Statistics

More than 15,500 gay and lesbian couples united in civil partnerships in the first nine months after new laws were introduced in the UK.

There were 15,672 partnerships between December 2005 and September 2006, according to the Office for National Statistics.

There were 14,084 partnerships in England, 537 in Wales, 942 in Scotland and 109 in Northern Ireland.

Almost 2,000 partnerships took place in December 2005 when the Civil Partnership Act 2004 first came into force.

On average during 2006, 1,621 partnerships took place each month between January and March and this fell to 1,498 between July and September, said the ONS.

London - popular for civil partnerships

London PictureEngland staged 84% of all ceremonies while Northern Ireland held just 1%. London hosted 25% of partnerships in the nine months after December 2005.

More men have so far chosen civil partnerships, making up 62% of partnerships in England, 57% in Scotland, 56% in Northern Ireland and 51% in Wales.

However, the ONS said the ratio between men and women appeared to be changing.

"The gap between the proportion of male and female partnerships in England and Scotland appears to be reducing over time" .

In London, there were around three times as many male partnerships as female partnerships.

Top ten for 2006

1. Greater Manchester
2. Brighton and Hove
3. Westminster
4. West Yorkshire
5. West Midlands
6. Kensington and Chelsea
7. Kent
8. Islington
9. Surrey
10. Hampshire

These statistics are for registration districts which vary between Unitary Authorities, Counties and London Boroughs, so the statistics aren't as clear as they appear. When the boroughs of Westminster, Chelsea and Kensington, and Islington are combined they bring London out on top. Brighton is, and is likely to remain, the most popular area per capita.

Our thanks to...

Gino Meriano of www.pinkweddings.biz is considered by us, and by many government bodies, to be the authority on gay weddings and the laws relating to them.