Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
1.2. Contact organisation unit
F2: Population and migration.
1.3. Contact name
Restricted from publication
1.4. Contact person function
Restricted from publication
1.5. Contact mail address
2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG
1.6. Contact email address
Restricted from publication
1.7. Contact phone number
Restricted from publication
1.8. Contact fax number
Restricted from publication
2.1. Metadata last certified
21 March 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
21 March 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
21 March 2025
3.1. Data description
Data on marriages and divorces at national level are transmitted by the National Statistics Institutes on voluntary basis in the context of the annual demographic data collections in the field of demography carried out by Eurostat.
The POPSTAT (population statistics) questionnaire collects annual mandatory and voluntary demographic data from the National Statistical Institutes. It is the most in-depth annual national and regional demographic and migration data collection. The data relate to populations, births, deaths, immigrants, emigrants, marriages and divorces, and is broken down into several categories (Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007).
The completeness of the demographic data collected on a voluntary basis depends on the availability and completeness of information provided by the National Statistical Institutes.
The following statistics on marriages and divorces are collected from the National Statistical Institutes:
Marriages by previous legal union status of marrying persons;
First-time marrying persons by age, year of birth and sex;
Marriages by country of citizenship of marrying persons;
Marriages by country of birth of marrying persons;
Divorces by duration and year of the marriage;
Divorces by country of citizenship of spouses;
Divorces by country of birth of spouses.
Statistics on marriages and divorces: based on the different breakdowns of data on marriages and divorces received, Eurostat produces the following:
Statistics available in the online table Marriage indicators (demo_nind):
Total number of marriages;
Crude marriage rate;
Mean age at first marriage – male;
Mean age at first marriage – female;
Total first marriage rate – male;
Total first marriage rate – female;
Proportion of first marriages – male;
Proportion of first marriages – female.
Statistics available in the online table Divorce indicators (demo_ndivind):
Total number of divorces;
Crude divorce rate;
Divorces per 100 marriages.
3.2. Classification system
Not applicable.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not applicable.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Crude marriage rate : the ratio of the number of marriages during the year to the average population in that year. The value is expressed per 1000 inhabitants.
Crude divorce rate: the ratio of the number of divorces during the year to the average population in that year. The value is expressed per 1000 inhabitants.
Legal marital status: marital status is the legally defined marital state.
Mean age at first marriage: the mean age of men and women when they get married for the first time. The indicator is calculated as weighted average of the ages, where weights are the age specific first marriage rates (rate-based mean age), separately for men and women.
First marriage rates: the ratio of the number of first time marrying person of age x to the average population of age x, separately for men and women.
Total first marriage rate: it is computed by adding the first marriage rates by age in a given year, separately for men and women.
Proportion of first marriages: the ratio of the number of first time marriages in the total number of marriages in a given year, by sex.
Divorces per 100 marriages: the ratio between the number of divorces (independently of the duration) and the number of marriages in a given year.
Age and duration definition:
Most National Statistical Institutes of the EU Member States provide data on the number of first marriages by both dimensions: age and year of birth of the first-time marrying persons. First marriage statistics are compiled and disseminated, based on the data collected, only by age at last birthday (also referred as age completed).
Most National Statistical Institutes of the EU Member States provide data on the number of divorces by both dimensions: duration and year of marriage. Divorces are compiled and disseminated, based on data collected, only by duration of marriage reached during the year.
Eurostat uses the concept of age completed when calculating marriage indicators.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit used is 'number', as indicated in the online database or by the title of tables.
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population is the total population. For more information on the population concepts used, please see the reference metadata on Population.
3.7. Reference area
Marriage and divorce statistics are disseminated as available by single country and by aggregates of countries, as follows:
Other countries: Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Monaco, the Russian Federation, San Marino and the United Kingdom.
The geographical aggregates European Union and Euro Area, on which the dissemination covers at least the current and the previous version of their composition, the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
For details on geographical changes over time see the notes by country under 15.2 Comparability over time.
Statistics from the UK are available only until the withdrawal of the country from the EU.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The time series compiled and published in the Eurostat database varies, depending on the breakdowns, with the longest time series starting in 1960 and continuing through to the latest available reference year.
The completeness of the time series for marriage and divorce statistics collected on a voluntary basis depends on the availability of data sent to Eurostat by the National Statistical Institutes.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Data on marriages and divorces are disseminated as integer number and as rates.
