Marriages and divorces, 2004

The number of marriages is almost on level with 2003. Over the last decade, the number of marriages has varied between 21 000 to 25 400 a year. An increasing number of couples get married abroad, and in 2004 this figure was 17 per cent.

Average age at first marriage

The average age at first marriage for women and men was 30.0 years and 32.9 years respectively in 2004. The average age has increased over the years - ten years ago the bride and groom were 2.8 and 3.1 years younger respectively.

Over the past few decades people have tended to marry later in life. The proportion of first marriages between two partners under 30 years of age continued to fall in 2004. The marriage rates for first marriages are still highest for men aged 30-34 and women aged 25-29.

Stable for partnerships

107 male couples and 85 female couples entered into registered partnership in 2004.

Divorces on the rise

The number of divorces and separations granted in 2004 were 11 050 and 13 200 respectively and the highest numbers ever recorded. The number of divorces corresponds to 12.6 divorced per 1 000 married and separated. In comparison, the corresponding figures were 11.5 in the first half of the 1990s and 7.8 in the first half of the 1980s.

The number of divorces is increasing for men and women of all age groups. The majority of divorced men are aged 35-39 years, and in this group the divorce rate is 24.1. The majority of divorced women are aged 25-29, and in this group the divorce rate is 24.1.

Majority likely to get divorced

For the first time it has been estimated that slightly more than 50 per cent of marriages can end in divorce. After five and ten years of marriage it is estimated that 11.6 per cent and 24.2 per cent of marriages can end in divorce respectively. The estimates, which have never been higher, are based on the divorce rates that were observed in 2004.

11 600 children affected

The divorces granted in 2004 affected 11 600 children under the age of 18. In the past five years, 55 200 children have experienced that their parents have divorced.

Last year, 47 registered partnerships were dissolved by divorce, and in the same period 82 partnership couples were separated.

Tables:

• Table 1 Marriages contracted. 1950-2004
• Table 2 Marriages contracted, by type of marriage. 1961-2004
• Table 3 Marriages , by previous marital status of the spouses. 1961-2004
• Table 4 Marriages, by county. 1966-2004
• Table 5 Average age at marriage. Males and females. 1961-2004
• Table 6 Marriage rates for first time married males and females in selected age groups. 1961-2004
• Table 7 Marriage rates for divorced males and females in different age groups. 1950-2004 (Corrected 30 October 2007)
• Table 8 Marriage rates for widowers and widows in different age groups. 1950-2004 (Corrected 30 October 2007)
• Table 9 Marriages dissolved. Separations. 1961-2004
• Table 10 Divorces and separations, by county. 1981-2004
• Table 11 Divorce rates for males and females in different age groups. 1959-2004
• Table 12 Number of children involved in divorces. 1971-2004
• Table 13 Divorces, by number of common children and duration of marriage. 2004
• Table 14 Estimated percentage of marriages dissolved, assuming the divorce rates of each single year. 1960-2004
• Table 15 Separation rates for males and females in different age groups.1999-2004
• Table 16 Number of children involved in separations. 1999-2004
• Table 17 Separations, by number of children and duration of marriage. 2004