Over 15,000 same-sex couples have wed in the United Kingdom since marriage equality was achieved.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed a total of 15,098 couples had legally married since 2014.

Of those, 7,366 were marriages while 7,732 were conversions from civil partnerships to marriage. The number of couples opting for civil partnerships fell by 70% between 2013 and 2014 it found.

Same-sex marriage became legal just after midnight on 29 March 2014, and people started saying their vows shortly afterwards.

Fifty five percent of couples tying the knot were female, a notable figure as most of the time more men undertook civil unions, which were introduced in 2005.

Women were also more likely to have been previously married to someone of the opposite sex. One in seven women in same-sex marriages were divorced compared with one in 13 men.

Earlier this year Australian Senator Eric Abetz argued that many homosexuals would not want to get married if marriage equality were granted in Australia.

OIP Staff