Full Factsheet: Same-sex marriage

[Also see Full Fact's recent article on same-sex marriage]

How many civil partnerships have there been in the UK since the Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force?

The total number of civil partnerships formed in the UK since the act came into force (up to the end of 2011) is 53,417. [Source: "Civil Partnerships in the UK, 2011", ONS, published 31 July 2012]

The number of civil partnerships in the UK in 2011 was 6,795, an increase of 6.4 per cent since 2010.

The mean age of men forming a civil partnership in the UK in 2011 was 40.1 years, while for women the average age was 38.3 years.

How many civil partnerships ended in 2011?

The number of civil partnership dissolutions (the legal end to a civil partnership) granted in the UK in 2011 was 672, an increase of 28.7 per cent since 2010. [Source: "Civil Partnerships in the UK, 2011", ONS, published 31 July 2012]

What have the polls been saying on same-sex marriage?

• Telegraph/ICM: "The results show opinion finely balanced, with 45 per cent supporting the move in principle, 36 per cent opposing it, and the rest saying they do not know" (March 2012)
• Sunday Times/YouGov: "In a YouGov survey for The Sunday Times today, 43% of those polled said they support gay marriage, while 32% said they supported civil partnerships but opposed gay marriage" (March 2012)
• Catholic Voices/ComRes: "Seven out of 10 people are opposed to the Government's plans to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples, a poll suggests" (March 2012, reported in The Telegraph)
• Populus: "Latest Gay Marriage stats from last weekend. Two thirds of Brits in favour" (March 2012)
• Stonewall/YouGov: "70 per cent of Britons are in favour of allowing gay marriage" (June 2012, reported in the London Evening Standard)
• Coalition4Marriage/ComRes: 54 per cent agreed with the statement that "given the controversy over legalising same-sex marriage it should be decided by a national referendum and not just a House of Commons vote" (November 2012)

[See Full Fact's article for an in-depth analysis on polling and same-sex marriage]

Where is same-sex marriage legalised around the world?

Same-sex marriage is legal in many regions or states, but only 11 countries have passed national laws allowing same-sex marriages: Netherlands (2001), Belgium (2003), Canada (2005), Spain (2005), South Africa (2006), Norway (2009), Sweden (2009), Portugal (2010), Iceland (2010), Argentina (2010), Denmark (2012).

France and Uruguay look like likely candidates to join this list in the near future, along with the UK if the Government's plans are approved.