Almost a thousand same-sex couples got married in Cuba during 2024

The National Office of Statistics and Information of Cuba (ONEI) revealed this Tuesday that a total of 955 same-sex marriages took place in the country over the past year.

According to the figures released on Facebook and compiled in the 2024 Demographic Yearbook, there were 481 marriages between men and 474 between women, figures that reinforce the impact of the new legal framework approved after the referendum on the Families Code.

Marriages and divorces by province

Havana had the highest number of unions, with 285 marriages, while Guantanamo was the province with the lowest number, with only 22 registrations.

As for divorces, 102 same-sex marriage dissolutions were granted in 2024: 53 among men and 49 among women. The territories with the highest number of cases were Havana (15), Camagüey (13), and Las Tunas (13). In contrast, Pinar del Río, Cienfuegos, and Guantánamo reported only two divorces each.

Balance

Statistics show that just over a year since the Family Code came into effect, same-sex couples have begun to be consistently reflected in civil registries, not only in the number of marriages but also in the normalization of legal processes such as divorce.

Other notes..

Previously, it was reported that on the island 21,113 divorces were registered in 2024. The Isle of Youth had the highest rate of separations, while Granma and Havana are noted as the places where "I do, I accept" endures the most.

In Cuba, an increasing number of marriages are exchanging "until death do us part" for a date in court.

In 2024, 21,113 divorces were granted, 543 more than in 2023 and just 72 fewer than in 2022, according to data from the ONEI.

However, the map of heartbreak has its curiosities: although only 265 divorces were recorded in absolute numbers in the Isle of Youth, when calculating the rate per population, it ranks first in the country with 3.6 separations for every thousand inhabitants.

In second place is Artemisa, with 1,406 divorces and a rate of 3.1.

In Mayabeque, Camagüey, and Matanzas, the figures also indicate a trend, all with rates of 2.8.

In contrast, Granma and Havana stand out as the places where the "I do, I accept" endures a little longer.

Granma ended the year with 915 divorces (rate 1.2), while the capital recorded 2,574 (rate 1.4), both significantly below the national average.

The yearbook also specifies that almost all divorces corresponded to marriages between men and women (21,011), as there were 102 dissolutions between same-sex couples.

Even the calendar has its months more prone to breakups: January (2,215 divorces), February (2,065), and June (2,095) top the figures, while September was the most "faithful" month, with only 1,302 separations.

The numbers confirm a trend that doesn't seem to relent: separations rarely fall below 20,000 annually in the last decade.

Beyond formalities, statistics depict a society where marriage does not always withstand economic and social tensions, and where an increasing number of couples end up moving from the altar... to the courtroom.

The situation becomes more complex when considering the economic and demographic context. The average monthly salary in Cuba has risen to only 6,649 pesos, a figure that starkly contrasts with the actual cost of living on the island.

This economic gap has been identified as one of the factors contributing to family instability, as it generates frustration, financial stress, and challenges in maintaining a household.

This situation is further compounded by the mass exodus of over 250,000 Cubans in 2024, which fragments thousands of families and directly impacts the continuity of marital relationships.

Forced migration, in many cases, leaves behind spouses, children, and legal responsibilities that, over time, lead to formal separation.

Another disturbing piece of information provided by the ONEI indicates that half of the working-age Cubans do not work or seek employment.

This productive disengagement not only reflects a lack of opportunities but also a general climate of demotivation, which extends to the domestic sphere and undermines the dynamics of the couple.

Frequently Asked Questions about Same-Sex Marriages in Cuba