List of countries by marriage and divorce rates

Last updated

This is a list of countries by marriage and divorce rates, where divorce demography is the study of divorce statistics in a population.

Contents

Metrics

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]

Crude divorce rate

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.

Refined divorce rate

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.

Divorce-to-marriage ratio

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.

Statistics

Divorce statistics by country/region (per 1,000 population / year)
Country/regionContinentRateRatio (%)Data Source Year
MarriageDivorce
Flag of Albania.svg  Albania Europe7.01.115.712021 [2]
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria Africa10.11.615.842013 [3]
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra Europe4.72.757.452023 [4]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (more info)Oceania3.52.262.862021 [4]
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Europe5.01.6322023 [2]
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan Asia9.71.515.462011 [5] [6]
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas North America6.11.016.392007 [5] [6]
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus Europe6.13.760.662023 [4]
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium (more info)Europe4.01.742.52023 [2]
Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda 4.91.938.782021 [4]
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina Europe5.40.814.812019 [4]
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil South America6.61.421.212009 [7]
Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei Asia5.61.628.572023 [4]
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Europe3.41.441.182023 [2]
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada (more info)North America2.61.142.312020 [4]
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile (more info)South America2.71.866.672021 [8]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (more info)Asia7.23.244.442018[ citation needed ]
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia South America1.40.642.862022 [8]
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica North America4.22.661.92023 [4]
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Europe4.51.124.442023 [2]
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba (more info)North America3.71.643.242021 [4]
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus Asia8.92.629.212019 [2]
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Europe4.41.840.912023 [2]
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Europe4.72.246.812021 [2]
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic North America4.42.454.552023 [4]
Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador South America5.61.119.642006 [9]
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt (more info)Africa8.62.427.912021 [4]
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador North America3.50.822.862006 [9]
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Europe4.71.940.432023 [2]
Flag of Europe.svg  European Union 4.01.6402023 [2]
Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands 4.11.229.272023 [4]
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Europe3.72.156.762023 [2]
Flag of France.svg  France Europe3.71.951.352016 [2]
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Asia6.03.761.672023 [2]
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany (more info)Europe4.31.739.532021 [2]
Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar 6.73.247.762010 [5] [6]
Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada North America5.01.1222001 [9]
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece Europe3.91.538.462023 [2]
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala North America3.81.231.582008 [5] [6]
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Europe5.21.834.622023 [2]
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland Europe5.01.9382020 [2]
Flag of India.svg  India (more info)Asia100.11? [10]
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran (more info)Asia6.52.436.922021 [4]
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq AsiaUnknown2.242024 [11]
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Europe4.60.715.222017 [2]
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel (more info)Asia5.51.730.912021 [4]
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Europe3.11.445.162023 [2]
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica North America6.11.219.672018 [4]
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan (more info)Asia4.11.536.592022 [8]
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan Asia5.61.730.362022 [4]
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan Asia6.52.335.382022 [12]
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Asia2.81.657.142023 [4]
Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan Asia7.01.825.712022 [12]
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Europe5.62.8502023 [2]
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon Asia9.51.616.842007 [5] [6]
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya Africa10.82.523.152008 [13]
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein Europe5.52.138.182020 [4]
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania Europe4.92.551.022023 [2]
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Europe3.82.052.632023 [2]
Flag of Macau.svg  Macau 4.61.941.32023 [4]
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia Asia6.61.319.72021 [4]
Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives AsiaUnknown5.522023 [4]
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta (more info)Europe4.80.918.752022 [2]
Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius Africa6.92.130.432023 [4]
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico North America3.91.333.332022 [8]
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova Europe6.43.960.942023 [2]
Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia Asia5.01.4282023 [4]
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro Europe5.21.223.082021 [2]
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Europe3.81.436.842023 [2]
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand (more info)Oceania3.61.541.672023 [4]
Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua North America4.50.817.782005 [9]
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia Europe6.81.014.712021 [2]
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway (more info)Europe3.31.854.552021 [2]
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama North America3.01.2402021 [4]
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru South America2.30.417.392021 [4]
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland (more info)Europe4.01.6402023 [2]
Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal Europe3.51.645.712023 [2]
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico North America4.02.6652019 [4]
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar Asia3.31.133.332011 [5] [6]
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Europe5.81.220.692023 [2]
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Europe5.33.973.582020 [14] [15]
Flag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia North America2.80.7252004 [9]
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines North America5.80.813.792007 [5] [6]
Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino Europe6.12.540.982011 [5] [6]
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia Asia5.62.137.52020 [16]
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia Europe4.81.531.252023 [2]
Flag of Seychelles.svg  Seychelles Africa13.71.813.142023 [4]
Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore (more info)Asia7.11.926.762021 [4]
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Europe4.91.530.612023 [2]
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia Europe3.01.033.332023 [2]
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa (more info)Africa3.50.617.142009 [7]
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea (more info)Asia3.81.847.372023 [4]
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Europe3.51.645.712023 [2]
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka Asia6.9?2023 [4]
Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan Africa4.61.532.612018 [4]
Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname South America4.21.330.952007 [5] [6]
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Europe4.22.047.622023 [2]
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Europe4.71.838.32022 [2]
Flag of Syria (2025-).svg  Syria Asia10.61.312.262006 [9]
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan Asia5.72.340.352018 [17]
Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan Asia8.81.415.912019 [4]
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand Asia5.51.425.452005 [9]
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga Oceania7.11.216.92003 [9]
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago North America6.32.234.922005 [9] [18]
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Europe6.62.030.32023 [2]
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Europe4.53.168.892020 [19] [20]
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates (more info)Asia2.80.7252005 [21]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom (more info)Europe1.31.5115.382020 [4]
Flag of the United States.svg  United States (more info)North America6.02.541.672021 [8]
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan Asia8.41.416.672022 [12]
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela South America1.40.214.292019 [4]
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam Asia5.10.23.922021 [4]