The reference period for marriage and divorces data is the calendar year in which the events occurred.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Data are collected on voluntary basis.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society and Amending Regulation (EU) No 2015/759 of 29 April 2015 as regards the violation of statistical confidentiality.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
For Germany, for the data on marriages and divorces, disclosure of cells with less than 3 persons is not allowed.
For Lithuania, statistical disclosure control methods are applied when publishing statistical information.
For Türkiye, if the number of the statistical unit in any cell of the data table formed by aggregating the individual data is less than three or one or two of the statistical units are dominant even if the number of units is three or more, the data in the concerned cell is considered confidential.
8.1. Release calendar
February: Marriages and divorces in year T-1 by detailed breakdowns referring to spouses or duration.
March of year T+1: Marriage and divorce indicators of year T-1.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable.
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Accessibility and clarity') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.
Statistics are continuously revised according to the most recent data released and sent to Eurostat by the National Statistical Institutes. The geographical aggregates and the demographic indicators are revised accordingly.
The statistics are published in line with the information in 8.1 Release calendar and 17.1 Data revision-policy.
More information regarding methodology by country can be found in the national metadata files online in the population (national level) metadata (see ‘Related metadata’).
Demographic trend and developments have a strong impact on the societies of the countries and of the EU. Demographic statistics on the size and structure of Europe's population are used in a wide range of economic, social and environmental policy areas.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No user satisfaction surveys have been carried out.
12.3. Completeness
Data completeness depends on the availability of data from the National Statistical Institutes.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Not available.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
For information on the timeliness of data release, see 8.1Release calendar.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Marriage and divorce data are based on the legal civil status as recognised by the law of each country.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Breaks in data series could compromise comparability over time. Any breaks in data series due to changes in methodology and data processing or revisions to data counts reported by the countries in question are documented in the Eurostat database using flag b (break in time series).
The population data for the year 2021 and after take into account the results of the latest population census (held in 2021–2022). Following Eurostat’s recommendations to ensure consistency of statistics over time, several Member States (Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal) have revised or are in process of revising their population time series between the reference years of the population and housing censuses held in 2011 and 2021. While this work is spread over time, revisions are mostly expected in the first quarter of 2024 (for more information about data revision per country, see also 17. Data revision).
Over time, certain countries have been subject to geographical changes (see below):
FX stands for Metropolitan France, including Corsica and excluding the overseas departments (DOM).
FR stands for France as a whole, including the overseas departments (DOM). Data on Saint Barthelemey are excluded as of 1 January 2012. Data on Mayotte are included, starting with the statistics on vital events for the reference year 2014 and the statistics on population on 1 January 2015.
The European geographical aggregates (EU, EA and EEA) include FX up to 1997 and FR from 1998 onwards. This change is indicated by flag b (break in time series) in the EU statistics for 1998.
The time series for Germany (DE_TOT) refer to the Federal Republic of Germany after 3 October 1990.
As of 1 January 1975, data for Cyprus (CY) refer to the government-controlled area;
Up to 1 January 2000, population data for Malta (MT) refer to the Maltese population only. However, as of 2001 figures also include foreign residents. This is indicated by flag b in the figures for 2001.
As of 1 January 2010, the statistics on the permanent resident population of Switzerland (CH) include all people in the asylum process who have been residing in Switzerland for 12 months or more. The change is reflected in Eurostat population figures starting with populations reported on 1 January 2011.
As of 1 January 2011, Belgium (BE) national population figures refer to all registered people, including asylum seekers.
As of 1 January 2010, Poland (PL) revised the methodology used to estimate the usually resident population. This is indicated by a flag b in the figures for 2010.
As of 1 January 2012, the reported Estonian (EE) population includes the migration component, whereas this was not included before.
These changes may affect also the statistics on marriages and divorces and are signalled by the flag b.
Member States shall inform the Eurostat of any planned revision of the data already supplied no later than one week before the release of the revised data in the Member State concerned.
Member States shall provide any revised data to the Eurostat no later than one week after the release of these data.
Member States shall ensure that any revised data provided to the Eurostat is consistent with the whole set of data already provided.
The policy of Eurostat is to make updates as soon as data is received and at any time during the year.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Marriage and divorce statistics are continuously revised according to the most recent data released and sent to Eurostat by the National Statistical Institutes. The geographical aggregates and the demographic indicators are revised accordingly.
The status of the data is indicated by using flags (p = provisional data; e = estimated; b = break in time series; f = forecast).
