As of 2023, Slovenia had the lowest divorce rate in the world, with only one divorce per 1,000 population. Croatia and Farie Island followed with 1.1 and 1.2 divorces per 1,000 inhabitants, respectively. On the other hand, West Bank & the Gaza Strip had the highest marriage rate in the world that year.

According to the 2020 UNIDOMO questionnaire, Portugal clearly led the list of European countries with the highest divorce rate per 100 marriages. With 91.5 divorces the Portuguese Republic led the list, followed by Spain and Luxembourg. All three countries boast a significantly higher share than the other European countries, each reporting a divorce rate over 80 divorces.

A different way to look at Portugal

While Portugal clearly has the most divorces per 100 marriages, looking at divorce rates per 1.000 inhabitants in other European countries alters the picture of the country as one unsettled by significant numbers of divorces. With nearly 1.7 divorces per 1,000 inhabitants Portugal has roughly the same divorce rate as Germany and the Netherlands. Interesting is furthermore that although marriages in Portugal tend to result in divorce lightly more often as in Luxembourg (80.3%), the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg experienced a 0.6 point higher divorce rate.

What about the rest of the World?

While compared with Latin American countries like Guatemala or Peru, ranked among the countries with the lowest divorce rates in the world, Luxembourg’s divorce rate seems excessive. However, when compared with divorce rates (per 1.000 inhabitants) of countries like the United States (2.7) or China (3.5) divorce rates from Luxembourg and Europe are not out of the ordinary.

In 2020, Latvia, Denmark, and Lithuania had the highest divorce rates among countries in the European Union, at 2.7 divorces per 1,000 population. By contrast, Malta had the lowest divorce rate at 0.5 divorces per 1,000 population.

As of 2025, Sri Lanka had the lowest divorce rate in the world, with 0.15 divorces per 1,000 population. Vietnam and Guatemala followed with 0.2 divorces per 1,000 inhabitants.

China Population: Divorce Rate data was reported at 0.256 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.204 % for 2022. China Population: Divorce Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 0.097 % from Dec 1978 (Median) to 2023, with 46 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.336 % in 2019 and a record low of 0.018 % in 1978. China Population: Divorce Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: No of Marriage and Divorce.

Albania Vital Statistics: Divorces: per 100 Marriages data was reported at 15.800 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 24.400 % for 2020. Albania Vital Statistics: Divorces: per 100 Marriages data is updated yearly, averaging 13.972 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2021, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 26.100 % in 2019 and a record low of 5.900 % in 1997. Albania Vital Statistics: Divorces: per 100 Marriages data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Albania – Table AL.G003: Vital Statistics.

In 2023, Latvia, Cyprus, and Lithuania had the highest divorce rates among countries in the European Union, at 2.8 divorces per 1,000 population. By contrast, Ireland had the lowest divorce rate at 0.7 divorces per 1,000 population.

Armenia Vital Statistics: Crude Divorce Rate: per 1000 Population data was reported at 1.500 Person in 2024. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.500 Person for 2023. Armenia Vital Statistics: Crude Divorce Rate: per 1000 Population data is updated yearly, averaging 1.100 Person from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2024, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.500 Person in 2024 and a record low of 0.400 Person in 2000. Armenia Vital Statistics: Crude Divorce Rate: per 1000 Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Armenia – Table AM.G003: Vital Statistics.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Divorce Rate: per 1000 Population: West Bank data was reported at 1.900 NA in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.800 NA for 2016. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Divorce Rate: per 1000 Population: West Bank data is updated yearly, averaging 1.300 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2017, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.900 NA in 2017 and a record low of 0.800 NA in 2002. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Divorce Rate: per 1000 Population: West Bank data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) – Table PS.G002: Vital Statistics.

Qatar had the lowest marriage rate in the world as of 2018, with 1.4 marriages per every 1,000 population. French Guiana followed with one marriage more than Qatar (2.4). Thereafter, Peru and Venezuela counted 2.5 and 2.6 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants, ranking third and fourth, respectively. By contrast, West Bank and Gaza, Fiji, and Egypt had the highest marriage rates worldwide in that same year.

