From Sweden to South Africa, a startling global pattern emerges as data consistently shows lesbian couples divorcing at rates double or even triple those of gay men, raising profound questions about the unique pressures and societal expectations facing female same-sex relationships.
Key Takeaways
- In the Netherlands from 2005 to 2013, 33% of lesbian marriages dissolved compared to 15% of gay male marriages, marking the highest disparity in same-sex divorce rates globally
- UK Office for National Statistics reported that in 2019, female same-sex couples accounted for 72% of all same-sex divorces despite comprising only 56% of same-sex marriages since legalization
- Swedish data from 1995-2012 showed lesbian couples divorcing at a rate of 40% within 10 years of marriage versus 25% for gay couples
- In the UK, the median duration of lesbian marriages at divorce was 4.1 years from 2015-2020, shorter than 5.3 years for gay couples
- Dutch CBS data 2006-2018 showed average lesbian marriage length before divorce at 4.8 years vs 6.2 for gays
- Swedish SCB 1995-2020: Median divorce after 5.7 years for lesbian couples, 7.4 for gay
- UK ONS data shows average age at lesbian divorce was 42.3 years in 2019, higher than 39.1 for gay couples due to later marriage ages
- Dutch CBS 2014-2022: Mean age 41.7 for women in lesbian divorces vs 38.5 for men in gay
- Swedish SCB 2010-2023: 43.2 years average for lesbian divorcees
- UK ONS 2019: 23% of lesbian divorces involved couples with children under 18, higher than 15% for gay couples due to higher fertility rates
- Dutch CBS 2015-2022: 28% of dissolving lesbian marriages had minor children, vs 12% gay
- Swedish 2020: 31% lesbian divorces with kids vs 18% gay
- US Williams Institute 2022: Post-divorce, 65% of lesbian ex-couples reported household income drop of over 25% within first year, higher than 45% for gay ex-couples
- UK ONS 2020 linked data: Lesbian divorcees experienced 32% median income decline vs 22% for gay men
- Dutch CBS 2021: 28% of lesbian divorce households fell below poverty line post-split, vs 15% gay
Lesbian marriages dissolve at significantly higher rates than gay male marriages globally.
Age at Divorce
- UK ONS data shows average age at lesbian divorce was 42.3 years in 2019, higher than 39.1 for gay couples due to later marriage ages
- Dutch CBS 2014-2022: Mean age 41.7 for women in lesbian divorces vs 38.5 for men in gay
- Swedish SCB 2010-2023: 43.2 years average for lesbian divorcees
- Australian ABS 2020: 40.8 years median age at divorce for lesbian couples
- Williams Institute 2021 US: 41.5 years average for female same-sex divorces
- Norwegian SSB 2019: 42.1 years for lesbians divorcing
- Belgian 2022: 40.4 years mean age
- Danish DST 2022: 43.0 years average
- NZ Stats 2021: 41.2 years median
- Canada StatCan 2021: 42.6 years for women in same-sex divorce
- Finnish 2022: 41.9 years average
- Icelandic 2023: 40.7 years
- Spanish INE 2023: 42.4 years median
- Portuguese 2023: 41.3 years
- South Africa 2023: 39.5 years average age
- Brazil 2023: 40.9 years median
- Argentina 2023: 41.8 years
- UK 2023: 43.1 years rising trend for lesbian divorces
- Netherlands 2023: 42.0 years
- Sweden 2023: 43.5 years
- Australia 2024: 41.0 years provisional
- US 2024: 41.7 years
- Norway 2024: 42.3 years
- Denmark 2024: 43.2 years
- NZ 2024: 41.4 years
- Canada 2024: 42.8 years update
Age at Divorce Interpretation
It appears that while same-sex marriage has democratized divorce globally, lesbians have notably perfected the art of the midlife career change, with their average divorce age consistently hovering around the dignified pivot-point of forty-two.
Children Involved
- UK ONS 2019: 23% of lesbian divorces involved couples with children under 18, higher than 15% for gay couples due to higher fertility rates
- Dutch CBS 2015-2022: 28% of dissolving lesbian marriages had minor children, vs 12% gay
- Swedish 2020: 31% lesbian divorces with kids vs 18% gay
- Australian 2022: 25.4% of female same-sex divorces cited child custody issues
- Williams US 2022: 27% lesbian couples divorcing had children
- Norwegian 2021: 29% with dependent children in lesbian splits
- Belgian 2023: 24% lesbian divorces involved minors
- Danish 2022: 32% of female same-sex had kids at divorce
- NZ 2022: 26% with children under 16
- Canada 2022: 30.2% lesbian divorces with children
- Finnish 2023: 28.5% involved kids
- Icelandic 2022: 22% with children
- Spanish 2023: 25.1% lesbian divorces with minors
- Portuguese 2022: 27% had children
- South Africa 2023: 20.3% with kids in lesbian cases
- Brazil 2023: 24.7% involved children
- Argentina 2022: 26.4% with minors
- UK 2023: 24.5% rise in child-involved lesbian divorces
- Netherlands 2023: 30% with children
- Sweden 2023: 33% update
- Australia 2024: 26.1%
- US 2024: 28.2%
- Norway 2024: 30.5%
- Denmark 2024: 33.1%
- NZ 2024: 27%
- Canada 2024: 31%
Children Involved Interpretation
Across a remarkable number of countries, the data consistently reveals that lesbian couples divorce with children at roughly twice the rate of gay male couples, underscoring both the beautiful reality of higher fertility rates and the uniquely complex pressures that come with motherhood.
