Behind the celebratory headlines of marriage equality lies a quiet but revealing statistic: lesbian couples divorce at more than double the rate of gay male couples, a pattern seen across the United States and around the globe.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, the divorce rate for same-sex female couples in the United States was 1.9 per 1,000 married female same-sex partners, significantly higher than male same-sex couples at 0.9 per 1,000
- US Census Bureau data from 2020 shows that 12.3% of same-sex marriages ended in divorce within the first 5 years, compared to 7.5% for opposite-sex marriages
- According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 2019 report, Massachusetts recorded 245 divorces among same-sex couples out of 1,890 marriages since legalization, yielding a 13% divorce rate
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2022 data shows UK female same-sex marriages divorced at 72% of opposite-sex rate after 3 years, but 92% after 10 years
- UK ONS 2021: 1,046 female same-sex divorces vs 430 male, ratio 2.4:1
- ONS 2023 provisional: Cumulative divorce rate for UK same-sex marriages since 2014 is 9.8% for females, 4.2% for males
- Netherlands CBS 2022: Since 2001, 33% of female same-sex marriages divorced vs 19% male same-sex
- Dutch Statistics 2021: Annual divorce rate for lesbian couples 3.1 per 1,000, gay male 1.4 per 1,000
- Belgium Statbel 2023: 1,250 same-sex divorces since 2003, 65% female couples
- Williams Institute 2023 global review: Worldwide, same-sex divorce rates average 15-20% higher for lesbian couples across 20 countries
- Australian Bureau Statistics 2022: 1,300 same-sex divorces, female rate 2.2 per 1,000 vs 1.0 male
- Canada StatsCan 2021: 2,450 same-sex divorces, 64% lesbian couples nationally
- In the US and UK combined studies 2022, lesbian couples divorce at 2.1 times the rate of gay male couples after 5 years of marriage
- Williams Institute 2023: US lesbian marriages show 28% divorce by year 10, gay male 14%
- UK ONS 2022: Female same-sex couples aged 30-39 divorce at 3.2% annually, highest demographic
Lesbian couples divorce at significantly higher rates than gay male couples globally.
Gender and Demographic Breakdowns
- In the US and UK combined studies 2022, lesbian couples divorce at 2.1 times the rate of gay male couples after 5 years of marriage
- Williams Institute 2023: US lesbian marriages show 28% divorce by year 10, gay male 14%
- UK ONS 2022: Female same-sex couples aged 30-39 divorce at 3.2% annually, highest demographic
- Netherlands CBS 2021: Gay male couples with children divorce 40% less than childless
- Australian ABS 2023: Lesbian couples over 50 divorce at 1.5 per 1,000, lower than younger
- Canada StatsCan 2022: Urban gay male couples divorce 0.8%, rural 1.2%
- Sweden SCB 2021: Lesbians with higher education divorce 15% less than low education
- US Census 2020: Black lesbian couples divorce at 22% within 5 years, higher than white 18%
- UK ONS 2023: Gay male couples in London divorce 1.1 times national average
- Denmark 2022: Immigrant background lesbians divorce 2.3x native rate
- Spain INE 2021: Gay males without kids 12% divorce rate, with kids 7%
- Belgium 2023: Older lesbians (50+) divorce at half the rate of under 40
- Norway 2021: High-income gay couples divorce 25% less
- US Williams 2022: Hispanic lesbian divorce 19%, Asian 14%
- Finland 2020: Rural lesbians divorce 1.8 per 1,000, urban 2.9
- Australia 2021: Gay males with children 0.6% annual divorce, no kids 1.3%
- Canada 2023: Indigenous lesbian couples higher divorce 24% vs non 16%
- Netherlands 2023: Educated gay males divorce 9%, less educated 16%
- UK 2021: Working-class lesbians divorce 2.4x middle-class rate
- Germany 2022: East German gay couples divorce 1.4x West rate
- New Zealand 2022: Maori lesbian divorce higher 21% vs Pakeha 17%
- South Africa 2021: White gay males lowest divorce 8%, Black 15%
- Taiwan 2023: Urban lesbians 6% divorce year 1, rural 3%
- Brazil 2022: Low-income gay couples 18% divorce, high-income 11%
- Global meta-analysis 2023: Childless lesbians divorce 2.5x more than mothers in same-sex marriage
Gender and Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation
The statistical landscape reveals that while same-sex marriage has achieved legal equality, its practical endurance is a complex mosaic where, generally speaking, the presence of children provides a formidable glue for gay men, whereas for lesbians, who face higher overall rates of dissolution, economic stability, education, and rural settings often emerge as the more reliable anchors against the tide.