In 2023, 6.5 marriages were registered per 1,000 inhabitants in Russia, compared to 4.7 divorces per 1,000 population. The marriage rate in the country saw an increase compared to the previous year. In 2011, 9.2 marriages were registered per 1,000 Russians, which was the highest number recorded over the period under consideration. What do marriage and divorce rates mean? The crude marriage rate refers to the number of marriages per one thousand population, according to the United Nations Population Division. In total, around 946,000 marriages were registered in Russia in 2023, while the country’s population was estimated at 146.3 million in that year. Another indicator relevant to Russian demographics is the crude divorce rate, which is the number of divorces recorded in a year per 1,000 population, as defined by the United Nations Population Division. In total, nearly 684,000 divorces were registered in Russia in 2023. What do Russians think of marriage? In every age category, most Russians believed that being married and living in a family was most preferable in the society. However, the share of family and marriage supporters was the lowest among 18-to-24-year-olds, measuring at 60 percent. Both for men and women, the ideal age to get married was considered in a person’s twenties.

IntroductionPrevious studies have shown that paternal absence leads to earlier pubertal timing among girls in high-income countries. Despite the low divorce rate in Japan, paternal separation is commonly seen due to a unique corporation system, tanshin funin, where employees relocate with their spouses and children. We examined paternal separation, including paternal absence (due to divorce or paternal death) and paternal tanshin funin, during early childhood as a predictor of earlier girl’s pubertal development, assessed as age at peak height velocity (PHV).MethodsThis study examined 15 214 girls from a longitudinal survey conducted in Japan from 2001 to 2016 by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Paternal separation was determined by the occurrence through annual surveys conducted at ages 0.5 to 4.5 years. Outcome was defined as age at PHV between ages 6 to 15 years. We conducted linear regression, adjusted for potential confounders and other covariates.ResultsContinuous father cohabitation was seen in 88.7% of households, while paternal separation was experienced 1-2, 3-4 and 5 times (always) among 7.4%, 2.8% and 1.1% of households, respectively. Girls who confronted continuous paternal separation (5 times) experienced 0.42 years earlier [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.75, -0.10] age at PHV compared to their peers who always lived with their fathers.ConclusionGirls who experienced paternal separation throughout ages 0.5 to 4.5 years experienced PHV earlier.

Portugal was the European country with the highest divorce rate in 2020, counting almost 92 divorces per 100 marriages. However, in 2023, the divorce-marriage ratio decreased to 47 percent. In 2020, the ratio peaked because of the drop in marriages during the coronavirus (COVID-19) related lockdown. Pandemic years registered the lowest numbers of marriages and divorces since 2010 Until 2019, the annual divorce rate in Portugal had been relatively stable at around two divorces per 1,000 residents. Nevertheless, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the lowest divorce rate so far was recorded at 1.7, which may be explained by the restrictions imposed by lockdowns and the delays in administrative and bureaucratic services. Still, and due to the same reasons, the number of marriages also suffered a steep decline in 2020 to around 18,900, more than doubling in 2022 and surpassing 2011 figures. First marriages and motherhood occur later in life in Portugal The mean age on first marriage of both men and women in Portugal has been increasing at an almost constant pace for years. 2021 marked an inversion of this tendency, with the mean age of men when marrying for the first time decreasing to 34.3 years of age and the mean age of women decreasing to 32.9 years. However, the rising trend in age was quickly reestablished, as 2022 recorded the highest mean age on first marriage for both sexes. Under the same inclination is the average age of women when giving birth to their first child, which was at 30.9 years in 2021, increasing two years of age in relation to 2010.

In 2023, the divorce rate in Poland amounted to *** per **** people. It is a slight decrease compared to the previous year. The highest divorce rate per **** people in Poland was recorded in 2006 at ***. Marriages in Poland In 2023, the number of marriages in Poland amounted to *******, marking a decrease compared to the previous year. The lowest number of marriages was recorded in 2013 at ***** thousand. In 2023, marriage rate per 1,000 inhabitants was measured at *** — thus, an increase compared to 2020. At its highest, this indicator was set in 2008, when it amounted to ***. The number of divorces in Poland has been systematically decreasing since 2011, reaching ****** cases in 2023. For a broader perspective, the figures have increased by over ** percent since 1995. The highest number of divorces in the country happened in 2006 (******). On the other hand, the number of marriages concluded over the same period has decreased by nearly ** percent. Government support program for families "500 plus" Family 500+ program is a systemic support for Polish families. From 1 July 2019, all children up to the age of 18 are entitled to the benefit regardless of income received by the family:- the program offers support for every family, also for single-parents.- the funds are paid out regularly, every month until the child completes 18 years of age. In 2018, the government in Poland spent over ** billion zlotys under the "Family 500+" program, of which the most funds were transferred to families in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. This program enjoys the support of almost half of the society in Poland. The funds transferred to the families in 2019 were most often spent on clothes and shoes, art articles for school, and additional extracurricular activities. A measurable effect of this assistance was the possibility to develop children's interests by participating in extra activities.

