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Published: 6 May 2010

Fewer marriages were entered into, number of divorces almost unchanged

According to Statistics Finland’s data on population changes, 29,836 marriages were entered into in Finland in 2009, which is nearly 1,200 fewer than in the year before. In 2008, the number of new marriages was 31,014. The number of marriages entered into has varied fairly strongly from year to year since the late 1990s. Despite the yearly variation, the number of new marriages has been on the rise in recent years.

Marriages and divorces in 1965–2009

Marriages and divorces in 1965–2009

The average ages of the men and women who entered into marriage remained unchanged. In 2009, the average age of women who entered into their first marriage was 30.2 years and that of men 32.5 years. During the 2000s, the average age of both men and women at the time of entering into their first marriage has gone up by 1.6 years.

In 2009, 13,527 marriages ended in divorce, which is 56 more than one year previously. In 2008, the number of divorces granted was 13,471. For two decades now the number of divorces has varied very little by year.

In 2009, the number of registered same-sex partnerships was 246. Of them, 91 were male couples and 155 female couples. In 2008, a total of 249 same-sex partnerships were registered. A total of 53 registered same-sex partnerships ended in divorce. Of them, 19 were of male couples and 34 of female couples. In 2008, a total of 45 registered same-sex partnerships ended in divorce.

Changes in marital status and mean age of men and women at first marriage in 2000–2009

Corrected on 4 May 2011. The correction is indicated in red. Was previously 7.
  Year
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Contracted marriages    26 150    24 830    26 969    25 815   29 342    29 283    28 236    29 497    31 014    29 836
Divorces 13 913 13 568 13 336 13 475 13 234 13 383 13 255 13 224 13 471 13 527
Woman's mean age at first marriage 28,6 28,7 29,1 29,2 29,7 29,6 29,7 29,9 30,2 30,2
Man's mean age at first marriage 30,9 31,0 31,3 31,5 32,1 31,8 32,1 32,3 32,5 32,5
Registered partnerships      . . 446 190 186 200 191 213 249 246
Divorces from registered partnerships . . 2 6 15 31 30 67 45 53

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 6.5.2010

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Changes in marital status [e-publication].
ISSN=1797-643X. 2009. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 29.3.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/ssaaty/2009/ssaaty_2009_2010-05-06_tie_001_en.html