Same-sex civil partnerships accounted for 2 per cent of all unions in the State last year.
Figures for 2012 released by the Department of Social Protection, show a total of 429 civil partnerships were registered. There were 20,649 marriages between men and women.
Of those 429 unions, 263 were between two men and 166 were between two women, with at least one civil partnership taking place in every county in the Republic.
The Civil Partnership Bill was passed by the Dáil in 2010 and came into force on January 1st, 2011.
Since then, a total of 965 gay and lesbian couples have taken part in a civil partnership.
Director of Marriage Equality Moninne Griffith said that she foresees full same-sex marriage being legalised in Ireland during the current Government's administration.
"They could achieve a wonderful piece of legislation and it would be a fantastic legacy for them. People will have seen that since Civil Partnership Bill was passed that the sky hasn't fallen down," she said.
Director of the Gay and Lesbian Equality network Brian Sheehan said that the figures show that civil partnerships have been successful.
"It has been a resounding success because people for all walks of life, all ages and all areas in Ireland are getting civil partnerships. It is helping change the way people look at gay and lesbian couple," he said.
"Those 965 couples have laid the groundwork for full marriage by showing that there is the exact same level of love and commitment as heterosexual couples."