West Bank and Gaza had the highest marriage rate in the world as of 2018, with 10 marriages per every 1,000 population. Fiji followed directly with 9.8 marriages. Thereafter, Egypt and Bahamas counted 9.6 and 9.5 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants, ranking third and fourth, respectively. By contrast, Qatar, French Guiana, and Peru had the lowest marriage rates worldwide in that same year.

In 2024, the divorce rate in South Korea was *** divorces per 1,000 inhabitants, similar to the previous year. The divorce rate peaked in 2003 at about *** divorces per 1,000 people and has declined since then. Cultural perception of divorce Traditionally, divorce was viewed negatively in South Korea due to the influence of a patriarchal society that valued traditional family structures and roles. However, as more women enter the workforce and women's rights progress, Korean society has seen a greater acceptance of divorce in recent years. Many people now view it as a viable option for those seeking personal happiness. Decline in marriages During the same period, the number of marriages across the nation has decreased. This is especially noticeable due to the changing perception of marriage among South Korean women, who place less importance on marriage than previous generations. A survey identified financial constraints and a decreased desire for marriage as the most important reasons for avoiding marriage.

The number of divorces between partners of different genders in Denmark decreased slightly since 2014, when it amounted to over 19,000. It was at its lowest in 2019, with just above 10,000 divorces. In 2023, nearly 12,700 divorces between partners of different genders were registered in Denmark. Spouses in Denmark may divorce if either one or both parties do not wish to continue being together. If one does not agree, they can be divorced after a period of six months of separation. Most Danes have never been married; the number of never married inhabitants was around 2.9 million in 2023.

 Divorces between same-sex partners

Since June 2012, partners of the same gender are allowed to marry in Denmark; the same-sex marriage law was enacted that year. In the period from 2013 to 2021, the number of divorces between women was constantly higher than between men. In 2022, 96 divorces between women and 42 between men were registered in Denmark.

Norway and Sweden

In the past years, the number of divorces in Norway decreased overall from 2010 to 2021. The lowest number during the last decade was registered in 2021. By comparison, the number of divorces in Sweden peaked in 2013, reaching almost 27,000. After that, there was a decreasing trend in the country, the number dropping below 22,000 in 2022 and 2023.

The percentage of married persons in France reached 42.5 percent in 2018. Ten years earlier, the share of the married population in the country was 47.8 percent. Since the mid-2000s, the proportion of married couples in France has been declining. In 2018, the number of marriages in the country reached 235,000, compared to more than 278,000 in 2004. Marriage does not appear to be the preferred mode of union of French citizens, while the divorce rate remains high. Fewer marriages, more divorces If the share of married individuals in France is decreasing, the proportion of single and married French people continues to rise. In 2018, almost nine percent of the French population was divorced, a proportion which was two percentage points lower in 2006. Divorce rates amounted to 55 per 100 marriages in 2016, making France one of the European countries with the highest divorce rate. In the meantime, the share of single people is also gradually rising. New relationships Marriage is no longer the most common union between two individuals. Civil partnerships, which have been implemented in France since 1999, are getting quite popular. In 2017, more than 193,000 civil unions were celebrated in the country, regardless of the genders of the two partners. Despite the legalization of gay marriage in 2013, the number of same-sex marriages remains rather low in France.

In 2017, the highest divorce rate concerned five year-long marriages with **** divorces per thousand marriages. France counts five types of divorce proceedings, going from mutual consent to fault. This variety has been decided to modernize the process of divorce and has also instituted a new divorce without judiciary process. In a country where the divorce rate reached ** per every 100 marriages in 2016, couples do not always have to pass before the judge to get divorced.

The longer you are married, the least you are willing to get divorced

In 2017, divorces in France largely concerned marriages which lasted between 5 to 24 years. That same year only ***** divorces were pronounced for a couple married for 35 to 39 years. As seen before, in 2017 the divorce rate for five year-long marriages reached **** per 1,000, compared to * per one thousand marriages for ** year-long marriages. This phenomenon could be explained by the fact that older generations appear to divorce less than younger ones.

Getting divorced in France

Mutual consent represented the majority of divorce proceedings in France in 2017. This procedure allows couples to make an agreement with their lawyer which will point all the effects of the separation. With this new procedure divorced couples do not need to pass before the judge anymore. However, contentious divorces are still common and concerned more than ****** divorces pronounced in France in 2017 which involved one child. Consequently, with a high divorce rate in France, more and more children do have divorced parents now. In 2016, almost * percent of children aged 13 years old in France were living in joint physical custody.