Same-Sex Couples in Russia: A Sociological Analysis

U.S. Data: The Gallup Precedent

How many same-sex couples are there in Russia? To try to answer this question, it is useful to start with the data available in countries where rigorous studies have been conducted.

In the United States, the Gallup organization conducted a large-scale sociological survey. According to its findings, 0.3% of the U.S. population identified as being part of a same-sex couple. Applied to the population of the United States, this percentage represented approximately 990,000 couples, a figure significantly higher than the 727,000 couples counted by the U.S. Census Bureau (Census Bureau).

This discrepancy can be explained by the limitations of the census: many couples do not identify themselves as such for fear of discrimination or because they are unfamiliar with the categories provided. Gallup's methodology, based on individual interviews and random sampling, captures realities that administrative forms miss.

Furthermore, among the couples counted by the Census Bureau, more than 250,000 were officially married. Gallup estimated this number at approximately 390,000 married same-sex couples, a considerable difference that illustrates the systematic underestimation found in official statistics.

The Lack of Statistics in Russia

Unlike the United States, there are no official statistics on same-sex couples in Russia. Neither the Russian government nor any nonprofit organization systematically collects this data.

Pavel Samburov, from the Rainbow association (Rainbow), confirms this gap: “There are no statistics of this kind. No one keeps such a count in Russia.”

This lack of data is not accidental. In a context where homosexuality remains heavily stigmatized socially, and where legislation restricts the “propaganda” of what the authorities describe as “non-traditional sexual relations,” even collecting such data is considered problematic by the authorities.

Accounts from Russian LGBT Organizations

In the absence of statistics, accounts from activists and organizations offer a partial but valuable insight into the reality of same-sex couples in Russia.

Igor Kochetkov – Russian LGBT Network

Igor Kochetkov, from the Russian LGBT Network, says he personally knows dozens of same-sex couples living together in several cities across the country. According to him, this reality is far more widespread than Russian society is willing to acknowledge.

Marina Kozlovskaya – Coming Out, St. Petersburg

Marina Kozlovskaya, from the St. Petersburg-based organization Coming Out, provides more precise estimates. She estimates that approximately 40 same-sex couples have been identified within St. Petersburg's LGBT community and approximately 24 couples in Ulyanovsk. These figures represent only the couples visible within the organizations, not all existing couples.

The Case of Murmansk

In Murmansk, a port city in northern Russia with approximately 300,000 inhabitants, Sergei Alexeenko, from the Maximum center, reports the existence of hundreds of same-sex couples.

This account is particularly interesting because it allows for verification through extrapolation. If the 0.3% ratio from the Gallup survey is applied to the population of Murmansk:

0.3% × 300,000 inhabitants = approximately 450 couples

This result is consistent with Sergei Alexeenko's report of “hundreds of couples,” suggesting that the 0.3% rate could be a reasonable approximation for Russia.

Nationwide Extrapolation

Applying the same 0.3% ratio to Russia's entire population (approximately 142 million inhabitants at the time of the survey) yields the following estimate:

0.3% × 142,000,000 = approximately 214,000 same-sex couples

This estimate should be treated with caution. Some researchers suggest that the proportion of homosexual people in the population is around 5%, a figure much higher than the 0.3% measured by Gallup. The difference can be explained by the fact that the Gallup survey specifically measures people living as a couple, rather than all homosexual people. Moreover, in a socially hostile environment, many homosexual people are not in a relationship or do not identify themselves as such.

Invisible Couples

One of the most striking realities of life for same-sex couples in Russia is their invisibility. Many couples live in secrecy, including:

• Women with children – particularly vulnerable, they fear losing custody of their children if their sexual orientation is revealed
• Couples in rural areas – without the anonymity offered by large cities, social scrutiny is much stronger
• Professionals in certain sectors – education, the military, and public service, where coming out as homosexual can lead to dismissal
• Intergenerational couples – older people who grew up under the Soviet regime, where homosexuality was criminalized, remain profoundly affected by fear

This invisibility creates a vicious cycle: the less visible couples are, the more society perceives them as marginal or nonexistent, thereby reinforcing stigma and isolation.

Context in 2026

In 2026, the situation of same-sex couples in Russia has deteriorated considerably compared with the period when these accounts were collected. Several major developments should be noted:

• The 2013 law banning the “propaganda” of “non-traditional sexual relations” among minors was expanded in 2022 to apply to the entire population, drastically restricting any positive representation of homosexuality
• In 2023, the Supreme Court of Russia designated the “international LGBT movement” as an “extremist” organization, effectively criminalizing all visible activist activity
• The 2020 constitutional amendments enshrined in the country's fundamental law the definition of marriage as an exclusive union between a man and a woman
• Many organizations mentioned in this article have been forced to cease their activities or continue their work from abroad

In this context, the estimated 214 000 couples are probably living in even greater invisibility than at the time of the initial survey. The CGLQ, as an organization accredited by UN ECOSOC, continues to document and report these violations of the fundamental rights of LGBT people in Russia.

In March 2026, the consequences of the Russian Supreme Court's designation of the “LGBT movement” as “extremist” continue to be felt in tangible ways. Legal proceedings have been brought against activists, artists, and healthcare workers accused of “propaganda.” Dating apps intended for LGBT people have been removed from Russian download platforms. Cases of people being reported by family members and colleagues are being documented by human rights organizations operating from abroad. The humanitarian situation of LGBT people in the North Caucasus republics, particularly Chechnya, remains especially alarming. For those considering traveling to Russia, it is essential to learn about the current legal framework and the potential risks associated with expressing one's sexual orientation.

Despite this repression, informal solidarity networks persist within Russian society. Underground cultural and artistic initiatives help keep the Russian LGBT community alive. Exchanges between Quebec and Russia continue through citizen-led and cultural initiatives. To better understand Russian culture and society, it is useful to examine the social dynamics shaping the daily lives of ordinary citizens. The Russian diaspora in Canada and Quebec also plays a bridging role, helping maintain ties with LGBT people who have remained in Russia and providing them with discreet but essential support.