The 2016 Census counted 46,800 same-sex couples across Australia. This was an increase of 39% since the 2011 Census, which counted 33,700 same-sex couples.
Female same-sex couples made up just under half (49%) of same-sex couples, however they were more likely to have children than male same-sex couples. While one-quarter (25%) of female same-sex couples had children, 4.5% of male same-sex couples had children.
FAMILIES IN AUSTRALIA
The 2016 Census counted 6.1 million families across Australia.
The proportion of couple families without children and single parent families has increased since 1991. In 1991 32% of Australian families were couple families without children, increasing to 38% in 2016.
Over 900,000 single parent families were counted in 2016 and over 80% of single parents were female.
