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Published: 6 May 2009

Number of marriages and divorces increased

According to Statistics Finland’s data on population changes, 31,014 marriages were entered into in Finland in 2008, which is 1,517 more than in the year before. In 2007, the number of new marriages was 29,497. More marriages than in 2008 were last entered into in 1976. The number of marriages entered into has varied rather strongly from year to year in the 2000s.

In 2008, the average age of women who entered into their first marriage was 30.2 years and that of men 32.5 years. In the year before, the corresponding figure for women was 29.9 and that for men 32.3 years.

In 2008, 13,471 marriages ended in divorce, which is 247 more than one year previously. During the past few years the number of divorces has changed very little from year to year.

In 2008, the number of registered same-sex partnerships was 249. Of them, 91 were male couples and 158 female couples. In 2007, a total of 213 same-sex partnerships were registered. A total of 45 registered same-sex partnerships ended in divorce. Of them, 13 were of male couples and 32 of female couples. In 2007, a total of 67 registered same-sex partnerships ended in divorce.

Changes in marital status and mean age of men and women at first marriage in 2000–2008

Corrected on 4 May 2011. The correction is indicated in red. Was previously 7.
  Year
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Contracted marriages    26 150    24 830    26 969    25 815   29 342    29 283    28 236    29 497    31 014
Divorces 13 913 13 568 13 336 13 475 13 234 13 383 13 255 13 224 13 471
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
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
Registered partnerships      . . 446 190 186 200 191 213 249
Divorces from registered partnerships . . 2 6 15 31 30 67 45

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 6.5.2009

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Changes in marital status [e-publication].
ISSN=1797-643X. 2008. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 29.3.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/ssaaty/2008/ssaaty_2008_2009-05-06_tie_001_en.html