Most couples going into marriage do not expect to hit the divorce courts years down the line. UK specialist family Major Family Law would agree that unfortunately happy endings are not always possible for many married couples, no matter where in the world they are.
On the hole, marriages in Europe have been on the decline, but divorce rates have doubled with an average of approximately 43 marriages out of every 100 ending in divorce. We examine the statistics across Europe, focusing in on the top 6 European countries with the highest divorce rates.
- Luxembourg
Taking its position as number one in Europe for the highest divorce rates in 2019, is Luxembourg, according to market and consumer data providers, Statista. The research revealed almost 89 out of 100 marriages led to divorce in the northwest European country. One of the reasons offered for the high rates is that divorce is financially accessible in the country. Also, it is possible for one partner in a couple to acquire a divorce in Luxembourg without the signature of the other partner needed.
- Portugal
Number two on the same 2019 study showed Portugal also had high rates with around 61 marriages ending in divorce. Contrary to Luxembourg, social and economic reasons have been touted as explanations for the sizeable figures. The recent economic crisis in Portugal has also meant less availability of money to finance weddings (and with fewer weddings, comes ultimately fewer divorces). Also, the financial stresses on some marriages may have resulted in more divorces too.
- Finland
Finland is the country with the third biggest divorce rate in Europe with around 42% of marriages in 1989 resulting in divorce by 2019. The likelihood of an official end to a marriage in Finland is 38%. Interestingly, there were also fewer weddings in the country according to recent research, with a drop of 1,503 marriages in 2019 compared to 2018.
- Spain
The rates of divorce in Spain stand at 55.5 out of every 100 according to the Statista research. The global popularity of marriage falling, and overall rising divorce rates have been offered as contributing factors. Also, women’s newer role as breadwinners in society could be another reason why divorce rates are high in Spain, with more women becoming financially independent from their spouses.
- France
Divorce in France also makes the top 6 on the list, as figures highlight that out of 100 marriages, 55 end in divorce. Although France does not have the highest rates, the figures do backup the overall worldwide trend. A report in the Washington Post highlights that despite the country’s reputation for romance, the attraction of getting married is falling with a 30% drop in marriage rates, despite the fact that at the same time, birth rates are rising.
- Sweden
Finally, in Sweden 52.4 out of every 100 marriages ended in divorce in 2019. Also relatively high, the statistics may be attributed to the fact that in Sweden, compared to other countries, divorce is more socially acceptable. It could also be due to the fact that, like Spain, women are more prominent in the workforce today. Generally, marriage has become more common in Sweden which could account for the higher divorce rates too.
Conclusion
Divorce statistics are changing all the time. Countries in Europe switch positions for the high divorce figures continuously. In many cases, the patterns in Europe are following global social trends of less will or inclination for marriage. Culture, traditions, legalities and economic circumstances particular to a given country are also significant influencing factors.