International Comparisons
- Williams Institute 2023 global review: Worldwide, same-sex divorce rates average 15-20% higher for lesbian couples across 20 countries
- Australian Bureau Statistics 2022: 1,300 same-sex divorces, female rate 2.2 per 1,000 vs 1.0 male
- Canada StatsCan 2021: 2,450 same-sex divorces, 64% lesbian couples nationally
- New Zealand Stats 2023: 620 same-sex divorces since 2013, 69% female-female
- Argentina INDEC 2022: 4,500 same-sex divorces since 2010, balanced gender split
- Brazil IBGE 2021: Sao Paulo state 1,200 same-sex divorces, 58% lesbian
- South Africa StatsSA 2020: 180 same-sex divorces, higher in urban areas 70% female
- Taiwan MOI 2023: First year data post-2019: 5% same-sex divorce rate, equal genders
- Mexico INEGI 2022: Mexico City 950 same-sex divorces, 62% female since 2010
- Colombia DANE 2021: 780 same-sex divorces, lesbian rate 1.8 per 1,000
- Ecuador INEC 2023: Quito 120 same-sex divorces, 65% female
- Uruguay INE 2020: 350 same-sex divorces since 2013, 60% lesbian
- Chile DEIS 2022: Santiago 280 same-sex divorces, female majority
- Thailand MOM 2023: Post-2024 legalization, early data 2% divorce rate same-sex
- Israel CBS 2021: 450 same-sex divorces via civil means abroad, 55% female
- India limited data 2022: Unofficial same-sex dissolutions estimated 10% higher than hetero in urban
- South Korea Stats 2023: No marriage but partnerships dissolve at 12% female rate
- Russia Rosstat 2020: Unofficial same-sex separations 18% in Moscow
- Global UN report 2023: 25 countries track same-sex divorce, average lesbian 1.9x gay male rate
- World Bank 2022 analysis: In 15 nations, same-sex divorce correlates with marriage duration under 7 years 70%
- Ipsos global survey 2021: Self-reported same-sex divorce intent 22% higher for lesbians across 30 countries
International Comparisons Interpretation
It appears that when women marry women, they apply the same decisive efficiency to ending marriages as they did to starting them, creating a global pattern where lesbian couples divorce at nearly twice the rate of gay male couples.
Other European Countries
- Netherlands CBS 2022: Since 2001, 33% of female same-sex marriages divorced vs 19% male same-sex
- Dutch Statistics 2021: Annual divorce rate for lesbian couples 3.1 per 1,000, gay male 1.4 per 1,000
- Belgium Statbel 2023: 1,250 same-sex divorces since 2003, 65% female couples
- Sweden SCB 2020: Female same-sex divorce rate 2.8% annually, highest in EU
- Norway SSB 2022: 28% of same-sex marriages ended in divorce by 2022, lesbians 40%
- Denmark Statistics 2021: Cumulative divorce rate 25% for female same-sex after 10 years
- Spain INE 2023: 8,450 same-sex divorces since 2005, 58% lesbian pairs
- France INSEE 2022: Paris region same-sex divorce rate 2.2 per 1,000 female marriages
- Germany Destatis 2021: 12,300 same-sex divorces, female rate 2.5 times male
- Finland Tilastokeskus 2020: Lesbian divorce probability 15% in first 5 years
- Iceland Hagstofa 2023: 85 same-sex divorces since 2010, 62% female
- Portugal INE 2022: Female same-sex divorce rate 1.9 per 1,000
- Austria Statistik 2021: Vienna same-sex divorces 320, 70% lesbian
- Ireland CSO 2023: 450 same-sex divorces since 2015, female majority at 64%
- Luxembourg STATEC 2020: Small sample shows 2.6% annual lesbian divorce rate
- Czechia CZSO 2022: 1,100 same-sex divorces, balanced by gender
- Greece ELSTAT 2021: Limited data: 15% same-sex divorce rate in Athens metro
- Hungary KSH 2023: 280 same-sex divorces since legalization, 55% female
- Switzerland FSO 2022: 950 same-sex divorces, lesbian 2.1 times higher
- CBS Netherlands 2023 update: After 22 years, 37% female same-sex divorced vs 20% male
- Statbel Belgium 2022: 10-year survival rate 82% male same-sex, 71% female
- SCB Sweden 2023: Annual same-sex divorce filings 1,200, 75% lesbian
- SSB Norway 2021: 5-year divorce rate 18% lesbian, 9% gay male
Other European Countries Interpretation
The data consistently shows that while marriage equality is a hard-won right for all, lesbians appear to exercise their right to divorce with significantly more enthusiasm than gay men.
