Statistics Canada may have overcounted same-sex married couples by 4,500

The last census found 64,575 same-sex couple families—21,015 same-sex married couples and 43,560 same-sex common-law couples—in 2011. Stats show the number of same-sex married couples went up by 181.5 percent from 2006 to 2011, following the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2005.

However, there's a problem with these numbers. Apparently, Statistics Canada may have counted some roommates who are married but not to each other as same-sex married couples.

Statistics Canada has admitted this data should be "used with caution". In a note accompanying today's (September 19) release, the agency states:

The 2011 Census of Population introduced for the first time a specific response on household relationships to determine the number of same-sex married couples. Analysis of the data on same-sex married couples has shown that there may be an overestimation of this family type. In total, there were 64,575 same-sex couples in Canada in 2011, of which 21,015 were married. The range of overestimation of same-sex married couples at the national level is between 0 and 4,500.

According to the agency, the issue doesn't affect the other data in its release.

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