Number of divorces reduces in 2016

A total of 13,541 marriages ended in divorce in 2016, which is 398 fewer than previous year, according to Statistics Finland.

When the Marriage Act was amended in 1988 to make divorcing easier, the number of divorces rose to a record level where it has remained. Prior to the amendment, the number of divorces varied between 9,000 and good 10,000 from 1974 to 1987.

In the whole country, 14 women per one thousand married women got divorced in 2016. By comparison, the divorce rate among Swedish-speaking women is only eight women per one thousand married women.

Meanwhile, in 2016, the divorce rate from registered partnerships was 22 per one thousand couples, while the corresponding divorce rate for marriages was 14 per one thousand couples.

There has been a clear difference in the divorce rates of male and female couples as female couples’ divorce rate has been clearly higher than that of male couples since 2004.

In 2016, the divorce rate for male couples was 17 per one thousand couples, while for female couples it was 24.

For registered partnerships, the direction of the divorce rate is slightly growing, while the divorce rate from marriages has remained almost unchanged.