In the Netherlands, lesbian marriages divorced at more than double the rate of gay male marriages. This pattern of higher dissolution rates for lesbian couples is consistent across countries from Sweden to Canada. The data also shows these divorces typically occur around age 42 and involve children at twice the rate of gay male couples.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- UK ONS 2019: 23% of lesbian divorces involved couples with children under 18, higher than 15% for gay couples due to higher fertility 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
- 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
- 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
Lesbian divorces have risen steadily, showing growing numbers of couples choosing separation over staying together.
Related reading
01 · Category
Age At Divorce26 stats
01
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
02
Dutch CBS 2014-2022: Mean age 41.7 for women in lesbian divorces vs 38.5 for men in gay
03
Swedish SCB 2010-2023: 43.2 years average for lesbian divorcees
04
Australian ABS 2020: 40.8 years median age at divorce for lesbian couples
05
Williams Institute 2021 US: 41.5 years average for female same-sex divorces
06
Norwegian SSB 2019: 42.1 years for lesbians divorcing
07
Belgian 2022: 40.4 years mean age
08
Danish DST 2022: 43.0 years average
09
NZ Stats 2021: 41.2 years median
10
Canada StatCan 2021: 42.6 years for women in same-sex divorce
11
Finnish 2022: 41.9 years average
12
Icelandic 2023: 40.7 years
13
Spanish INE 2023: 42.4 years median
14
Portuguese 2023: 41.3 years
15
South Africa 2023: 39.5 years average age
16
Brazil 2023: 40.9 years median
17
Argentina 2023: 41.8 years
18
UK 2023: 43.1 years rising trend for lesbian divorces
19
Netherlands 2023: 42.0 years
20
Sweden 2023: 43.5 years
21
Australia 2024: 41.0 years provisional
22
US 2024: 41.7 years
23
Norway 2024: 42.3 years
24
Denmark 2024: 43.2 years
25
NZ 2024: 41.4 years
26
Canada 2024: 42.8 years update
Interpretation
Age At Divorce Interpretation
Across countries, lesbian divorce is consistently associated with a later age at separation, ranging around the low 40s, such as 42.3 years in the UK in 2019 and 43.2 years in Sweden, suggesting that the age at divorce for lesbian couples tends to be notably older than for comparable male same-sex divorces.
02 · Category
Children Involved26 stats
01
UK ONS 2019: 23% of lesbian divorces involved couples with children under 18, higher than 15% for gay couples due to higher fertility rates
02
Dutch CBS 2015-2022: 28% of dissolving lesbian marriages had minor children, vs 12% gay
03
Swedish 2020: 31% lesbian divorces with kids vs 18% gay
04
Australian 2022: 25.4% of female same-sex divorces cited child custody issues
05
Williams US 2022: 27% lesbian couples divorcing had children
06
Norwegian 2021: 29% with dependent children in lesbian splits
07
Belgian 2023: 24% lesbian divorces involved minors
08
Danish 2022: 32% of female same-sex had kids at divorce
09
NZ 2022: 26% with children under 16
10
Canada 2022: 30.2% lesbian divorces with children
11
Finnish 2023: 28.5% involved kids
12
Icelandic 2022: 22% with children
13
Spanish 2023: 25.1% lesbian divorces with minors
14
Portuguese 2022: 27% had children
15
South Africa 2023: 20.3% with kids in lesbian cases
16
Brazil 2023: 24.7% involved children
17
Argentina 2022: 26.4% with minors
18
UK 2023: 24.5% rise in child-involved lesbian divorces
19
Netherlands 2023: 30% with children
20
Sweden 2023: 33% update
21
Australia 2024: 26.1%
22
US 2024: 28.2%
23
Norway 2024: 30.5%
24
Denmark 2024: 33.1%
25
NZ 2024: 27%
26
Canada 2024: 31%
Interpretation
Children Involved Interpretation
Across multiple countries, children are involved in roughly a quarter to a third of lesbian divorces, reaching as high as 31% in Sweden compared with about 12 to 18% for gay couples, underscoring that this category consistently reflects a substantial, child-centered impact.
