight majority of Republicans showed support for it. In 2024, 83 percent of the Democrats' electorate thought that same-sex marriage should be recognized by the law as valid.

The support for same-sex marriage in the United States increased overall between 2006 and 2023. According to a survey conducted across the years, this increase was shared among all levels of church attendance. Citizens who visited the church weekly were consistently the group least in favor of gay marriage. As of 2023, 83 percent of citizens who seldom or never visited the church thought that same-sex marriage should be recognized by the law as valid.