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.

In 2023, the European country with the highest divorce rate per 100 marriages was Finland, with more than 55 divorces. At the bottom of the list was Ireland with only 15.5 divorces per 100 marriages.

In 2023, the divorce rate in Germany lay at about 35.74 percent. The highest divorce rate at almost 52 percent was recorded in 2005. Since then, divorce rates have ranged between 30 and 50 percent. The divorce rate compares the number of marriages with the number of divorces in the same period under review. Accordingly, the divorce rate does not provide any information about the ‘divorce risk’ of a particular marriage cohort, as the divorces do not relate to a marriage year.

Data on marriages and divorces at national level are transmitted by the National Statistics Institutes on voluntary basis in the context of the annual demographic data collections in the field of demography carried out by Eurostat.

The POPSTAT (population statistics) questionnaire collects annual mandatory and voluntary demographic data from the National Statistical Institutes. It is the most in-depth annual national and regional demographic and migration data collection. The data relate to populations, births, deaths, immigrants, emigrants, marriages and divorces, and is broken down into several categories (Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007).

The completeness of the demographic data collected on a voluntary basis depends on the availability and completeness of information provided by the National Statistical Institutes.

The following statistics on marriages and divorces are collected from the National Statistical Institutes:

• Marriages by previous legal union status of marrying persons;
• First-time marrying persons by age, year of birth and sex;
• Marriages by country of citizenship of marrying persons;
• Marriages by country of birth of marrying persons;
• Divorces by duration and year of the marriage;
• Divorces by country of citizenship of spouses;
• Divorces by country of birth of spouses.

Statistics on marriages and divorces: based on the different breakdowns of data on marriages and divorces received, Eurostat produces the following:

• Statistics available in the online table Marriage indicators (demo_nind):
  • Total number of marriages;
  • Crude marriage rate;
  • Mean age at first marriage – male;
  • Mean age at first marriage – female;
  • Total first marriage rate – male;
  • Total first marriage rate – female;
  • Proportion of first marriages – male;
  • Proportion of first marriages – female.
• Statistics available in the online table Divorce indicators (demo_ndivind):
  • Total number of divorces;
  • Crude divorce rate;
  • Divorces per 100 marriages.

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.

Divorce (also known as dissolution of marriage) is the process of terminating a marriage or marital union. Divorce usually entails the canceling or reorganizing of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage, thus dissolving the bonds of matrimony between a married couple under the rule of law of the particular country or state. Divorce laws vary considerably around the world, but in most countries, divorce requires the sanction of a court or other authority in a legal process, which may involve issues of distribution of property, child custody, alimony (spousal support), child visitation/access, parenting time, child support, and division of debt. In most countries, monogamy is required by law, so divorce allows each former partner to marry another person.

According to a recent survey of 191 CDFA professionals from across North America, the three leading causes of divorce are "basic incompatibility" (43%), "infidelity" (28%), and "money issues" (22%).

In this dataset, we can spot facts about divorces, and trends across countries - continents. Mainly we have the marriage, divorce rates and the percentage score as well as numbers of divorces (given by the source and year as provided).

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.

In 2016, crude divorce rates were highest in Kazakhstan which was estimated at around ***** divorces per thousand people. Crude divorce rates were highest in Korea and Australia in year 2000, each amounting to around 2.6 divorces per thousand people.

Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Per 1000: Divorce Rate data was reported at 1.700 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.730 % for 2016. Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Per 1000: Divorce Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 1.280 % from Dec 1947 (Median) to 2017, with 71 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.300 % in 2002 and a record low of 0.730 % in 1963. Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Per 1000: Divorce Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G005: Vital Statistics.

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 2020, the number of divorces in France was 57,437. France had a divorce rate of 55 per 100 marriages in 2020. A number which was not one of the highest in Europe, but that emphasizes the fact that in recent years, divorce is a phenomenon with a significant impact on Western countries. The characteristics of French divorces Despite a record number of 152,020 separations in 2005, the number of divorces in France remained stable since the mid-2000s and has also been declining at a rate of 8 percent between 2004 and 2014. Since then, the number of divorces remained almost the same in the country, even though an decrease has been seen between 2016 and 2017. In 2019, the majority of divorces in France were pronounced by mutual consent. Most of divorces pronounced in France concerned marriages which lasted between 4 years and 7 years. Unions in France The number of marriages in France has been decreasing since 2004 and reached 220,000 in 2021, compared to 236,826 ten years before. Same-sex marriage was legalized in France in 2013, but civil partnerships are the type of unions that have increased in recent years. More than 205,000 civil partnerships were contracted in 2010 in France. Implemented in 1999, civil unions in France are established between two individuals regardless of gender.