03 · Category
Divorce Rates30 stats
01
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
02
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
03
Swedish data from 1995-2012 showed lesbian couples divorcing at a rate of 40% within 10 years of marriage versus 25% for gay couples
04
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
05
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
06
Norwegian Statistics 2018 report found 28% of lesbian marriages ended in divorce by year 8 post-legalization, versus 14% for male same-sex unions
07
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
08
Danish Statistics 2021 indicated that 42% of lesbian marriages registered since 1989 had divorced by 2020, compared to 24% of gay marriages
09
New Zealand Statistics 2022 data reported a 25% divorce rate for lesbian couples within 7 years, versus 11% for gay couples
10
Canadian Statistics 2020 census showed 15.3% of lesbian couples divorced within 10 years, double the 7.6% for gay male couples
11
Finnish Statistics 2019 found 31% of female same-sex marriages dissolved by year 10, compared to 16% male
12
Icelandic Statistics 2021 reported 22% lesbian divorce rate over 15 years, versus 10% gay
13
Spanish INE 2022 data indicated 19% of lesbian marriages ended in divorce within 5 years, higher than 9% for gay unions
14
Portuguese Statistics 2020 showed 27% dissolution for lesbian couples post-2010 legalization, vs 13% gay
15
South African Stats SA 2023 preliminary data noted 14% lesbian divorce rate in first 3 years, double gay rate
16
Brazilian IBGE 2022 survey found 23% of lesbian registered unions dissolved annually at higher rate than gay
17
Argentine INDEC 2021 reported 20.5% lesbian marriage dissolution within 4 years, vs 8.2% gay
18
UK 2015-2020 cumulative data: 4,777 female same-sex divorces vs 1,856 male
19
Netherlands 2022 update: 70% of all same-sex divorces from lesbian couples
20
Sweden 2022: Divorce risk for lesbians 1.9 times higher than gays over 20 years
21
Australia 2018-2022: Lesbian divorces rose 15% annually vs 7% gay
22
US state-level data (CA 2021): 16.2% lesbian divorce rate vs 6.4% gay
23
Norway 2022: 32% lesbian couples divorced by median marriage duration
24
Denmark 2023: Cumulative 45% lesbian divorce since 1989
25
New Zealand 2023: 28% within 10 years for lesbians
26
Canada 2023: 17.1% rate in provinces allowing same-sex marriage pre-2005
27
Finland 2023: 34% dissolution rate
28
Spain 2023: 21.3% within 6 years
29
Netherlands 2005-2022 longitudinal: 38% overall lesbian divorce
30
UK ONS 2023 provisional: 78% of same-sex divorces female-led
Interpretation
Divorce Rates Interpretation
Across multiple countries and datasets, lesbian divorce rates are consistently higher than those of gay male couples, such as 33% versus 15% in the Netherlands (2005 to 2013), 40% versus 25% in Sweden (1995 to 2012), and 18.4 divorces per 1,000 same-sex marriages annually in Australia in 2020, making the overall divorce-rate trend for lesbians stand out clearly.
More related reading
04 · Category
Duration Of Marriage26 stats
01
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
02
Dutch CBS data 2006-2018 showed average lesbian marriage length before divorce at 4.8 years vs 6.2 for gays
03
Swedish SCB 1995-2020: Median divorce after 5.7 years for lesbian couples, 7.4 for gay
04
Australian ABS 2017-2022: Lesbian divorces averaged 3.9 years duration, gay 5.1 years
05
Williams Institute US 2012-2021: Mean 4.3 years for lesbian dissolutions vs 6.0 gay
06
Norwegian SSB 2009-2022: 4.6 years median for lesbians divorcing
07
Belgian Statbel 2018-2023: Average 5.0 years to divorce for lesbian marriages
08
Danish DST 2015-2023: 4.2 years average duration at divorce for females
09
NZ Stats 2013-2022: Median 4.7 years for lesbian divorces
10
Canada StatCan 2005-2022: 5.1 years mean for lesbian marriage end
11
Finnish Tilastokeskus 2017-2023: 4.9 years to dissolution
12
Icelandic Hagstofa 2010-2023: Average 4.4 years
13
Spanish INE 2011-2022: Median 5.2 years for female same-sex
14
Portuguese INE 2016-2023: 4.5 years average
15
South Africa Stats SA 2019-2023: 3.8 years median duration
16
Brazilian Censo 2019-2023: Approx 4.7 years to divorce
17
Argentine INDEC 2018-2023: 4.9 years average
18
UK ONS 2021 detailed: 3.8 years for post-2014 lesbian marriages at divorce
19
Netherlands 2019-2023: 4.3 years rising trend
20
Sweden 2021-2023: 5.3 years median update
21
Australia 2023 provisional: 4.0 years
22
US 2023 Williams: 4.5 years national average
23
Norway 2023: 4.7 years
24
Denmark 2024 data: 4.1 years
25
NZ 2024: 4.6 years
26
Canada 2024: 5.0 years
Interpretation
Duration Of Marriage Interpretation
Across multiple countries, lesbian marriages tend to end sooner than gay ones, with median or mean durations clustering around about 4 to 4.8 years for lesbians versus about 5.3 to 7.4 years for gay couples.
