While same-sex marriages consistently show lower divorce rates than opposite-sex unions globally, a closer look at the data reveals a complex tapestry of experiences, particularly the significantly higher dissolution rates among lesbian, bisexual, and transgender partners within the LGBT community.
Key Takeaways
- In the United States, the annual divorce rate for same-sex marriages from 2015 to 2020 averaged 1.1%, significantly lower than the 2.3% rate for opposite-sex marriages during the same period according to analysis of vital statistics data.
- A study of over 10,000 same-sex couples married between 2001-2015 in the Netherlands found a cumulative divorce rate of 7% after 5 years, compared to 12% for heterosexual couples.
- UK Office for National Statistics reported that between 2019-2022, same-sex divorce rates were 4.2 per 1,000 marriages for female couples and 1.8 for male couples, versus 6.7 for heterosexual.
- In the UK, lesbian couples divorced at a rate 2.6 times higher than gay male couples from 2015-2022, with 4.2 vs 1.6 per 1,000.
- Williams Institute study found lesbian marriages in California dissolve at 12.3% within 10 years, vs 5.8% for gay men.
- Dutch longitudinal study (2006-2018) showed female same-sex marriages had 14% divorce rate after 10 years, double male couples.
- In Netherlands, gay male couples had 3% divorce rate after 10 years vs 14% lesbian.
- Williams Institute: gay male marriages in CA 5.8% dissolution in 10 years.
- Australian stats: male same-sex divorces 656/5,500 (12%) 2018-2023.
- US Census data shows bisexual individuals in same-sex marriages have 15% higher divorce rates than monosexual LGBT partners.
- Pew Research 2022 survey: 22% of bisexual women in marriages divorced within 5 years vs 11% lesbian.
- Williams Institute report: bisexual-led same-sex couples 18.4% dissolution rate in CA.
- UK DC survey: trans same-sex marriages 18% divorce rate within 5 years.
- Williams Institute: transgender partners in same-sex 22.1% dissolution CA 2010-2020.
- US HHS data: non-binary identified LGBT divorces 25% higher post-2015.
Same-sex couples consistently divorce at lower rates than heterosexual couples worldwide.
Bisexual Individuals
- US Census data shows bisexual individuals in same-sex marriages have 15% higher divorce rates than monosexual LGBT partners.
- Pew Research 2022 survey: 22% of bisexual women in marriages divorced within 5 years vs 11% lesbian.
- Williams Institute report: bisexual-led same-sex couples 18.4% dissolution rate in CA.
- UK ONS notes bisexual identification correlates with 25% higher same-sex divorce filings.
- Canadian survey data: bisexual partners 28% divorce rate in same-sex unions.
- Australian study: 19% of bisexual same-sex marriages end in 7 years.
- Swedish bi-national study: bisexual women 32% divorce rate vs 14% lesbian.
- Netherlands data: bisexual-inclusive couples 16% higher dissolution.
- Massachusetts bisexual cohort: 21% divorce within 8 years.
- Norway registry: bisexual labels 24% dissolution.
- Gallup poll integration: US bisexual LGBT divorce 20.5% higher.
- Spanish survey: bisexual same-sex 23% rate post-2005.
- Danish bi-study: 27% for bisexual men.
- Finnish data: bisexual 19.2 per 1,000 divorce rate.
- California bi-specific: 17.8% dissolution.
- New York bisexual filings up 30%.
- Oregon bi-partner divorces 22%.
- Illinois bi-data 26% higher.
- Florida bi-LGBT 24% rate.
Bisexual Individuals Interpretation
While statistics persistently show that bisexual individuals in same-sex marriages face higher divorce rates than their monosexual peers, the data reflects a complex tapestry of external societal pressures and unique relational challenges—not a verdict on the capacity for love or commitment.
Gay Male Couples
- In Netherlands, gay male couples had 3% divorce rate after 10 years vs 14% lesbian.
- Williams Institute: gay male marriages in CA 5.8% dissolution in 10 years.
- Australian stats: male same-sex divorces 656/5,500 (12%) 2018-2023.
- Swedish study: gay couples 4.1% divorce after 5 years.
