Nearly a Thousand Same-Sex Couples Tied the Knot in Cuba in 2024

According to the National Office of Statistics and Information of Cuba (ONEI), 955 same-sex marriages were recorded in Cuba throughout 2024. The data, shared on Facebook and compiled in the 2024 Demographic Yearbook, reveals 481 unions between men and 474 between women. This underscores the significant impact of the new legal framework established after the Family Code referendum.

Marriage and Divorce Across Provinces

Havana emerged as the province with the highest number of same-sex marriages, totaling 285, while Guantánamo registered the least with only 22. In terms of divorces, 102 same-sex marriages were dissolved in 2024, with 53 divorces among men and 49 among women. Havana, Camagüey, and Las Tunas saw the most cases with 15, 13, and 13 respectively, whereas Pinar del Río, Cienfuegos, and Guantánamo each reported just two divorces.

Overview of Marriage Trends

The statistics, a year after the Family Code's implementation, show that same-sex couples are steadily appearing in civil records, not only in marriage but also in legal processes like divorce. This reflects a shift towards normalization.

Insights into Overall Divorce Rates

Throughout 2024, Cuba saw a total of 21,113 divorces. The Isle of Youth had the highest rate of separations, while Granma and Havana were where marriages lasted longer. The number of divorces increased by 543 from 2023 and was just 72 fewer than in 2022, as per ONEI data. The Isle of Youth, despite only 265 divorces in absolute terms, led the country with a rate of 3.6 separations per thousand inhabitants. Artemisa followed with 1,406 divorces and a rate of 3.1, while Mayabeque, Camagüey, and Matanzas also had notable figures, all with a rate of 2.8.

Conversely, Granma and Havana were strongholds for marriage. Granma ended the year with just 915 divorces (rate 1.2), and Havana recorded 2,574 (rate 1.4), both below the national average. Almost all divorces involved heterosexual couples (21,011), with only 102 among same-sex pairs.

Divorce rates throughout the year showed January (2,215 divorces), February (2,065), and June (2,095) as peak months, while September was the most stable with only 1,302 separations. The trend of 20,000 annual separations has been consistent over the past decade, highlighting a society where marriage struggles to withstand economic and social pressures.

Economic and Social Factors

Contributing to this instability is the economic disparity in Cuba. The average monthly salary rose to just 6,649 pesos, which does not match the real cost of living. This economic gap fuels family instability by causing financial stress and challenges in maintaining a household. Additionally, the massive migration of over 250,000 Cubans in 2024 has fragmented families and disrupted marriages. The forced migration often leaves spouses, children, and legal responsibilities behind, often leading to official separations.

Another concerning statistic from ONEI indicates that half of the working-age population is neither employed nor seeking employment. This lack of productivity not only highlights the absence of opportunities but also a general climate of demotivation that spills over into the domestic sphere, deteriorating relationships.