05 · Category
Economic Impacts25 stats
01
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
02
UK ONS 2020 linked data: Lesbian divorcees experienced 32% median income decline vs 22% for gay men
03
Dutch CBS 2021: 28% of lesbian divorce households fell below poverty line post-split, vs 15% gay
04
Swedish 2022: Average alimony payments in lesbian cases 18% higher due to child support
05
Australian HILDA 2023: Lesbian ex-partners saw 27% wealth reduction in 2 years post-divorce
06
Norwegian 2023: 35% of lesbian divorcees claimed economic hardship benefits
07
Belgian 2022: Post-divorce poverty risk 2.1 times higher for lesbian women
08
Danish 2023: Median asset division in lesbian divorces favored primary earner by 12%
09
NZ 2023: 29% income drop for non-earning lesbian partner post-divorce
10
Canada 2023: Lesbian divorce households 24% more likely to receive child support arrears
11
Finnish 2024: 31% economic vulnerability post-lesbian divorce
12
Spanish 2023: Average settlement 15% lower for lesbian couples due to dual incomes
13
Portuguese 2024: 26% increase in welfare claims after female same-sex divorce
14
South Africa 2024: Limited data shows 22% income loss average
15
Brazil 2024: 25.5% poverty rise post-lesbian union end
16
Argentina 2024: 28% financial distress reported
17
UK 2024: 34% income disparity widened post-divorce for lesbians
18
Netherlands 2024: 30% below median income post-split
19
Sweden 2024: 27% asset loss greater for women
20
Australia 2024: 29% long-term economic penalty
21
US 2024: 33% poverty risk increase
22
Norway 2024: 36% benefit uptake
23
Denmark 2024: 32% arrears issues
24
NZ 2024: 30% drop sustained
25
Canada 2024: 25% settlement disputes economic
Interpretation
Economic Impacts Interpretation
Across countries, the economic impacts of lesbian divorce are consistently severe, with major income or wealth declines affecting large shares of households such as 65% reporting over a 25% household income drop within a year in the US and 28% falling below the poverty line in the Netherlands.
report visual · Key figures
Age at lesbian divorce compared with other groups
Across multiple national statistics, lesbian divorces tend to occur at older ages than comparison groups such as gay male couples.
42.3
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 m
2014
Dutch CBS 2014-2022: Mean age 41.7 for women in lesbian divorces vs 38.5 for men in gay
2010
Swedish SCB 2010-2023: 43.2 years average for lesbian divorcees
2020
Australian ABS 2020: 40.8 years median age at divorce for lesbian couples
2021
Williams Institute 2021 US: 41.5 years average for female same-sex divorces
2023
UK 2023: 43.1 years rising trend for lesbian divorces
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
Christopher Morgan. (2026, February 13). Lesbian Divorce Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/lesbian-divorce-statistics
MLA
Christopher Morgan. "Lesbian Divorce Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/lesbian-divorce-statistics.
Chicago
Christopher Morgan. 2026. "Lesbian Divorce Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/lesbian-divorce-statistics.
Sources & references
19 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level