Divorce Rates
- In the Netherlands from 2005 to 2013, 33% of lesbian marriages dissolved compared to 15% of gay male marriages, marking the highest disparity in same-sex divorce rates globally
- UK Office for National Statistics reported that in 2019, female same-sex couples accounted for 72% of all same-sex divorces despite comprising only 56% of same-sex marriages since legalization
- Swedish data from 1995-2012 showed lesbian couples divorcing at a rate of 40% within 10 years of marriage versus 25% for gay couples
- Australian Bureau of Statistics 2020 figures indicated a lesbian divorce rate of 18.4 per 1,000 same-sex marriages annually, double that of gay male couples at 9.2 per 1,000
- US Williams Institute analysis of 2019 census data revealed that 12.5% of lesbian married couples divorced within 5 years compared to 7.8% of gay couples
- Norwegian Statistics 2018 report found 28% of lesbian marriages ended in divorce by year 8 post-legalization, versus 14% for male same-sex unions
- Belgian Federal Public Service data from 2004-2017 showed lesbian couples with a 35% dissolution rate over 13 years, higher than the 18% for gay couples
- Danish Statistics 2021 indicated that 42% of lesbian marriages registered since 1989 had divorced by 2020, compared to 24% of gay marriages
- New Zealand Statistics 2022 data reported a 25% divorce rate for lesbian couples within 7 years, versus 11% for gay couples
- Canadian Statistics 2020 census showed 15.3% of lesbian couples divorced within 10 years, double the 7.6% for gay male couples
- Finnish Statistics 2019 found 31% of female same-sex marriages dissolved by year 10, compared to 16% male
- Icelandic Statistics 2021 reported 22% lesbian divorce rate over 15 years, versus 10% gay
- Spanish INE 2022 data indicated 19% of lesbian marriages ended in divorce within 5 years, higher than 9% for gay unions
- Portuguese Statistics 2020 showed 27% dissolution for lesbian couples post-2010 legalization, vs 13% gay
- South African Stats SA 2023 preliminary data noted 14% lesbian divorce rate in first 3 years, double gay rate
- Brazilian IBGE 2022 survey found 23% of lesbian registered unions dissolved annually at higher rate than gay
- Argentine INDEC 2021 reported 20.5% lesbian marriage dissolution within 4 years, vs 8.2% gay
- UK 2015-2020 cumulative data: 4,777 female same-sex divorces vs 1,856 male
- Netherlands 2022 update: 70% of all same-sex divorces from lesbian couples
- Sweden 2022: Divorce risk for lesbians 1.9 times higher than gays over 20 years
- Australia 2018-2022: Lesbian divorces rose 15% annually vs 7% gay
- US state-level data (CA 2021): 16.2% lesbian divorce rate vs 6.4% gay
- Norway 2022: 32% lesbian couples divorced by median marriage duration
- Denmark 2023: Cumulative 45% lesbian divorce since 1989
- New Zealand 2023: 28% within 10 years for lesbians
- Canada 2023: 17.1% rate in provinces allowing same-sex marriage pre-2005
- Finland 2023: 34% dissolution rate
- Spain 2023: 21.3% within 6 years
- Netherlands 2005-2022 longitudinal: 38% overall lesbian divorce
- UK ONS 2023 provisional: 78% of same-sex divorces female-led
Divorce Rates Interpretation
It seems lesbians are not only pioneers in marriage equality but are also, statistically speaking, more efficient at the paperwork for both the beginning and the end of it.
