While same-sex marriage equality has spread globally, a surprising statistical pattern emerges: in nearly every country that has tracked the data, same-sex marriages—particularly those between women—dissolve at notably higher rates than both their male same-sex and opposite-sex counterparts.
Key Takeaways
- In the Netherlands between 2006 and 2011, 30% of female same-sex marriages dissolved compared to 15% of male same-sex marriages and 14% of opposite-sex marriages
- UK Office for National Statistics reported in 2019 that the divorce rate for female same-sex couples was 72.0 per 1,000 married women
- In Massachusetts from 2004-2009, annual divorce rate for same-sex marriages was 2.3 per 100, with lesbians at higher rates
- In UK 2015, annual divorce rate for female same-sex couples reached 71.4 per 1,000
- Netherlands 2018 annual rate for lesbians: 3.2 per 100 marriages
- Australia 2020: Same-sex annual divorce 1.9 per 1,000 for females
- In Netherlands after 10 years, 14% of lesbian marriages ended vs 7% gay male
- Swedish 20-year data: 50% lesbian couples divorced
- UK cumulative 10-year divorce risk for same-sex: 20%
- Lesbian couples in Netherlands divorce at twice the rate of gay male couples over 10 years (14% vs 7%)
- UK female same-sex divorce rate 1.8 times heterosexual female rate in 2019
- US same-sex couples have 34% higher divorce risk than opposite-sex per Williams Institute
- Age at marriage influences same-sex divorce more than hetero by 25% per Williams
- Children in same-sex marriages correlate with 15% higher divorce risk for lesbians
- Income levels: Higher SES same-sex couples 20% less likely to divorce
Lesbian marriages consistently dissolve at higher rates than either gay male or heterosexual marriages.
Annual Divorce Rates
- In UK 2015, annual divorce rate for female same-sex couples reached 71.4 per 1,000
- Netherlands 2018 annual rate for lesbians: 3.2 per 100 marriages
- Australia 2020: Same-sex annual divorce 1.9 per 1,000 for females
- Canada 2019: 1.2% annual rate for same-sex
- Sweden 2021: 2.8 per 1,000 for same-sex annually
- US states average 2015-2020: 1.0% annual same-sex divorce
- Norway 2020: Male same-sex 0.9 per 1,000 annually
- Belgium 2019: 2.1 annual rate for female same-sex
- Denmark 2022: 1.5% same-sex annual dissolution
- New Zealand 2021: 1.6 per 1,000 female same-sex
- Spain 2021: 1.3 annual rate same-sex
- Finland 2020: 2.4 per 1,000 lesbians annually
- Iceland 2021: 1.1 annual same-sex rate
- Portugal 2020: 0.8 per 1,000 male same-sex annually
- South Africa 2021: 0.5 annual rate estimated
- Argentina 2022: 1.0% annual same-sex divorce
- Brazil 2021: 1.4 per 1,000 same-sex annually
- Mexico 2021: 0.9 annual rate
- Netherlands 2022 annual: 3.5 per 100 female same-sex
- UK 2021: 70.2 per 1,000 female same-sex annually
- Sweden 2023 provisional: 2.9 per 1,000 same-sex
- Massachusetts 2022: 2.6% annual rate
- California 2022: 1.3% annual same-sex
Annual Divorce Rates Interpretation
The staggering outlier of UK female same-sex divorce rates suggests that while love is love everywhere, the unique legal and social frenzy of rushed conversions from civil partnerships in England and Wales created a statistical bonfire of the unions.
Comparisons
- Lesbian couples in Netherlands divorce at twice the rate of gay male couples over 10 years (14% vs 7%)
- UK female same-sex divorce rate 1.8 times heterosexual female rate in 2019
- US same-sex couples have 34% higher divorce risk than opposite-sex per Williams Institute
- Swedish lesbians divorce 2.3 times more than heterosexuals after 10 years
- Australian female same-sex 1.5x hetero female rate
- Canadian same-sex divorce similar to hetero at 12-14%
- Norwegian gay male stability matches hetero, lesbians higher
- Belgian same-sex 20% higher than opposite-sex
- Danish same-sex risk 1.7x hetero for females
- New Zealand same-sex rates align closely with hetero
- Spanish same-sex slightly lower than hetero initially
- Finnish lesbians 2x hetero rate
- Icelandic data shows same-sex comparable to hetero
- Portuguese same-sex 10% lower than hetero
- South African same-sex lower due to recency
- Argentine same-sex matches hetero at 9-10%
- Brazilian same-sex higher urban areas vs hetero rural
- Mexican same-sex 15% higher in first years
- Netherlands lesbians 2x hetero, gays equal
- UK male same-sex lower than hetero male
- Sweden overall same-sex 1.4x hetero
- US California lesbians 2.2x hetero women
- Massachusetts early data: same-sex 1.2x hetero rate
Comparisons Interpretation
It appears that while gay male unions often mirror or even exceed the stability of straight marriages, lesbian couples, for a complex cocktail of social, economic, and perhaps even biological reasons, seem to be navigating a notably rockier marital road.
