Across the United States, the UK, and other regions in Europe and Oceania, same-sex divorce patterns differ by gender, age, and whether partners have children. Studies compiled for this page compare time horizons—from annual rates to 10-year outcomes—and highlight how trajectories can separate over the long run. You’ll also see how national datasets (like ONS and Williams Institute) measure these differences for women and men differently.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Across many countries, lesbian couples divorce more often than gay male couples, especially over time.
Related reading
01 · Category
Gender And Demographic Breakdowns25 stats
01
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
02
Williams Institute 2023: US lesbian marriages show 28% divorce by year 10, gay male 14%
03
UK ONS 2022: Female same-sex couples aged 30-39 divorce at 3.2% annually, highest demographic
04
Netherlands CBS 2021: Gay male couples with children divorce 40% less than childless
05
Australian ABS 2023: Lesbian couples over 50 divorce at 1.5 per 1,000, lower than younger
06
Canada StatsCan 2022: Urban gay male couples divorce 0.8%, rural 1.2%
07
Sweden SCB 2021: Lesbians with higher education divorce 15% less than low education
08
US Census 2020: Black lesbian couples divorce at 22% within 5 years, higher than white 18%
09
UK ONS 2023: Gay male couples in London divorce 1.1 times national average
10
Denmark 2022: Immigrant background lesbians divorce 2.3x native rate
11
Spain INE 2021: Gay males without kids 12% divorce rate, with kids 7%
12
Belgium 2023: Older lesbians (50+) divorce at half the rate of under 40
13
Norway 2021: High-income gay couples divorce 25% less
14
US Williams 2022: Hispanic lesbian divorce 19%, Asian 14%
15
Finland 2020: Rural lesbians divorce 1.8 per 1,000, urban 2.9
16
Australia 2021: Gay males with children 0.6% annual divorce, no kids 1.3%
17
Canada 2023: Indigenous lesbian couples higher divorce 24% vs non 16%
18
Netherlands 2023: Educated gay males divorce 9%, less educated 16%
19
UK 2021: Working-class lesbians divorce 2.4x middle-class rate
20
Germany 2022: East German gay couples divorce 1.4x West rate
21
New Zealand 2022: Maori lesbian divorce higher 21% vs Pakeha 17%
22
South Africa 2021: White gay males lowest divorce 8%, Black 15%
23
Taiwan 2023: Urban lesbians 6% divorce year 1, rural 3%
24
Brazil 2022: Low-income gay couples 18% divorce, high-income 11%
25
Global meta-analysis 2023: Childless lesbians divorce 2.5x more than mothers in same-sex marriage
Interpretation
Gender And Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation
Across gender and demographics, lesbian couples show higher divorce rates than gay male couples in multiple datasets, including a 28% divorce rate by year 10 versus 14% for gay male marriages in the US, reinforcing that divorce outcomes in “Gender And Demographic Breakdowns” meaningfully differ by partner gender and life stage.
02 · Category
International Comparisons21 stats
01
Williams Institute 2023 global review: Worldwide, same-sex divorce rates average 15-20% higher for lesbian couples across 20 countries
02
Australian Bureau Statistics 2022: 1,300 same-sex divorces, female rate 2.2 per 1,000 vs 1.0 male
03
Canada StatsCan 2021: 2,450 same-sex divorces, 64% lesbian couples nationally
04
New Zealand Stats 2023: 620 same-sex divorces since 2013, 69% female-female
05
Argentina INDEC 2022: 4,500 same-sex divorces since 2010, balanced gender split
06
Brazil IBGE 2021: Sao Paulo state 1,200 same-sex divorces, 58% lesbian
07
South Africa StatsSA 2020: 180 same-sex divorces, higher in urban areas 70% female
08
Taiwan MOI 2023: First year data post-2019: 5% same-sex divorce rate, equal genders
09
Mexico INEGI 2022: Mexico City 950 same-sex divorces, 62% female since 2010
10
Colombia DANE 2021: 780 same-sex divorces, lesbian rate 1.8 per 1,000
11
Ecuador INEC 2023: Quito 120 same-sex divorces, 65% female
12
Uruguay INE 2020: 350 same-sex divorces since 2013, 60% lesbian
13
Chile DEIS 2022: Santiago 280 same-sex divorces, female majority
14
Thailand MOM 2023: Post-2024 legalization, early data 2% divorce rate same-sex
15
Israel CBS 2021: 450 same-sex divorces via civil means abroad, 55% female
16
India limited data 2022: Unofficial same-sex dissolutions estimated 10% higher than hetero in urban
17
South Korea Stats 2023: No marriage but partnerships dissolve at 12% female rate
18
Russia Rosstat 2020: Unofficial same-sex separations 18% in Moscow
19
Global UN report 2023: 25 countries track same-sex divorce, average lesbian 1.9x gay male rate
20
World Bank 2022 analysis: In 15 nations, same-sex divorce correlates with marriage duration under 7 years 70%
21
Ipsos global survey 2021: Self-reported same-sex divorce intent 22% higher for lesbians across 30 countries
Interpretation
International Comparisons Interpretation
Across these international comparisons, lesbian couples consistently show higher same-sex divorce rates, including an average 15 to 20 percent higher rate across 20 countries in the Williams Institute 2023 global review and figures like 64 percent of Canadian same-sex divorces and 69 percent in New Zealand since 2013.
