According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), a total of 5,258 same-sex couples have married in the Canary Islands between 2005 and 2023, following the historic legal reform that recognised marriage equality nationwide.
Across Spain as a whole, over 75,000 same-sex couples have married since the law came into effect, with slightly more unions between men overall, although in recent years, more women have been marrying than men.
From 2005 to 2023, there were 75,561 same-sex marriages in Spain: 40,397 between men and 35,164 between women. Over the same period, there were 3.18 million marriages between men and women.
Shifting trends and growing acceptance
Twenty years on from the approval of same-sex marriage, support remains strong: 79% of Spaniards say they completely or strongly agree that it is a positive achievement for society, while 87.3% view it as a crucial first step in securing broader LGTBI+ rights.
Initially, male couples married more frequently than female couples, but in 2018 the trend reversed, with more women choosing to formalise their relationships. This pattern has continued up to 2023, the most recent year for which figures are available.
For example, in the first year of the law (2005), there were 914 marriages between men and 355 between women. By 2023, annual same-sex marriages reached their highest recorded figure: 6,772 weddings, of which 3,165 were between men and 3,607 between women.
Regional statistics
The regions with the highest numbers of same-sex marriages from 2005 to 2023 have been Catalonia (15,900), Madrid (14,790), Andalusia (11,809) and the Valencian Community (9,355).
At the other end of the scale, Ceuta and Melilla saw only 53 and 56 such marriages respectively. Other regions with fewer than 1,000 include La Rioja (325), Cantabria (647), Navarra (718) and Extremadura (817).
Meanwhile, the Canary Islands, with 5,258 same-sex marriages, sit comfortably in the middle of the table, alongside regions like Asturias (1,098), Aragón (1,172), Castilla y León (1,541), Castilla-La Mancha (1,719), Murcia (1,856), Galicia (2,113), the Balearic Islands (2,798) and the Basque Country (2,850).
Between 2010 and 2023, around 9.3% of same-sex marriages involved at least one partner of non-Spanish nationality, reflecting the international and inclusive nature of these unions.
Divorce figures and reflections on dignity
From 2013 to 2023, there were 13,119 same-sex divorces in Spain (6,998 between men and 6,122 between women), out of 50,322 marriages registered over the same period.
Boti García Rodrigo, a prominent activist and former Director of Sexual Diversity and LGTBI Rights, highlighted the deeper meaning of marriage equality: “Marriage didn’t just become a right for all citizens, equal marriage was a step forward for the dignity of the LGTBI+ community. It made us worthy of rights.”
She added that weddings often spread happiness like “an oil stain” through families: “You could see the joy on the faces of grandparents, aunts, uncles, mothers and fathers.”
García Rodrigo also celebrated the increasing number of women marrying: “Lesbians often take longer to come out because the fears are greater. Over time, more are daring to be visible and choosing to get married. It’s a beautiful statistic.”
