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 2020, Sri Lanka had the lowest divorce rate in the world, with only 0.15 divorces per 1,000 population. Vietnam and Guatemala followed with 0.2 divorces per 1,000 inhabitants. On the other hand, West Bank & the Gaza Strip had the highest marriage rate in the world that year.

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.

In 2016, crude divorce rates were highest in Kazakhstan which was estimated at around three 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.

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.

Singapore Male Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Married Resident Males: 35 - 39 data was reported at 11.500 NA in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 12.800 NA for 2016. Singapore Male Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Married Resident Males: 35 - 39 data is updated yearly, averaging 8.950 NA from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2017, with 38 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.800 NA in 2016 and a record low of 4.400 NA in 1980. Singapore Male Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Married Resident Males: 35 - 39 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.

Egypt Vital Statistics: Number of Divorce Contracts data was reported at 198.269 Unit th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 192.079 Unit th for 2016. Egypt Vital Statistics: Number of Divorce Contracts data is updated yearly, averaging 70.000 Unit th from Dec 1943 (Median) to 2017, with 75 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 199.867 Unit th in 2015 and a record low of 55.000 Unit th in 1962. Egypt Vital Statistics: Number of Divorce Contracts data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Egypt – Table EG.G009: Vital Statistics.

In 2022, the divorce rate for all Benelux countries was very similar; in the Netherlands it was 1.33 percent, compared to 1.7 percent in Belgium and 1.9 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 Crude Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Residents data was reported at 1.900 NA in 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.900 NA for 2016. Singapore Crude Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Residents data is updated yearly, averaging 1.600 NA from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2017, with 38 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.000 NA in 2011 and a record low of 0.800 NA in 1980. Singapore Crude Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Residents 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.

Population: Number of Divorces: Shanghai data was reported at 42,951.000 Case in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 30,369.000 Case for 2022. Population: Number of Divorces: Shanghai data is updated yearly, averaging 46,422.000 Case from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2023, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 82,558.000 Case in 2016 and a record low of 22,595.000 Case in 1995. Population: Number of Divorces: Shanghai 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.

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.

Singapore Female Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Married Resident Females: 40 - 44 data was reported at 8.300 NA in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.400 NA for 2016. Singapore Female Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Married Resident Females: 40 - 44 data is updated yearly, averaging 5.950 NA from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2017, with 38 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.800 NA in 2015 and a record low of 2.200 NA in 1980. Singapore Female Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Married Resident Females: 40 - 44 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.

Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: UWC: Other Ethnic Groups data was reported at 69.000 Number in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 70.000 Number for Aug 2018. Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: UWC: Other Ethnic Groups data is updated monthly, averaging 18.000 Number from Jan 1961 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 693 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 175.000 Number in Dec 2012 and a record low of 1.000 Number in Jan 2004. Singapore Marriages Registered By Ethnic Group: UWC: Other Ethnic Groups 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.

As of 2023, the divorce rate in China decreased to 2.6 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 0.96 divorces per 1,000 people in 2000 to 3.36 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 1.9 divorces per 1,000 inhabitants in the last ten years and the divorce rate in South Korea has fallen from 2.5 in 2009 to 1.8 in 2023. In comparison, the U.S. divorce rate has been falling since 1992 from 4.8 divorces per 1,000 people to 2.4 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.

Population: Number of Divorces: Sichuan data was reported at 251,644.000 Case in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 216,674.000 Case for 2022. Population: Number of Divorces: Sichuan data is updated yearly, averaging 198,168.000 Case from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2023, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 319,373.000 Case in 2019 and a record low of 96,538.000 Case in 1998. Population: Number of Divorces: Sichuan 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.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Divorce Rate: per 1000 Population: Gaza Strip data was reported at 1.700 NA in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.800 NA for 2016. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Divorce Rate: per 1000 Population: Gaza Strip data is updated yearly, averaging 1.650 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2017, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.900 NA in 2010 and a record low of 1.000 NA in 2002. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Divorce Rate: per 1000 Population: Gaza Strip 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 2020, Germany had aproximately 143,801 divorces taking place, which was the highest in the European Union. France had the second highest number of divorces at 128,043.

Hong Kong Divorce Statistics: Cases Transferred to High Court data was reported at 3.000 Unit in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.000 Unit for 2016. Hong Kong Divorce Statistics: Cases Transferred to High Court data is updated yearly, averaging 6.000 Unit from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2017, with 37 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 80.000 Unit in 1981 and a record low of 1.000 Unit in 2014. Hong Kong Divorce Statistics: Cases Transferred to High Court 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.

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.