The revision practice effectively corresponds to the revision policy of the domain listed under sub‑concept 17.1 Data revision – policy.
All reported errors (once validated) result in corrections of the disseminated data.
Reported errors are corrected in the disseminated data as soon as the correct data have been validated.
Data may be published even if they are missing for certain countries or flagged as provisional or estimated for certain countries. They are replaced with final data once transmitted and validated. European aggregates and demographic indicators are updated for consistency with new country data.
Whenever new data are provided and validated, the already disseminated data are updated and European aggregates and demographic indicators are accordingly revised.
Data are usually revised for the last period. Countries however may choose the length of the revisions depending on the need. In principle, aggregates and components are revised at the same time or soon after a data revision is received by Eurostat. For most of the countries data are considered final with the first sending, except in case of errors discovered after transmitting data to Eurostat and in case of post-census revisions. Revisions are published continuously as soon as received by Eurostat. Routine revisions are documented and monitored internally and communicated in the metadata files available in dissemination.
The impact of major revisions is analysed in working documents produced for experts' meetings held with representatives of National Statistical Institutes. Time series breaks caused by major revisions are not flagged, to provide break-free data, back-calculation is applied.
Major revisions are pre-announced and documented in the metadata files available in dissemination. The impacts of major revisions are communicated in working documents produced for experts meetings held with representatives of National Statistical Institutes.
18.1. Source data
Data are collected by Eurostat from the National Statistical Institutes.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data are collected annually.
18.3. Data collection
The annual data collections are carried out by Eurostat using data provided by the national statistical institutes in order to publish updated statistics. The demographic data collections contain both mandatory and voluntary data (see 3.1. Data description).
18.4. Data validation
Eurostat checks raw data sent by the national statistical offices to see if the total of a variable is consistent with the breakdown by different variables. It also does cross-checks to see if different breakdowns of the same variable are consistent.
Based on the detailed collected data, Eurostat calculates a series of demographic statistics. The demographic indicators calculated in the standard way are validated in the context of the available time series. The validation rules include checking the plausibility of the most up-to-date annual value and two consecutive annual values. Mathematical checks are carried out using standard deviations and the weighted average.
Based on the detailed national figures on population and other demographic events sent to Eurostat by the National Statistical Institutes, Eurostat derives/calculates demographic indicators and geographical aggregates using common calculation methods.
Geographical aggregation
For statistics on marriages and divorces expressed in numbers, geographical aggregation is done by arithmetical sum if no values are missing from the components of the geographical aggregate in question. Otherwise the geographical aggregates are not calculated.
For rates, the geographical aggregates are calculated using the same method as for an individual country. The input for calculation is the aggregated data described above.
Data on marriages and divorces at national level are transmitted by the National Statistics Institutes on voluntary basis in the context of the annual demographic data collections in the field of demography carried out by Eurostat.
The POPSTAT (population statistics) questionnaire collects annual mandatory and voluntary demographic data from the National Statistical Institutes. It is the most in-depth annual national and regional demographic and migration data collection. The data relate to populations, births, deaths, immigrants, emigrants, marriages and divorces, and is broken down into several categories (Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007).
The completeness of the demographic data collected on a voluntary basis depends on the availability and completeness of information provided by the National Statistical Institutes.
The following statistics on marriages and divorces are collected from the National Statistical Institutes:
Marriages by previous legal union status of marrying persons;
First-time marrying persons by age, year of birth and sex;
Marriages by country of citizenship of marrying persons;
Marriages by country of birth of marrying persons;
Divorces by duration and year of the marriage;
Divorces by country of citizenship of spouses;
Divorces by country of birth of spouses.
Statistics on marriages and divorces: based on the different breakdowns of data on marriages and divorces received, Eurostat produces the following:
Statistics available in the online table Marriage indicators (demo_nind):
Total number of marriages;
Crude marriage rate;
Mean age at first marriage – male;
Mean age at first marriage – female;
Total first marriage rate – male;
Total first marriage rate – female;
Proportion of first marriages – male;
Proportion of first marriages – female.
Statistics available in the online table Divorce indicators (demo_ndivind):
Total number of divorces;
Crude divorce rate;
Divorces per 100 marriages.
21 March 2025
Crude marriage rate : the ratio of the number of marriages during the year to the average population in that year. The value is expressed per 1000 inhabitants.
