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Family & Relationships

reportJun 12, 2025

The number of households headed by same-sex couples in the U.S. has risen steadily, but they represent a small share of all married couples.

short readAug 11, 2025

59% of LGBTQ U.S. adults under 50 who have never married say they want to get married someday, and 63% of non-LGBTQ adults in this age range say the same.

reportJul 25, 2024

Some 57% of adults under 50 who say they are unlikely to have kids say a major reason is they just don’t want to. Among those ages 50 and older, 31% cite this as a reason.

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reportFeb 15, 2013

Illinois Senate Approves Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Updated Feb. 15, 2013 On Feb. 14, the Illinois Senate, as expected, approved a measure that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. The bill will move next to the Illinois House of Representatives, which is more divided on the issue. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn favors the legislation and has said he will sign it […]
reportFeb 13, 2013

Love and Marriage

This posting explores statistics about marriage rates, median age at first marriage and attitudes about marriage. Although the marriage rate is at a record low, most never-married Americans say they would like to marry. “Love” is cited more than other factors as a reason to get married, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
reportJan 30, 2013

The Sandwich Generation

With an aging population and a generation of young adults struggling to achieve financial independence, the burdens and responsibilities of middle-aged Americans are increasing. Nearly half (47%) of adults in their 40s and 50s have a parent age 65 or older and are either raising a young child or financially supporting a grown child (age […]
reportJan 4, 2013

Indians Support Gender Equality But Still Give Men Edge in Workplace, Higher Education

The recent gang rape and killing of a young woman in New Delhi – and the subsequent protests – have focused worldwide attention on gender issues in India. A 2010 survey that examined attitudes about gender around the world sheds some light on how public opinion in India compares to the other 21 nations surveyed.
reportDec 20, 2012

The Big Generation Gap at the Polls Is Echoed in Attitudes on Budget Tradeoffs

Overview The record generation gap that played out at the voting booth in the last two presidential elections is echoed by large differences by age in attitudes about the tradeoff between reducing the federal deficit and preserving entitlements for older adults, according to a new nationwide Pew Research Center survey. Older adults by a lopsided […]
reportDec 7, 2012

Religious Groups’ Official Positions on Same-Sex Marriage

In recent years, same-sex marriage has been a contentious subject within many religious groups in the U.S. Here is an overview of where 16 religious groups stand on this issue.
fact sheetDec 7, 2012

Same-Sex Marriage in the Courts

The U.S. Supreme Court stepped squarely into the same-sex marriage debate when it agreed on Dec. 7, 2012, to review two important lower court decisions involving gay marriage. Find out what that may mean for the future of same-sex marriage in the U.S.
reportDec 7, 2012

Overview of Same-Sex Marriage in the United States

Across the U.S., a fierce debate is taking place between those who hope all gays and lesbians will soon have the right to marry and those who believe that same-sex marriage is helping to undermine heterosexual marriage. Read about the history and current status of the same-sex marriage debate.
reportNov 20, 2012

No Reversal in Decline of Marriage

The number of Americans who recently wed has been declining for years, and 2011 was no exception, according to estimates from the American Community Survey. An estimated 4.2 million Americans were newlyweds in 2011, about the same as in 2010 and sharply lower than in 2008.
reportNov 9, 2012

Behind Gay Marriage Momentum, Regional Gaps Persist

Supporters of same-sex marriage won key victories in several states Tuesday, including the first instances in which laws allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally were approved by voters. This comes at a time when support for same-sex marriage has been on the rise. Across four Pew Research Center surveys this year, 48% of Americans […]