Divorce demography is the study of divorce statistics in a population. There are three ratios used for divorce rate calculations: crude divorce rate, refined divorce rate, and divorce-to-marriage ratio. Each of these calculations has weaknesses and can be misleading [1] .
The following are the countries with the most annual divorces according to the United Nations in 2009. [2] [3]
| Country | Divorces |
|---|---|
 China | 1,893,000 |
 United States | 1,106,670 |
 Russia | 685,910 |
 Japan | 257,475 |
 Germany | 190,928 |
| Country/region | Continent | Divorce rate | Ratio | Data Source Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage | Divorce | Refined | Percent | |||
 Albania | Europe | 8.1 | 1.7 | 4.76 | 20.99 | (2018) [4] |
 Algeria | Africa | 10.1 | 1.6 | 6.31 | 15.84 | (2013) [5] |
 Australia (more info) | Oceania | 4.6 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 43.48 | (2017) [6] |
 Austria | Europe | 5.3 | 1.8 | 2.94 | 33.96 | (2018) [4] |
 Azerbaijan | Asia | 9.7 | 1.5 | 6.47 | 15.46 | (2011) [7] [8] |
 Bahamas | North America | 6.1 | 1.0 | 6.1 | 16.39 | (2007) [7] [8] |
 Belarus | Europe | 6.1 | 3.7 | 1.65 | 60.66 | (2023) [9] |
 Belgium (more info) | Europe | 3.9 | 2.1 | 1.86 | 53.85 | (2016) [4] |
 Bermuda | 10.6 | 2.7 | 3.93 | 25.47 | (2009) [7] [8] | |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Europe | 4.8 | 0.6 | 8 | 12.5 | (2012) [4] |
 Brazil | South America | 6.6 | 1.4 | 4.71 | 21.21 | (2009) [10] |
 Bulgaria | Europe | 4.1 | 1.5 | 2.73 | 36.59 | (2018) [4] |
 Canada (more info) | North America | 4.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 47.73 | (2008) [7] [8] |
 Chile (more info) | South America | 3.3 | 0.7 | 4.71 | 21.21 | (2009) [7] [8] |
| China (more info) | Asia | 7.2 | 3.2 | 2.25 | 44.44 | (2018)[ citation needed ] |
 Colombia | South America | 2.3 | 0.7 | 3.29 | 30.43 | (2007) [11] |
 Costa Rica | North America | 5.3 | 2.5 | 2.12 | 47.17 | (2010) [7] [8] |
 Croatia | Europe | 4.9 | 1.5 | 3.27 | 30.61 | (2018) [4] |
 Cuba (more info) | North America | 5.2 | 2.9 | 1.79 | 55.77 | (2010) [7] [8] |
 Cyprus | Asia | 6.8 | 2.2 | 3.09 | 32.35 | (2017) [4] |
 Czech Republic | Europe | 5.1 | 2.3 | 2.22 | 45.1 | (2018) [4] |
 Denmark | Europe | 5.6 | 2.6 | 2.15 | 46.43 | (2018) [4] |
 Dominican Republic | North America | 4.4 | 1.8 | 2.44 | 40.91 | (2010) [7] [8] |
 Ecuador | South America | 5.6 | 1.1 | 5.09 | 19.64 | (2006) [11] |
 Egypt (more info) | Africa | 11.0 | 1.9 | 5.79 | 17.27 | (2010) [7] [8] |
 El Salvador | North America | 3.5 | 0.8 | 4.38 | 22.86 | (2006) [11] |
 Estonia | Europe | 5.0 | 2.4 | 2.08 | 48 | (2018) [4] |
 European Union | 4.4 | 2 | 2.2 | 45.45 | (2017) [4] | |
 Finland | Europe | 4.3 | 2.4 | 1.79 | 55.81 | (2018) [4] |
 France | Europe | 3.7 | 1.9 | 1.95 | 51.35 | (2016) [4] |
 Georgia | Asia | 6.9 | 1.3 | 5.31 | 18.84 | (2011) [7] [8] |
| Germany (more info) | Europe | 4.9 | 1.9 | 2.58 | 38.78 | (2017) [4] |
 Gibraltar | 6.7 | 3.2 | 2.09 | 47.76 | (2010) [7] [8] | |
 Grenada | North America | 5.0 | 1.1 | 4.55 | 22 | (2001) [11] |
 Greece | Europe | 4.7 | 1.8 | 2.61 | 38.3 | (2017) [4] |
 Guatemala | North America | 3.8 | 1.2 | 3.17 | 31.58 | (2008) [7] [8] |
 Hungary | Europe | 5.2 | 1.7 | 3.06 | 32.69 | (2018) [4] |
 Iceland | Europe | 4.9 | 1.8 | 2.72 | 36.73 | (2010) [4] |
 India (more info) | Asia | 10 | 0.1 | 100 | 1 | ? [12] |
 Iran (more info) | Asia | 11.2 | 1.6 | 7 | 14.29 | (2017) [13] |
 Iraq | Asia | Unknown | 2.24 | (2024) [14] | ||
 Ireland | Europe | 4.6 | 0.7 | 6.57 | 15.22 | (2017) [4] |
