Nancy and Sharon Gerbracht are among forty six couples wed in a large same-sex ceremony, near the brink of Niagara Falls, in Niagara Falls
Nancy (L) and Sharon Gerbracht were among 46 couples who wed in a large same-sex ceremony in Niagara Falls, N.Y. under the Defense of Marriage Act, however, they cannot access federal benefits. Reuters

The U.S. Census Bureau has revised downward its statistics on same-sex couples, both married and unmarried.

The numbers were adjusted after an inconsistency in the 2010 Census responses inflated them., the bureau said.

The Census originally reported there were 349,377 same-sex households where the couple was married -- even though only a few states have legalized gay marriage -- and 552,620 same-sex domestic partner households.

According to the new figures, there were 131,729 same-sex married couple households and 514,735 same-sex partner households in 2010.

We understand how important it is for all groups to have accurate statistics that reflect who we are as a nation, Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said in a statement. As scientists, we noticed the inconsistency and developed the revised estimates to provide a more accurate portrait of the number of same-sex couples.

The statistics are based upon responses to two questions: the relationship to householder and the sex of each person.