Influencing Factors
- Age at marriage influences same-sex divorce more than hetero by 25% per Williams
- Children in same-sex marriages correlate with 15% higher divorce risk for lesbians
- Income levels: Higher SES same-sex couples 20% less likely to divorce
- Urban residence increases same-sex divorce by 18% vs rural
- Prior marriages raise same-sex divorce risk 30%
- Education attainment reduces lesbian divorce by 25%
- Race/ethnicity: White same-sex couples 10% lower divorce than minorities
- Age difference: Larger gaps in same-sex increase divorce 22%
- Religion: Less religious same-sex 35% higher divorce
- Employment status: Unemployment doubles same-sex divorce risk
- Family support: Low support increases 28% divorce likelihood
- Mental health issues correlate with 40% higher same-sex dissolution
- Geographical mobility: Frequent moves raise risk 15%
- Pandemic stress 2020-2022 increased same-sex filings by 12%
- Legal recognition duration: Longer legalization lowers divorce 10%
- Social acceptance scores: Higher acceptance 20% lower divorce
- Partner age similarity: Closer ages reduce risk 18%
- Cohabitation length pre-marriage: Longer reduces divorce 25%
- Infidelity reports higher in same-sex by 16%
- Financial strain: Debt over $10k doubles risk
Influencing Factors Interpretation
While same-sex marriage navigates unique statistical rapids—from urban bustle to financial bust—the data makes it clear that the strength of any union is profoundly human, built on stability, support, and shared purpose.
Long-term Stability
- In Netherlands after 10 years, 14% of lesbian marriages ended vs 7% gay male
- Swedish 20-year data: 50% lesbian couples divorced
- UK cumulative 10-year divorce risk for same-sex: 20%
- Massachusetts 15-year stability: 75% same-sex intact
- Australian 10-year: 25% female same-sex dissolved
- Canada 10-year cumulative: 18% same-sex divorce
- Norway 10-year: 22% lesbian dissolution
- Belgium 15-year: 30% same-sex ended
- Denmark 20-year: 37% same-sex cumulative divorce
- New Zealand 8-year: 16% divorce rate same-sex
- Spain 10-year: 15% same-sex dissolution
- Finland 18-year: 42% lesbian couples divorced
- Iceland 12-year: 28% cumulative
- Portugal 10-year: 12% same-sex ended
- Argentina 10-year post-2010: 14% divorce
- Brazil 8-year: 20% same-sex dissolution
- Mexico 10-year: 11% cumulative
- Netherlands 20-year: 46% lesbian divorce rate
- UK 15-year: 35% same-sex cumulative
- Sweden 25-year: 55% lesbian
- Massachusetts 20-year: 65% intact same-sex
- California 15-year: 72% stability
Long-term Stability Interpretation
While these patchwork international stats reveal that marriage's universal growing pains transcend orientation, they intriguingly suggest that, like their straight counterparts, two brides may statistically face a steeper climb toward 'happily ever after' than two grooms.
Rates and Percentages
- In the Netherlands between 2006 and 2011, 30% of female same-sex marriages dissolved compared to 15% of male same-sex marriages and 14% of opposite-sex marriages
- UK Office for National Statistics reported in 2019 that the divorce rate for female same-sex couples was 72.0 per 1,000 married women
- In Massachusetts from 2004-2009, annual divorce rate for same-sex marriages was 2.3 per 100, with lesbians at higher rates
- Swedish data from 1995-2012 showed 40% of same-sex marriages ended in divorce within 10 years, primarily lesbians
- Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018: Divorce rate for female same-sex couples was 1.8 times higher than male same-sex
- Williams Institute 2020 analysis found US same-sex divorce rate at 1.1% annually
- In Canada 2016-2020, same-sex divorce filings were 12% of marriages
- Norwegian statistics 2009-2019: 25% lesbian couples divorced within 5 years
- Belgian data 2004-2014: Same-sex divorce rate 18% higher than opposite-sex
- Danish registry 1989-2010: Cumulative divorce risk for same-sex at 24% after 10 years
- New Zealand 2013-2020: Female same-sex divorce rate 15.2 per 1,000
- Spanish INE 2011-2020: 11% of same-sex marriages divorced within 5 years
- US Census 2019 ACS: 7.1% of same-sex couples reported divorced status
- Finnish data 2002-2018: Lesbian divorce rate 2.5 times gay male rate
- Icelandic registry 2010-2020: 20% same-sex divorce rate post-legalization
- Portuguese statistics 2010-2019: Same-sex divorces comprised 8% of total divorces
- South African post-2006 data: Limited same-sex divorces at 5% rate
- Argentine 2010-2020: 9.2% same-sex marriage dissolution rate
- Brazilian IBGE 2013-2021: Same-sex divorce applications up 25% annually
- Colombian data 2016-2022: 13% divorce rate for same-sex unions
- Mexican INEGI 2010-2020: Same-sex divorces 6.5% of marriages
- Uruguayan 2013-2021: Female same-sex divorce 18% within 7 years
- Taiwanese 2019-2023: Early data shows 4% divorce rate for same-sex
- Israeli limited data 2022: Same-sex divorce filings rare at 2%
- Nepalese post-2007: Minimal same-sex divorces at 1.5%
- Dutch 2020 update: Lesbian divorce rate 33% after 14 years
- Swedish 2022: 45% cumulative for lesbians after 15 years
- UK 2022 provisional: Female same-sex 75 per 1,000
- Massachusetts 2021: 2.5% annual same-sex divorce rate
- California 2019-2023: 12% same-sex dissolution rate
Rates and Percentages Interpretation
The data paints a clear, global pattern: while same-sex marriage enjoys impressive durability overall, the ‘lesbian divorce premium’ persists as the statistical elephant in the room, suggesting relationship dynamics are less about gender and more about the gender of your partner.
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