 Israel (more info) | Asia | 6.5 | 1.8 | 3.61 | 27.69 | (2009)[ citation needed ] |
 Italy | Europe | 3.2 | 1.5 | 2.13 | 46.88 | (2018) [4] |
 Jamaica | North America | 7.5 | 1.5 | 5 | 20 | (2011) [7] [8] |
| Japan (more info) | Asia | 4.8 | 1.7 | 2.82 | 35.42 | (2019) [15] |
 Jordan | Asia | 6.7 | 1.8 | 3.72 | 26.87 | (2019) [16] [17] [18] |
 Kazakhstan | Asia | 7.3 | 2.5 | 2.92 | 34.25 | (2021) [19] [20] |
 Kuwait | Asia | 5.2 | 2.2 | 2.36 | 42.31 | (2010) [7] [8] |
 Kyrgyzstan | Asia | 9.7 | 1.6 | 6.06 | 16.49 | (2010) [7] [8] |
 Latvia | Europe | 6.8 | 3.1 | 2.19 | 45.59 | (2018) [4] |
 Lebanon | Asia | 9.5 | 1.6 | 5.94 | 16.84 | (2007) [7] [8] |
 Libya | Africa | 10.8 | 2.5 | 4.32 | 23.15 | (2008) [21] |
 Liechtenstein | Europe | 5.0 | 2.4 | 2.08 | 48 | (2010) [4] |
 Lithuania | Europe | 7.0 | 3.1 | 2.26 | 44.29 | (2018) [4] |
 Luxembourg | Europe | 2.9 | 2.3 | 1.26 | 79.31 | (2020) [4] |
 Malaysia | Asia | 6.4 | 1.6 | 4 | 25 | (2019) [22] |
 Maldives | Asia | Unknown | 5.52 | (2024) [14] | ||
 Malta (more info) | Europe | 5.8 | 0.7 | 8.29 | 12.07 | (2018) [4] |
 Mauritius | Africa | 8.2 | 1.4 | 5.86 | 17.07 | (2010) [7] [8] |
 Mexico | North America | 5.2 | 0.9 | 5.78 | 17.31 | (2009) [7] [8] |
 Moldova | Europe | 7.3 | 3.1 | 2.35 | 42.47 | (2011) [7] [8] |
 Mongolia | Asia | 3.4 | 1.1 | 3.09 | 32.35 | (2010) [7] [8] |
 Montenegro | Europe | 5.3 | 1.4 | 3.79 | 26.42 | (2018) [4] |
 Netherlands | Europe | 3.7 | 1.8 | 2.06 | 48.65 | (2018) [4] |
 New Zealand (more info) | Oceania | 4.8 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 41.67 | (2008) [7] [8] |
 Nicaragua | North America | 4.5 | 0.8 | 5.63 | 17.78 | (2005) [11] |
 North Macedonia | Europe | 6.5 | 0.8 | 8.13 | 12.31 | (2018) [4] |
 Norway (more info) | Europe | 4.3 | 1.9 | 2.26 | 44.19 | (2018) [4] |
 Panama | North America | 3.7 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 27.03 | (2010) [7] [8] |
 Poland (more info) | Europe | 5.1 | 1.7 | 3 | 33.33 | (2018) [4] |
 Portugal | Europe | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.06 | 94.44 | (2020) [4] |
 Qatar | Asia | 3.3 | 1.1 | 3 | 33.33 | (2011) [7] [8] |
 Romania | Europe | 7.4 | 1.6 | 4.63 | 21.62 | (2018) [4] |
| Russia | Europe | 5.3 | 3.9 | 1.36 | 73.58 | (2020) [23] [24] |
 Saint Lucia | North America | 2.8 | 0.7 | 4 | 25 | (2004) [11] |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | North America | 5.8 | 0.8 | 7.25 | 13.79 | (2007) [7] [8] |
 San Marino | Europe | 6.1 | 2.5 | 2.44 | 40.98 | (2011) [7] [8] |
 Saudi Arabia | Asia | 5.6 | 2.1 | 2.67 | 37.5 | (2020) [25] |
 Serbia | Europe | 5.2 | 1.4 | 3.71 | 26.92 | (2018) [4] |
 Seychelles | Africa | 17.4 | 1.9 | 9.16 | 10.92 | (2011) [7] [8] |
 Singapore (more info) | Asia | 6.8 | 1.9 | 3.58 | 27.94 | (2015) [26] |
 Slovakia | Europe | 5.7 | 1.8 | 3.17 | 31.58 | (2018) [4] |
 Slovenia | Europe | 3.5 | 1.1 | 3.18 | 31.43 | (2018) [4] |
 South Africa (more info) | Africa | 3.5 | 0.6 | 5.83 | 17.14 | (2009) [10] |
 South Korea (more info) | Asia | 4.7 | 2.2 | 2.14 | 46.81 | (2019) [27] |
 Spain | Europe | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.19 | 84.21 | (2020) [4] |
 Sri Lanka | Asia | ? | 0.15 | ? [28] | ||
 Suriname | South America | 4.2 | 1.3 | 3.23 | 30.95 | (2007) [7] [8] |
 Sweden | Europe | 5.0 | 2.5 | 2 | 50 | (2018) [4] |
 Switzerland | Europe | 4.8 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 41.67 | (2016) [4] |
 Syria | Asia | 10.6 | 1.3 | 8.15 | 12.26 | (2006) [11] |
 Taiwan | Asia | 5.7 | 2.3 | 2.48 | 40.35 | (2018) [29] |
