Are same-sex couples more prone to divorce than heterosexual couples? What are the reasons behind these divorces — roles, expectations?
When discussing roles in marriage, most people think of traditional heterosexual dynamics, with the woman in the kitchen and the man on the football field — a very stereotypical image. However, examining divorce rates among same-sex married couples raises questions. The fact that divorce rates are significantly higher among female couples than male couples inevitably leads to speculation about the “why.”
Diverging Divorce Rates Between Male and Female Same-Sex Couples
Except for 2022, the gap in divorce rates between male and female same-sex couples has continued to widen. In 2019, although the absolute numbers were low, nearly twice as many female marriages ended in divorce compared to male marriages. Studies provide some insight, often reinforcing stereotypes. One such stereotype is that women generally have higher expectations than men and are therefore more easily disappointed or dissatisfied. It is also a fact that society still views female same-sex marriages with greater skepticism than male unions.
When looking at percentages, it is essential to consider the absolute numbers behind them. Do women marry more frequently than men, or are the numbers of male and female marriages relatively similar? The following table provides a brief overview:
| Same-Sex Marriages in Germany | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| Male | 6,080 | 10,686 | 6,815 | 4,663 | 4,068 | 4,664 | 4,319 |
| Female | 5,067 | 11,071 | 7,206 | 5,276 | 4,642 | 5,379 | 4,909 |
Clearly, except for 2017, women have married more frequently than men. However, divorce rates do not align proportionally with the number of marriages.
Can We Predict Future Trends?
Making predictions is always challenging— especially about the future. Stock market forecasts often come with disclaimers that past performance is no guarantee of future results. However, when analyzing trends in same-sex marriage divorces, one could hypothesize that divorce rates might continue to rise. Why? Generation Z represents a cohort that questions traditional roles like no other generation before it. It is conceivable that the number of same-sex marriages will increase within this generation and, consequently, so will divorces.
On the other hand, divorce rates among heterosexual couples have been steadily declining since 2004 — from nearly 214,000 divorces to just 129,000 in 2023. Over time, it is possible that as same-sex marriages become more established and normalized within society, their divorce rates may follow a similar trajectory.
