Marriages and divorces, 2006

125 partnerships were contracted between two females and 102 between two males. It is first time there are more contracted partnerships between females than males. From 2005 to 2006, the number of partnerships contracted between two females increased by 30. In 1993, one out of three partnerships was contracted between females. In the same year, the total number of partnerships was 156.

Great difference in age between the partners

In average, the difference between males and females in marriage is 3.4 years. Corresponding difference between registered partners is 9.3 years for males and 5.1 years for females.

Fewer marriages and divorces

21 700 marriages were contracted in 2006, 670 less than the year before. 10 600 marriages were dissolved by divorce, 440 fewer than 2005. The number of separations decreased with 610, to 12 100 separated couples.

Females get married in the age 25-34

By dividing in 5 years age groups, the marriage rate for first time married females is highest in the age group 30-34 years, and almost close to this are first time married in age group 25-29 years. During the 1960s and 1970s, the rate for first time married was highest in the age group 20-24 years. Until 2006, the rate was highest in the age group 25-29 years. For males the highest rate for first time married was to be found in the age group 30-39 years old.

Men and females are respectively 33,4 and 30,6 years in average when they get married for the first time.

46 per cent got married in church

About 46 per cent got married in church in 2006. The civil marriages amounted to 32 per cent. Until 2005, there have been few marriages contracted in other religious communities. The number increased to 630 in 2005, and 885 in 2006.

In 20 per cent of all marriages one of the spouses was from abroad. Ten years ago, the corresponding share was 9 per cent, and 30 years ago 3 per cent.

12.1 marriages dissolved per 1000 married and separated

A total of 10 600 marriages were dissolved by divorce in 2006, and this is corresponding to 12.1 divorced per 1000 married and separated. Compared with the 1960s, the s corresponding rate was 2.9. Since then, the rate has broadly speaking increased, and reached 12.6 in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, this rate decreased, and especially in the age group 35-39 years.

11 000 children involved in divorces

I 2006 11 000 children under 18 years were involved in divorces, and half of them were in the age group 6-12 years.

Tables:

• Table 1 Marriages, by county. 1966-2006
• Table 2 Divorces and separations, by county. 1981-2006
• Table 3 Marriages contracted. 1950-2006
• Table 4 Marriages contracted, by type of marriage. 1961-2006
• Table 5 Marriages , by previous marital status of the spouses. 1961-2006
• Table 6 Average age at marriage. Males and females. 1961-2006
• Table 7 Marriage rates for first time married males and females in selected age groups. 1961-2006
• Table 8 Marriages dissolved. Separations. 1961-2006
• Table 9 Divorce rates for males and females in different age groups. 1959-2006
• Table 10 Number of children involved in divorces. 1971-2006
• Table 11 Divorces by number of common children and duration of marriage. 2006
• Table 12 Estimated percentage of marriages dissolved, assuming the divorce rates as in the year of obersvation. 1960-2006
• Table 13 Separation rates for males and females in different age groups.1999-2006
• Table 14 Number of children involved in separations. 1999-2006
• Table 15 Separations, by number of children and duration of marriage. 2006