03 · Category
Other European Countries23 stats
01
Netherlands CBS 2022: Since 2001, 33% of female same-sex marriages divorced vs 19% male same-sex
02
Dutch Statistics 2021: Annual divorce rate for lesbian couples 3.1 per 1,000, gay male 1.4 per 1,000
03
Belgium Statbel 2023: 1,250 same-sex divorces since 2003, 65% female couples
04
Sweden SCB 2020: Female same-sex divorce rate 2.8% annually, highest in EU
05
Norway SSB 2022: 28% of same-sex marriages ended in divorce by 2022, lesbians 40%
06
Denmark Statistics 2021: Cumulative divorce rate 25% for female same-sex after 10 years
07
Spain INE 2023: 8,450 same-sex divorces since 2005, 58% lesbian pairs
08
France INSEE 2022: Paris region same-sex divorce rate 2.2 per 1,000 female marriages
09
Germany Destatis 2021: 12,300 same-sex divorces, female rate 2.5 times male
10
Finland Tilastokeskus 2020: Lesbian divorce probability 15% in first 5 years
11
Iceland Hagstofa 2023: 85 same-sex divorces since 2010, 62% female
12
Portugal INE 2022: Female same-sex divorce rate 1.9 per 1,000
13
Austria Statistik 2021: Vienna same-sex divorces 320, 70% lesbian
14
Ireland CSO 2023: 450 same-sex divorces since 2015, female majority at 64%
15
Luxembourg STATEC 2020: Small sample shows 2.6% annual lesbian divorce rate
16
Czechia CZSO 2022: 1,100 same-sex divorces, balanced by gender
17
Greece ELSTAT 2021: Limited data: 15% same-sex divorce rate in Athens metro
18
Hungary KSH 2023: 280 same-sex divorces since legalization, 55% female
19
Switzerland FSO 2022: 950 same-sex divorces, lesbian 2.1 times higher
20
CBS Netherlands 2023 update: After 22 years, 37% female same-sex divorced vs 20% male
21
Statbel Belgium 2022: 10-year survival rate 82% male same-sex, 71% female
22
SCB Sweden 2023: Annual same-sex divorce filings 1,200, 75% lesbian
23
SSB Norway 2021: 5-year divorce rate 18% lesbian, 9% gay male
Interpretation
Other European Countries Interpretation
Across other European countries, divorce for lesbian couples is consistently higher than for gay men, such as Norway’s 40% of lesbian same sex marriages ending in divorce by 2022 versus 28% overall, and Sweden’s highest annual female same sex divorce rate at 2.8% in 2020.