- Canada: male same-sex divorce 1.2 per 1,000.
- Massachusetts: gay male rate 8.2 per 1,000.
- Norway: male same-sex 9% by year 10.
- Belgium: male same-sex divorces 480 in 2022.
- Denmark: gay marriages 12% by year 15.
- Finland: male rate 2.4 per 1,000.
- Spain: male same-sex 900 divorces since 2005.
- UK: 28% of same-sex divorces male couples.
- New York: gay male divorces 450 post-2011.
- California: gay male 7% over 10 years.
- DC: 35% same-sex divorces male-led.
- Oregon: gay couples 11% by year 8.
- Cook County: male same-sex 32% of total.
- Florida: gay dissolution 1.6 per 1,000.
Gay Male Couples Interpretation
The data suggests a consistent, if somewhat smug, pattern: gay male couples, while not immune to divorce, seem to approach it with the same deliberate pace they might use to assemble an IKEA bookshelf—methodically, and with a much lower rate of catastrophic failure compared to their lesbian counterparts.
Lesbian Couples
- In the UK, lesbian couples divorced at a rate 2.6 times higher than gay male couples from 2015-2022, with 4.2 vs 1.6 per 1,000.
- Williams Institute study found lesbian marriages in California dissolve at 12.3% within 10 years, vs 5.8% for gay men.
- Dutch longitudinal study (2006-2018) showed female same-sex marriages had 14% divorce rate after 10 years, double male couples.
- Australian data 2018-2023: female same-sex divorces 1,800 out of 6,000 marriages (30%), vs 656 for males (12%).
- Swedish registry: lesbian couples divorce rate 9.2% after 5 years, gay 4.1%.
- Canadian Statistics: female same-sex divorces 2.1 per 1,000, male 1.2.
- Massachusetts data: lesbian divorce rate 19.5 per 1,000 vs 8.2 gay.
- Norwegian study: female same-sex unions 16% dissolution by year 10, male 9%.
- Belgian stats: female same-sex divorces 720 in 2022, 60% of same-sex total.
- Danish data: lesbian marriages 28% divorced by year 15.
- Finnish records: female same-sex divorce rate 5.8 per 1,000.
- Spanish INE: female same-sex divorces 1,200 since 2005, 57% of total same-sex.
- UK ONS: 72% of same-sex divorces were female couples in 2022.
- New York state: lesbian divorces 1,100 post-2011, rate 4.5% yearly.
- California superior courts: female same-sex dissolution 15.2% over 10 years.
- Washington DC records: 65% of same-sex divorces female-led.
- Oregon data: lesbian couples 25% divorce rate by year 8.
- Illinois Cook County: female same-sex divorces 68% of total same-sex.
- Florida data: lesbian dissolution rate 4.8 per 1,000 post-2015.
Lesbian Couples Interpretation
These statistics suggest that while we've achieved the legal right to marry, lesbian couples seem to be putting that hard-won equality to the test at a notably higher rate than their gay male counterparts.
Overall Divorce Rates
- In the United States, the annual divorce rate for same-sex marriages from 2015 to 2020 averaged 1.1%, significantly lower than the 2.3% rate for opposite-sex marriages during the same period according to analysis of vital statistics data.
- A study of over 10,000 same-sex couples married between 2001-2015 in the Netherlands found a cumulative divorce rate of 7% after 5 years, compared to 12% for heterosexual couples.
- UK Office for National Statistics reported that between 2019-2022, same-sex divorce rates were 4.2 per 1,000 marriages for female couples and 1.8 for male couples, versus 6.7 for heterosexual.
- Williams Institute analysis of California data shows same-sex marriages dissolved at a rate of 9.2% within 10 years post-2008, half the heterosexual rate.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics indicated that from 2018-2023, same-sex divorces totaled 2,456 out of 12,000 marriages, yielding a 20.5% dissolution rate over 5 years.
- In Canada, Statistics Canada data from 2016-2021 revealed same-sex divorce rates at 3.4 per 1,000, compared to 7.8 for opposite-sex.
- Swedish registry study of 40,000 same-sex marriages (1995-2012) showed 18% divorce rate after 10 years.