Worldwide

Worldwide share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union [22]
1970198019902000201020202024
69.4%68.5%67.6%67.5%66%64.7%63.8%

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 England, J. Lynn; Kunz, Phillip R. (February 1975), "The Application of Age-Specific Rates to Divorce", Journal of Marriage and the Family, 37 (1), Journal of Marriage and Family, Vol. 37, No. 1: 40–46, doi:10.2307/351029, JSTOR   351029
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 "Marriage and divorce statistics". Eurostat.
  3. "Office National des statistiques - Démographie Algérienne 2014" (PDF). Office National des Statistiques (ONS) 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 "Divorce Rates by Country". worldpopulationreview.com. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Marriages and crude marriage rates" (PDF). United Nations Statistical Division (UNSTAT). Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Divorces and crude divorce rates" (PDF). United Nations Statistical Division (UNSTAT). Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  7. 1 2 BRICS Joint Statistical Publication 2012, Chapter 3: Population (PDF). 2012. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-02-28. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Marriages and Divorces". ourworldindata.org. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "World Marriage Data 2008". United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2009). Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  10. Divorce Rates in the World [Updated 2024]
  11. "Divorce Rates by Country 2024". World Population Review. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 "Uzbekistan Ranks First in Central Asia in Number of Marriages and Last in Divorces". 19 February 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  13. UNESCWA Population Statistics
  14. Обновлено БРАКИ. Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service). 2020. Archived from the original on 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
  15. Обновлено - 09.07.2021: РАЗВОДЫ. Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service). 2020. Archived from the original on 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
  16. Marriage and Divorce Statistics 2020 (PDF). General Authority for Statistics - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 2020.
  17. "An average of 149 couples file for divorce per day in Taiwan in 2018: Data | Taiwan News". 23 June 2019.
  18. United Nations Statistical Division (UNSTAT) 2010
  19. "Data Bank". Ukrstat. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  20. "Data Bank". Ukrstat. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  21. UNESCWA Population Statistics
  22. "Share of women aged 15–49 who are married or in a union". ourworldindata.org. Retrieved 11 January 2026.