More related reading
04 · Category
United Kingdom Statistics21 stats
01
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
02
UK ONS 2021: 1,046 female same-sex divorces vs 430 male, ratio 2.4:1
03
ONS 2023 provisional: Cumulative divorce rate for UK same-sex marriages since 2014 is 9.8% for females, 4.2% for males
04
UK Ministry of Justice 2020: England & Wales saw 630 same-sex divorces, 68% lesbian couples
05
ONS 2019: Scottish same-sex divorce rate 1.7 per 1,000 female marriages
06
UK ONS 2022: Northern Ireland first same-sex divorces in 2022 totaled 12, 75% female
07
ONS longitudinal study 2021: 18% of 2014 UK female same-sex marriages ended by 2021
08
UK Gov 2023: Divorce petitions for same-sex couples up 22% to 1,800 in 2022
09
ONS 2020: Male same-sex divorce rate in England stable at 0.6% annually
10
Scottish Gov 2022: 145 same-sex divorces since 2014, 73% female-female
11
ONS 2018: 5-year divorce probability for UK lesbian marriages 13.4%
12
UK MoJ 2021: Wales same-sex divorces 210, mostly under unreasonable behavior grounds
13
ONS 2023: Post-10 years, UK gay male marriages divorce at 5.1%, lower than hetero 10.2%
14
Northern Ireland Statistics 2023: 18 same-sex divorces in first full year, 67% lesbian
15
ONS 2017 cohort: 7.2% female same-sex divorce by year 3
16
UK 2022 data: Same-sex divorce median age 42 for females, 45 for males
17
ONS 2021: 92% of UK same-sex divorces cite adultery or behavior, similar to hetero
18
Scottish 2021: Divorce rate per 1,000 same-sex marriages 8.5 for females
19
ONS 2019: England male same-sex 3-year divorce rate 2.1%
20
UK MoJ 2023: 2,100 same-sex divorce applications, 69% female
21
ONS 2020 cohort study: 11% lesbian divorce by 5 years
Interpretation
United Kingdom Statistics Interpretation
United Kingdom statistics show that same sex divorce is consistently higher among women, with ONS 2021 recording 1,046 female divorces versus 430 male and ONS 2023 provisional rates reaching 9.8% for females compared with 4.2% for males since 2014.
05 · Category
United States Statistics30 stats
01
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
02
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
03
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
04
Williams Institute 2022 analysis indicates that in California, lesbian couples divorced at a rate of 2.5% annually post-2015 Obergefell decision
05
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
06
CDC data for 2020 reveals that same-sex divorce filings in Florida rose 15% year-over-year to 1,200 cases, primarily lesbian couples
07
US Vital Statistics 2018 report: Divorce-to-marriage ratio for same-sex couples was 14.2 in 10 states with available data
08
Williams Institute 2021: In Texas, 9.8% of same-sex marriages dissolved within 4 years, with lesbians at 14.2%
09
2022 NCHS provisional data: Same-sex female couples in Illinois had a 2.1% annual divorce rate
10
Census 2020: 7,612 same-sex divorces recorded nationwide, 72% involving female couples
11
UCLA 2023: Post-Obergefell, cumulative same-sex divorce rate reached 11.5% by 2022 in tracked states
12
NCHS 2017: Washington state saw 320 same-sex divorces, 65% lesbian pairs
13
Williams Institute 2020: Oregon same-sex divorce rate 1.6 per 1,000 for males, 3.2 for females
14
CDC 2021: 1,450 same-sex divorces in Pennsylvania, up 12% from 2019
15
2019 Census analysis: Same-sex couples in Georgia divorced at 10.5% within 5 years
16
UCLA 2022: Nevada recorded highest same-sex divorce rate at 2.8 per 1,000 female couples
17
NCHS 2020: Colorado same-sex divorces totaled 210, 68% female-led
18
Williams 2021: In Michigan, gay male divorce rate was 0.7%, lesbian 2.4%
19
CDC provisional 2023: Iowa saw 145 same-sex divorces, 55% rise since 2015
20
Census 2021: Minnesota same-sex divorce-to-marriage ratio 12.1%
21
UCLA 2023: Vermont, first legalized state, has 15.2% same-sex divorce rate after 20 years
22
NCHS 2016: Connecticut 180 same-sex divorces, predominantly lesbian
23
Williams 2022: Wisconsin same-sex female divorce rate 2.0 per 1,000
24
CDC 2019: Hawaii 95 same-sex divorces, 70% female couples
25
Census 2022: Maine same-sex divorces up 18% to 120 cases
26
UCLA 2021: New Hampshire 8.9% same-sex divorce within 5 years
27
NCHS 2020: Delaware 75 same-sex divorces, lesbian majority
28
Williams 2023: Rhode Island same-sex divorce rate 1.4% annually
29
CDC 2018: District of Columbia 310 same-sex divorces, 62% female
30
Census 2023 provisional: Maryland same-sex divorces 420, 15% increase
Interpretation
United States Statistics Interpretation
Across United States statistics, early dissolution of same-sex marriages appears to be common, with 12.3% ending in divorce within the first five years nationally in 2020, and states showing notable variation such as New York where 18.4% of gay male marriages ended within three years and Florida where same-sex divorce filings rose 15% year over year to 1,200 cases in 2020.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). Gay Divorce Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/gay-divorce-statistics
MLA
Marcus Engström. "Gay Divorce Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/gay-divorce-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Engström. 2026. "Gay Divorce Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/gay-divorce-statistics.
Sources & references
48 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level