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Published: 20 April 2012

Number of marriages contracted decreased

According to Statistics Finland's data on population changes, the number of marriages entered into in 2011 went down clearly from the previous year. A total of 28,408 marriages were entered into, which is 1,544 fewer than in the year before. The marriage rate went down most distinctly in the age groups where most marriages are contracted: among those aged slightly under and slightly over 30.

Number of marriages and divorces 1965–2011

Number of marriages and divorces 1965–2011

The share of first marriages of all marriages fell slightly, being 76 per cent. The percentage had remained at 77 per cent throughout the first decade of the 2000s.

In 2011, the average age of women who entered into their first marriage was 30.6 years and that of men 32.9 years. Year by year, first marriages are entered into at ever later age. In good four decades, women's average age at the time of entering first marriage has risen by close on eight years and men's by over eight years.

A slightly lower number of divorces was granted in 2011 than one year earlier. Altogether 13,469 marriages ended in divorce, which is 150 fewer than one year previously. At the same time ended the slightly rise in the number of divorces that had started in 2007. However, the decrease is so minor that the divorce rate remained unchanged.

Sixty-nine per cent of the marriages that ended in divorce in 2011 were first marriages for both spouses. In 1990, the corresponding proportion was still 80 per cent.

In 2011, the number of registered same-sex partnerships was 333. Of them, 111 were male couples and 222 female couples. A total of 85 registered same-sex partnerships ended in divorce. Of them, 24 were of male couples and 61 of female couples. In 2010, a total of 322 same-sex partnerships were registered and a total of 64 ended in divorce.

Changes in marital status and mean age of men and women at first marriage in 2002–2011

  Year
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Contracted marriages    26 969    25 815   29 342    29 283    28 236    29 497    31 014    29 836 29 952 28 408
Divorces 13 336 13 475 13 234 13 383 13 255 13 224 13 471 13 527 13 619 13 469
Woman's mean age at first marriage 29,1 29,2 29,7 29,6 29,7 29,9 30,2 30,2 30,3 30,6
Man's mean age at first marriage 31,3 31,5 32,1 31,8 32,1 32,3 32,5 32,5 32,6 32,9
Registered partnerships      446 190 186 200 191 213 249 246 322 333
Divorces from registered partnerships 2 6 15 31 30 67 45 53 64 85

Source: Population and Cause of Death Statistics. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Timo Nikander 09 1734 3250, vaesto.tilasto@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

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Updated 20.4.2012

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Changes in marital status [e-publication].
ISSN=1797-643X. 2011. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 28.3.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/ssaaty/2011/ssaaty_2011_2012-04-20_tie_001_en.html