Same-Sex Inequalities in Norway: Selection into Marriages and Consequences for Education, Income, and Wealth

This study investigates both the selection into marriage and the subsequent socioeconomic outcomes among same-sex (LG) and different-sex (non-LG) couples in Norway. While Norway has been a forerunner in advancing LGBTQ+ rights—introducing registered partnerships in 1993 and full marriage equality in 2009—formal legal equality does not necessarily imply equality in social or economic outcomes. Drawing on the literature that highlights systematic differences in the formation and stability of same-sex relationships (e.g., Carpenter & Gates, 2008; Badgett, 2009), we examine whether selection into same-sex marriage differs from that into different-sex marriage, and how education, income, and wealth outcomes vary between LG and non-LG individuals. We use comprehensive Norwegian administrative register data including all individuals born between 1955 and 1975, comprising approximately four million people. Same-sex marriages and registered partnerships identify around 12,000 LG individuals. Using survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression), we first assess differences in the timing and likelihood of entering marriage by LG status, controlling for gender, parental class, education, immigrant background, and cohort. In the second stage, we analyze differences in education, earnings, and wealth using OLS and sibling fixed-effects models, thereby controlling for shared family background characteristics. Results show that LG individuals are significantly less likely to enter marriage and do so later than non-LG individuals. Contrary to expectations, parental class and rural–urban origin have weak associations with LG marriage entry, whereas having an immigrant background is positively associated with entering a same-sex marriage. Turning to socioeconomic outcomes, LG individuals—especially gay men—attain higher educational levels than non-LG individuals. Despite this educational advantage, gay men exhibit lower earnings and accumulate less wealth compared to non-gay men. Lesbians, in contrast, display a modest earnings premium relative to non-lesbians, with no major differences in wealth. These findings remain robust when adjusting for family background using sibling fixed-effects models. Overall, the results highlight that while Norway’s institutional environment ensures legal equality for same-sex couples, substantive socioeconomic disparities persist. These patterns suggest that mechanisms beyond formal legal recognition—such as labor market discrimination, occupational sorting, and differing partnership dynamics—continue to shape the life trajectories of LG individuals. Our findings underscore the importance of distinguishing between legal inclusion and material equality when assessing the outcomes of sexual minorities in advanced welfare states.