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.

The graph displays the divorce rate per 1,000 people in the United States from 2000 to 2023. The x-axis represents the years, labeled from '00 to '23, while the y-axis indicates the divorce rate per 1,000 individuals. The divorce rate starts at 4.0 per 1,000 in 2000 and 2001, which are the highest values in the dataset. Over the years, there is a general downward trend, with the rate decreasing to 2.3 per 1,000 in 2020, the lowest point recorded. In 2021 and 2023, the rate slightly fluctuates, rising to 2.5 and then decreasing to 2.4 per 1,000 respectively. The data highlights a consistent decline in the divorce rate over the 22-year period.

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.

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.

Armenia Vital Statistics: Year to Date: Crude Divorce Rate: per 1000 Population data was reported at 1.500 Person in Jun 2023. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.500 Person for Mar 2023. Armenia Vital Statistics: Year to Date: Crude Divorce Rate: per 1000 Population data is updated quarterly, averaging 1.300 Person from Dec 2012 (Median) to Jun 2023, with 43 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.700 Person in Jun 2014 and a record low of 1.000 Person in Jun 2020. Armenia Vital Statistics: Year to Date: 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.

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.

Singapore Male Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Married Resident Males: 30 - 34 data was reported at 12.500 NA in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 12.600 NA for 2016. Singapore Male Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Married Resident Males: 30 - 34 data is updated yearly, averaging 11.050 NA from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2017, with 38 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.200 NA in 2006 and a record low of 6.500 NA in 1980. Singapore Male Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Married Resident Males: 30 - 34 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.

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.

State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Divorce Rate: per 1000 Population data was reported at 1.800 NA in 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.800 NA for 2016. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Divorce Rate: per 1000 Population data is updated yearly, averaging 1.500 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2017, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.800 NA in 2017 and a record low of 0.900 NA in 2002. State of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) Crude Divorce Rate: per 1000 Population 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: 20 - 24 data was reported at 27.900 NA in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 28.600 NA for 2016. Singapore Female Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Married Resident Females: 20 - 24 data is updated yearly, averaging 21.250 NA from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2017, with 38 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.100 NA in 2012 and a record low of 7.600 NA in 1980. Singapore Female Divorce Rate: Per 1000 Married Resident Females: 20 - 24 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Divorces Registered: Non-Muslim: Pulau Pinang data was reported at 1,096.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,042.000 Person for 2015. Divorces Registered: Non-Muslim: Pulau Pinang data is updated yearly, averaging 907.000 Person from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2016, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,096.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 447.000 Person in 2002. Divorces Registered: Non-Muslim: Pulau Pinang data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G008: Vital Statistics: Marriages & Divorces.

Qatar Vital Statistics: Annual: Number of Divorce data was reported at 1,206.000 Unit in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,151.000 Unit for 2016. Qatar Vital Statistics: Annual: Number of Divorce data is updated yearly, averaging 590.500 Unit from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2017, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,420.000 Unit in 2012 and a record low of 293.000 Unit in 1985. Qatar Vital Statistics: Annual: Number of Divorce data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics . The data is categorized under Global Database’s Qatar – Table QA.G002: Vital Statistics.

Jordan Vital Statistics: Divorces: Amman data was reported at 8,686.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9,020.000 Person for 2016. Jordan Vital Statistics: Divorces: Amman data is updated yearly, averaging 3,779.000 Person from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2017, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9,151.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of 1,518.000 Person in 1986. Jordan Vital Statistics: Divorces: Amman data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Jordan – Table JO.G006: Vital Statistics.

Albania Vital Statistics: Divorces data was reported at 3,113.000 Unit in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4,267.000 Unit for 2020. Albania Vital Statistics: Divorces data is updated yearly, averaging 3,486.000 Unit from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2021, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,860.000 Unit in 2019 and a record low of 1,430.000 Unit in 1997. Albania Vital Statistics: Divorces 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.

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.

Lebanon Vital Statistics: Divorces: Beirut data was reported at 106.000 Unit in Jan 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 287.000 Unit for Dec 2017. Lebanon Vital Statistics: Divorces: Beirut data is updated monthly, averaging 80.000 Unit from Jan 2000 (Median) to Jan 2018, with 217 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 287.000 Unit in Dec 2017 and a record low of 33.000 Unit in Jul 2006. Lebanon Vital Statistics: Divorces: Beirut data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Administration of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Lebanon – Table LB.G002: Vital Statistics.