In 2022, the divorce rate for all Benelux countries was very similar; in the Netherlands it was **** percent, compared to *** percent in Belgium and *** percent in Luxembourg. For all countries, the divorce rate had been steadily increasing from 1950 to 1970, before fluctuating significantly in the years afterwards.

Singapore Male Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Married Resident Males: 45 - 49 data was reported at 7.700 NA in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.400 NA for 2016. Singapore Male Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Married Resident Males: 45 - 49 data is updated yearly, averaging 5.650 NA from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2017, with 38 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.500 NA in 2013 and a record low of 2.100 NA in 1980. Singapore Male Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Married Resident Males: 45 - 49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.G007: Vital Statistics: Marriages & Divorces.

Hong Kong Divorce Statistics: Divorce Decrees data was reported at 19,394.000 Unit in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 17,196.000 Unit for 2016. Hong Kong Divorce Statistics: Divorce Decrees data is updated yearly, averaging 13,129.000 Unit from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2017, with 37 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22,271.000 Unit in 2013 and a record low of 2,060.000 Unit in 1981. Hong Kong Divorce Statistics: Divorce Decrees data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census and Statistics Department. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong SAR – Table HK.G013: Vital Statistics: GHS: RPA: Marriages.

As of 2024, the divorce rate in China decreased to *** divorces per 1,000 inhabitants. Before 2020, this number had been constantly increasing since 2002. Divorce rate in Asian countries The divorce rate in China soared from around **** divorces per 1,000 people in 2000 to **** divorces in 2019. This is a quite high value compared to the divorce rate of countries in the Asia Pacific region. However, China shares the fate of a growing divorce rate with many other developing countries, while in most developed countries, the number of divorces per 1,000 inhabitants is either stable or falling. For example, the divorce rate in Singapore has been manly stable at *** divorces per 1,000 inhabitants in the last ten years and the divorce rate in South Korea has fallen from *** in 2009 to *** in 2024. In comparison, the U.S. divorce rate has been falling since 1992 from *** divorces per 1,000 people to *** divorces in 2022. Dating scene in China For the younger generations, dating and marriage happens (if at all) at a much later life stage compared to their parents. The fact that China has the highest working hours in the region does not ease the dire situation for singles in China, most of them being employed as professionals or employed in the media sector, where long working hours and high work pressure are quite common.

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.

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.

Data on marriages and divorces at national level are transmitted by the National Statistics Institutes on voluntary basis in the context of the annual demographic data collections in the field of demography carried out by Eurostat.

The POPSTAT (population statistics) questionnaire collects annual mandatory and voluntary demographic data from the National Statistical Institutes. It is the most in-depth annual national and regional demographic and migration data collection. The data relate to populations, births, deaths, immigrants, emigrants, marriages and divorces, and is broken down into several categories (Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007).

The completeness of the demographic data collected on a voluntary basis depends on the availability and completeness of information provided by the National Statistical Institutes.

The following statistics on marriages and divorces are collected from the National Statistical Institutes:

• Marriages by previous legal union status of marrying persons;
• First-time marrying persons by age, year of birth and sex;
• Marriages by country of citizenship of marrying persons;
• Marriages by country of birth of marrying persons;
• Divorces by duration and year of the marriage;
• Divorces by country of citizenship of spouses;
• Divorces by country of birth of spouses.

Statistics on marriages and divorces: based on the different breakdowns of data on marriages and divorces received, Eurostat produces the following:

• Statistics available in the online table Marriage indicators (demo_nind):
  • Total number of marriages;
  • Crude marriage rate;
  • Mean age at first marriage – male;
  • Mean age at first marriage – female;
  • Total first marriage rate – male;
  • Total first marriage rate – female;
  • Proportion of first marriages – male;
  • Proportion of first marriages – female.
• Statistics available in the online table Divorce indicators (demo_ndivind):
  • Total number of divorces;
  • Crude divorce rate;
  • Divorces per 100 marriages.

In 2022, the divorce rate in the United States stood at *** per 1,000 of the population. Divorce in the U.S. Divorce is the termination of a marital union. In the United States, as in most other countries, it is a legal process in which a judge or another legal authority dissolves the bonds of matrimony existing between two persons. The process of divorce also normally involves issues surrounding distribution of property, financial support of the former spouse, child custody and child support. A divorce also allows a person to marry again.In the United States, divorce is, like marriage, a matter for state governments, not the federal government. Although divorce laws vary from state to state, for example on which terms a divorce can be arranged, a divorce must be certified by a court of law to become effective. A declining divorce rate Over the last couple of years, both the marriage rate and the divorce rate have been declining in the United States. As of 2009, the average length of a first marriage in the U.S. was ***** years, while the average length of a second marriage was about ** years.