 Tajikistan | Asia | 13.5 | 1.4 | 9.64 | 10.37 | (2009) [7] [8] |
 Thailand | Asia | 5.5 | 1.4 | 3.93 | 25.45 | (2005) [11] |
 Tonga | Oceania | 7.1 | 1.2 | 5.92 | 16.9 | (2003) [11] |
 Trinidad and Tobago | North America | 6.3 | 2.2 | 2.86 | 34.92 | (2005) [11] [30] |
 Tunisia | Africa | (2016) [31] | ||||
 Turkey | Europe | 6.8 | 1.7 | 4 | 25 | (2018) [4] |
 Ukraine | Europe | 4.06 | 2.88 | 1.41 | 70.94 | (2020) |
 United Arab Emirates (more info) | Asia | 2.8 | 0.7 | 4 | 25 | (2005) [32] |
 United Kingdom (more info) | Europe | 4.4 | 1.8 | 2.44 | 40.91 | (2015) [4] |
| United States (more info) | North America | 5.1 | 2.3 | 2.22 | 45.1 | (2020) [33] |
 Uruguay | South America | 3.2 | ? | (2010) [7] | ||
 Uzbekistan | Asia | 7.8 | 1.1 | 7.09 | 14.1 | (2006) [34] [35] |
 Venezuela | South America | 3.3 | 1.2 | 2.75 | 36.36 | (2006) [7] |
 Vietnam | Asia | 5.7 | 0.4 | 14.25 | 7.02 | (2015) [7] [8] |
This is divorces per 1,000 population per year. [1] For example, if a city has 10,000 people living in it, and 30 couples divorce in one year, then the crude divorce rate for that year is 3 divorces per 1,000 residents.
The crude divorce rate can give a general overview of marriage in an area, but it does not take people who cannot marry into account. For example, it would include young children, who are clearly not of marriageable age in its sample. In a place with large numbers of children or single adults, the crude divorce rate can seem low. In a place with few children and single adults, the crude divorce rate can seem high.
This measures the number of divorces per 1,000 women married to men, so that all unmarried persons are left out of the calculation. [1] For example, if that same city of 10,000 people has 3,000 married women, and 30 couples divorce in one year, then the refined divorce rate is 10 divorces per 1,000 married women.
This compares the number of divorces in a given year to the number of marriages in that same year (the ratio of the crude divorce rate to the crude marriage rate). [1] For example, if there are 500 divorces and 1,000 marriages in a given year in a given area, the ratio would be one divorce for every two marriages, e.g. a ratio of 0.50 (50%).
However, this measurement compares two unlike populations – those who can marry and those who can divorce. Say there exists a community with 100,000 married couples, and very few people capable of marriage, for reasons such as age. If 1,000 people obtain divorces and 1,000 people get married in the same year, the ratio is one divorce for every marriage, which may lead people to think that the community's relationships are extremely unstable, despite the number of married people not changing. This is also true in reverse: a community with very many people of marriageable age may have 10,000 marriages and 1,000 divorces, leading people to believe that it has very stable relationships.
Furthermore, these two rates are not directly comparable since the marriage rate only examines the current year, while the divorce rate examines the outcomes of marriages for many previous years. This does not equate to the proportion of marriages in a given single-year cohort that will ultimately end in divorce. In any given year, underlying rates may change, and this can affect the ratio. For example, during an economic downturn, some couples might postpone a divorce because they can't afford to live separately. These individual choices could seem to temporarily improve the divorce-to-marriage ratio.
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