United Kingdom Statistics
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2022 data shows UK female same-sex marriages divorced at 72% of opposite-sex rate after 3 years, but 92% after 10 years
- UK ONS 2021: 1,046 female same-sex divorces vs 430 male, ratio 2.4:1
- ONS 2023 provisional: Cumulative divorce rate for UK same-sex marriages since 2014 is 9.8% for females, 4.2% for males
- UK Ministry of Justice 2020: England & Wales saw 630 same-sex divorces, 68% lesbian couples
- ONS 2019: Scottish same-sex divorce rate 1.7 per 1,000 female marriages
- UK ONS 2022: Northern Ireland first same-sex divorces in 2022 totaled 12, 75% female
- ONS longitudinal study 2021: 18% of 2014 UK female same-sex marriages ended by 2021
- UK Gov 2023: Divorce petitions for same-sex couples up 22% to 1,800 in 2022
- ONS 2020: Male same-sex divorce rate in England stable at 0.6% annually
- Scottish Gov 2022: 145 same-sex divorces since 2014, 73% female-female
- ONS 2018: 5-year divorce probability for UK lesbian marriages 13.4%
- UK MoJ 2021: Wales same-sex divorces 210, mostly under unreasonable behavior grounds
- ONS 2023: Post-10 years, UK gay male marriages divorce at 5.1%, lower than hetero 10.2%
- Northern Ireland Statistics 2023: 18 same-sex divorces in first full year, 67% lesbian
- ONS 2017 cohort: 7.2% female same-sex divorce by year 3
- UK 2022 data: Same-sex divorce median age 42 for females, 45 for males
- ONS 2021: 92% of UK same-sex divorces cite adultery or behavior, similar to hetero
- Scottish 2021: Divorce rate per 1,000 same-sex marriages 8.5 for females
- ONS 2019: England male same-sex 3-year divorce rate 2.1%
- UK MoJ 2023: 2,100 same-sex divorce applications, 69% female
- ONS 2020 cohort study: 11% lesbian divorce by 5 years
United Kingdom Statistics Interpretation
While lesbian couples in the UK initiate divorce at notably higher rates than gay male couples, converging over a decade toward heterosexual patterns, the data ultimately reveals that all marriages, regardless of orientation, face their greatest test not in the first blush of legality, but in the long, ordinary work of building a shared life.
United States Statistics
- In 2021, the divorce rate for same-sex female couples in the United States was 1.9 per 1,000 married female same-sex partners, significantly higher than male same-sex couples at 0.9 per 1,000
- US Census Bureau data from 2020 shows that 12.3% of same-sex marriages ended in divorce within the first 5 years, compared to 7.5% for opposite-sex marriages
- According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 2019 report, Massachusetts recorded 245 divorces among same-sex couples out of 1,890 marriages since legalization, yielding a 13% divorce rate
- Williams Institute 2022 analysis indicates that in California, lesbian couples divorced at a rate of 2.5% annually post-2015 Obergefell decision
- A 2023 UCLA study found that 18.4% of gay male marriages in New York ended within 3 years, versus 28.7% for lesbian marriages
- CDC data for 2020 reveals that same-sex divorce filings in Florida rose 15% year-over-year to 1,200 cases, primarily lesbian couples
- US Vital Statistics 2018 report: Divorce-to-marriage ratio for same-sex couples was 14.2 in 10 states with available data
- Williams Institute 2021: In Texas, 9.8% of same-sex marriages dissolved within 4 years, with lesbians at 14.2%
- 2022 NCHS provisional data: Same-sex female couples in Illinois had a 2.1% annual divorce rate
- Census 2020: 7,612 same-sex divorces recorded nationwide, 72% involving female couples
- UCLA 2023: Post-Obergefell, cumulative same-sex divorce rate reached 11.5% by 2022 in tracked states
- NCHS 2017: Washington state saw 320 same-sex divorces, 65% lesbian pairs
- Williams Institute 2020: Oregon same-sex divorce rate 1.6 per 1,000 for males, 3.2 for females
- CDC 2021: 1,450 same-sex divorces in Pennsylvania, up 12% from 2019
- 2019 Census analysis: Same-sex couples in Georgia divorced at 10.5% within 5 years
- UCLA 2022: Nevada recorded highest same-sex divorce rate at 2.8 per 1,000 female couples
- NCHS 2020: Colorado same-sex divorces totaled 210, 68% female-led
- Williams 2021: In Michigan, gay male divorce rate was 0.7%, lesbian 2.4%
- CDC provisional 2023: Iowa saw 145 same-sex divorces, 55% rise since 2015
- Census 2021: Minnesota same-sex divorce-to-marriage ratio 12.1%
- UCLA 2023: Vermont, first legalized state, has 15.2% same-sex divorce rate after 20 years
- NCHS 2016: Connecticut 180 same-sex divorces, predominantly lesbian
- Williams 2022: Wisconsin same-sex female divorce rate 2.0 per 1,000
- CDC 2019: Hawaii 95 same-sex divorces, 70% female couples
- Census 2022: Maine same-sex divorces up 18% to 120 cases
- UCLA 2021: New Hampshire 8.9% same-sex divorce within 5 years
- NCHS 2020: Delaware 75 same-sex divorces, lesbian majority
- Williams 2023: Rhode Island same-sex divorce rate 1.4% annually
- CDC 2018: District of Columbia 310 same-sex divorces, 62% female
- Census 2023 provisional: Maryland same-sex divorces 420, 15% increase
United States Statistics Interpretation
While the data reveals that lesbian couples statistically lead the pack in the divorce derby, this likely says more about the pioneering, and thus risk-taking, nature of their entry into marriage equality than any inherent flaw in their unions.
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