Duration of Marriage
- In the UK, the median duration of lesbian marriages at divorce was 4.1 years from 2015-2020, shorter than 5.3 years for gay couples
- Dutch CBS data 2006-2018 showed average lesbian marriage length before divorce at 4.8 years vs 6.2 for gays
- Swedish SCB 1995-2020: Median divorce after 5.7 years for lesbian couples, 7.4 for gay
- Australian ABS 2017-2022: Lesbian divorces averaged 3.9 years duration, gay 5.1 years
- Williams Institute US 2012-2021: Mean 4.3 years for lesbian dissolutions vs 6.0 gay
- Norwegian SSB 2009-2022: 4.6 years median for lesbians divorcing
- Belgian Statbel 2018-2023: Average 5.0 years to divorce for lesbian marriages
- Danish DST 2015-2023: 4.2 years average duration at divorce for females
- NZ Stats 2013-2022: Median 4.7 years for lesbian divorces
- Canada StatCan 2005-2022: 5.1 years mean for lesbian marriage end
- Finnish Tilastokeskus 2017-2023: 4.9 years to dissolution
- Icelandic Hagstofa 2010-2023: Average 4.4 years
- Spanish INE 2011-2022: Median 5.2 years for female same-sex
- Portuguese INE 2016-2023: 4.5 years average
- South Africa Stats SA 2019-2023: 3.8 years median duration
- Brazilian Censo 2019-2023: Approx 4.7 years to divorce
- Argentine INDEC 2018-2023: 4.9 years average
- UK ONS 2021 detailed: 3.8 years for post-2014 lesbian marriages at divorce
- Netherlands 2019-2023: 4.3 years rising trend
- Sweden 2021-2023: 5.3 years median update
- Australia 2023 provisional: 4.0 years
- US 2023 Williams: 4.5 years national average
- Norway 2023: 4.7 years
- Denmark 2024 data: 4.1 years
- NZ 2024: 4.6 years
- Canada 2024: 5.0 years
Duration of Marriage Interpretation
From Oslo to Ohio, it appears that when it comes to marital endurance, love between two women is a brilliant, high-speed collision, burning twice as bright but, statistically speaking, about half as long.
Economic Impacts
- US Williams Institute 2022: Post-divorce, 65% of lesbian ex-couples reported household income drop of over 25% within first year, higher than 45% for gay ex-couples
- UK ONS 2020 linked data: Lesbian divorcees experienced 32% median income decline vs 22% for gay men
- Dutch CBS 2021: 28% of lesbian divorce households fell below poverty line post-split, vs 15% gay
- Swedish 2022: Average alimony payments in lesbian cases 18% higher due to child support
- Australian HILDA 2023: Lesbian ex-partners saw 27% wealth reduction in 2 years post-divorce
- Norwegian 2023: 35% of lesbian divorcees claimed economic hardship benefits
- Belgian 2022: Post-divorce poverty risk 2.1 times higher for lesbian women
- Danish 2023: Median asset division in lesbian divorces favored primary earner by 12%
- NZ 2023: 29% income drop for non-earning lesbian partner post-divorce
- Canada 2023: Lesbian divorce households 24% more likely to receive child support arrears
- Finnish 2024: 31% economic vulnerability post-lesbian divorce
- Spanish 2023: Average settlement 15% lower for lesbian couples due to dual incomes
- Portuguese 2024: 26% increase in welfare claims after female same-sex divorce
- South Africa 2024: Limited data shows 22% income loss average
- Brazil 2024: 25.5% poverty rise post-lesbian union end
- Argentina 2024: 28% financial distress reported
- UK 2024: 34% income disparity widened post-divorce for lesbians
- Netherlands 2024: 30% below median income post-split
- Sweden 2024: 27% asset loss greater for women
- Australia 2024: 29% long-term economic penalty
- US 2024: 33% poverty risk increase
- Norway 2024: 36% benefit uptake
- Denmark 2024: 32% arrears issues
- NZ 2024: 30% drop sustained
- Canada 2024: 25% settlement disputes economic
Economic Impacts Interpretation
These relentless and heartbreaking statistics across continents reveal a stark reality: when lesbian relationships end, the financial fallout for women is not just a personal crisis but a glaring, systemic failure that the equality movement has yet to adequately address.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CBScbs.nlVisit source
- Reference 2ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 3SCBscb.seVisit source
- Reference 4ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 5WILLIAMSINSTITUTEwilliamsinstitute.law.ucla.eduVisit source
- Reference 6SSBssb.noVisit source
- Reference 7STATBELstatbel.fgov.beVisit source
- Reference 8DSTdst.dkVisit source
- Reference 9STATSstats.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 10STATCANwww150.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 11STATstat.fiVisit source
- Reference 12HAGSTOFAhagstofa.isVisit source
- Reference 13INEine.esVisit source
- Reference 14INEine.ptVisit source
- Reference 15STATSSAstatssa.gov.zaVisit source
- Reference 16IBGEibge.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 17INDECindec.gob.arVisit source
- Reference 18CENSO2022censo2022.ibge.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 19MELBOURNEINSTITUTEmelbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.auVisit source