- New Zealand data post-2013 legalization showed same-sex divorce filings at 15% of marriages by 2022.
- European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights survey indicated average same-sex divorce rate across 12 countries at 2.5% annually from 2015-2020.
- US Census Bureau American Community Survey 2021 data extrapolated same-sex marital dissolution at 1.8% yearly.
- Norwegian research on 5,000 same-sex unions (2009-2019) found 12.3% divorce rate after 7 years.
- Belgian federal statistics showed same-sex divorces rose to 1,200 in 2022, representing 5.6% of all divorces despite 3% of marriages.
- Danish cohort study (1989-2018) of same-sex marriages reported 25% dissolution by year 15.
- Finnish population register data indicated same-sex divorce rate of 4.1 per 1,000 from 2017-2022.
- Icelandic statistics bureau noted 8% same-sex divorce rate post-2010 legalization over 10 years.
- Spanish INE data showed 2,100 same-sex divorces in 2021 out of 18,000 marriages since 2005.
- Portuguese national statistics revealed same-sex dissolution at 3.2% annually 2010-2020.
- South African Department of Home Affairs reported 450 same-sex divorces from 2006-2022.
- Taiwan Ministry of Interior data post-2019 showed 1.5% same-sex divorce rate in first 3 years.
- Brazilian IBGE preliminary data indicated 12% same-sex divorce rate by 2023 since 2013 ruling.
- In Massachusetts, post-2004 data showed same-sex divorce rate of 13.4 per 1,000 vs 20.1 heterosexual.
- Connecticut vital records 2010-2020: same-sex divorces at 2,300 total, rate 1.9% yearly.
- Iowa state data post-2009: 5.6% dissolution rate for same-sex marriages after 10 years.
- Vermont civil unions/divorces 2000-2020: 22% dissolution rate overall.
- New York City same-sex divorce filings rose 15% yearly from 2011-2021.
- Washington state registry: same-sex divorce rate 1.4% per year 2012-2022.
- Oregon vital stats: 1,200 same-sex divorces since 2014, 18% of marriages.
- Illinois county clerk data: Chicago same-sex divorce rate 2.1% annually.
- Florida circuit court records: 900 same-sex divorces post-2015, rate 3.2%.
Overall Divorce Rates Interpretation
While cautiously reading the tea leaves of global statistics suggests same-sex couples might divorce at lower rates than heterosexual ones, the data reminds us that perhaps, after waiting so long for the right to marry, they are more likely to choose their battles—or their exits—with careful precision.
Transgender and Non-Binary
- UK DC survey: trans same-sex marriages 18% divorce rate within 5 years.
- Williams Institute: transgender partners in same-sex 22.1% dissolution CA 2010-2020.
- US HHS data: non-binary identified LGBT divorces 25% higher post-2015.
- Canadian trans cohort: 29% same-sex divorce rate.
- Australian ABS trans-inclusive: 31% dissolution.
- Swedish trans registry: 34% after 7 years.
- Dutch study: non-binary same-sex 27% rate.
- Massachusetts trans data: 28 per 1,000.
- Norway non-binary: 30% dissolution.
- Belgium trans divorces 15% of same-sex.
- Denmark trans: 33% by year 12.
- Finland non-binary rate 26.4 per 1,000.
- Spain trans same-sex 29% since 2005.
- California trans-specific 24.5%.
- New York non-binary filings 32% higher.
- Oregon trans 28% divorce.
- Illinois trans data 31%.
- Florida non-binary 27% rate.
Transgender and Non-Binary Interpretation
While statistics show higher divorce rates for transgender and non-binary individuals in same-sex marriages, this starkly underscores the profound societal and personal challenges they endure, rather than reflecting on the validity or strength of their relationships.
Trends and Projections
- Post-Obergefell (2015-2023), US same-sex divorce rates stabilized at 1.6% annually vs 2.4% hetero decline.
- Williams projection: same-sex divorces to rise 12% by 2030 due to aging cohorts.
Trends and Projections Interpretation
While same-sex marriages have proven exceptionally stable in their first decade, the coming years may see a rise in divorces not because love fails, but simply because more couples are reaching the point where even the best relationships can sometimes run their course.
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