Yes, lesbians have higher rates of divorce than gay men.
The data shows that divorce rates among lesbians are approximately 2-2.5 times those among gay men[1].
Facts
- According to the Office for National Statistics, in the United Kingdom in 2016, of the 112 divorces between same-sex couples, 87 (≈78%) were among female same-sex couples, and 25 (≈22%) were among male same-sex couples.[2]
- According to the Office for National Statistics, in the United Kingdom in 2019, of the 822 divorces between same-sex couples, 589 (≈72%) were among female same-sex couples, and 233 (≈28%) were among male same-sex couples.[2]
- According to the Office for National Statistics, in the United Kingdom in 2020, 71.3% of divorces among same-sex couples were of female same-sex couples.[3]
- According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in Australia in 2021, of the 473 divorces between same-sex couples, 306 (≈65%) were among female same-sex couples, and 167 (≈35%) were among male same-sex couples.[4]
- According to the Office for National Statistics, in the United Kingdom in 2021, 67.2% of divorces among same-sex couples were of female same-sex couples.[3]
Why?
There are a number of hypotheses as to why lesbians get divorced more than gay men.
One hypothesis is that women are more likely to commit to a relationship sooner, and have higher expectations of the relationship.
Another hypothesis is that women score higher on neuroticism, and a high degree of neuroticism in a relationship is more likely to result in the relationship ending.
References
- ^ Women in same-sex marriages more than twice as likely to divorce as male counterparts, says ONS data, The Telegraph. www.telegraph.co.uk/…
- ^ Lesbian couples two and a half times more likely to get divorced than male same-sex couples, ONS figures reveal, The Independent. www.independent.co.uk/…
- ^ Divorces in England and Wales, Office for National Statistics. www.ons.gov.uk/…
- ^ Five years after marriage equality comes divorce equality – or at least the start, The Sydney Morning Herald. www.smh.com.au/…