Crude divorce rate: the ratio of the number of divorces during the year to the average population in that year. The value is expressed per 1000 inhabitants.
Legal marital status: marital status is the legally defined marital state.
Mean age at first marriage: the mean age of men and women when they get married for the first time. The indicator is calculated as weighted average of the ages, where weights are the age specific first marriage rates (rate-based mean age), separately for men and women.
First marriage rates: the ratio of the number of first time marrying person of age x to the average population of age x, separately for men and women.
Total first marriage rate: it is computed by adding the first marriage rates by age in a given year, separately for men and women.
Proportion of first marriages: the ratio of the number of first time marriages in the total number of marriages in a given year, by sex.
Divorces per 100 marriages: the ratio between the number of divorces (independently of the duration) and the number of marriages in a given year.
Age and duration definition:
Most National Statistical Institutes of the EU Member States provide data on the number of first marriages by both dimensions: age and year of birth of the first-time marrying persons. First marriage statistics are compiled and disseminated, based on the data collected, only by age at last birthday (also referred as age completed).
Most National Statistical Institutes of the EU Member States provide data on the number of divorces by both dimensions: duration and year of marriage. Divorces are compiled and disseminated, based on data collected, only by duration of marriage reached during the year.
Eurostat uses the concept of age completed when calculating marriage indicators.
The statistical unit used is 'number', as indicated in the online database or by the title of tables.
The statistical population is the total population. For more information on the population concepts used, please see the reference metadata on Population.
Marriage and divorce statistics are disseminated as available by single country and by aggregates of countries, as follows:
Other countries: Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Monaco, the Russian Federation, San Marino and the United Kingdom.
The geographical aggregates European Union and Euro Area, on which the dissemination covers at least the current and the previous version of their composition, the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
For details on geographical changes over time see the notes by country under 15.2 Comparability over time.
Statistics from the UK are available only until the withdrawal of the country from the EU.
The reference period for marriage and divorces data is the calendar year in which the events occurred.
Not available.
Data on marriages and divorces are disseminated as integer number and as rates.
Based on the detailed national figures on population and other demographic events sent to Eurostat by the National Statistical Institutes, Eurostat derives/calculates demographic indicators and geographical aggregates using common calculation methods.
Geographical aggregation
For statistics on marriages and divorces expressed in numbers, geographical aggregation is done by arithmetical sum if no values are missing from the components of the geographical aggregate in question. Otherwise the geographical aggregates are not calculated.
For rates, the geographical aggregates are calculated using the same method as for an individual country. The input for calculation is the aggregated data described above.
Data are collected by Eurostat from the National Statistical Institutes.
Statistics are continuously revised according to the most recent data released and sent to Eurostat by the National Statistical Institutes. The geographical aggregates and the demographic indicators are revised accordingly.
The statistics are published in line with the information in 8.1 Release calendar and 17.1 Data revision-policy.
For information on the timeliness of data release, see 8.1Release calendar.
Marriage and divorce data are based on the legal civil status as recognised by the law of each country.
Breaks in data series could compromise comparability over time. Any breaks in data series due to changes in methodology and data processing or revisions to data counts reported by the countries in question are documented in the Eurostat database using flag b (break in time series).
The population data for the year 2021 and after take into account the results of the latest population census (held in 2021–2022). Following Eurostat’s recommendations to ensure consistency of statistics over time, several Member States (Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal) have revised or are in process of revising their population time series between the reference years of the population and housing censuses held in 2011 and 2021. While this work is spread over time, revisions are mostly expected in the first quarter of 2024 (for more information about data revision per country, see also 17. Data revision).
Over time, certain countries have been subject to geographical changes (see below):
FX stands for Metropolitan France, including Corsica and excluding the overseas departments (DOM).
FR stands for France as a whole, including the overseas departments (DOM). Data on Saint Barthelemey are excluded as of 1 January 2012. Data on Mayotte are included, starting with the statistics on vital events for the reference year 2014 and the statistics on population on 1 January 2015.
The European geographical aggregates (EU, EA and EEA) include FX up to 1997 and FR from 1998 onwards. This change is indicated by flag b (break in time series) in the EU statistics for 1998.
The time series for Germany (DE_TOT) refer to the Federal Republic of Germany after 3 October 1990.
As of 1 January 1975, data for Cyprus (CY) refer to the government-controlled area;
Up to 1 January 2000, population data for Malta (MT) refer to the Maltese population only. However, as of 2001 figures also include foreign residents. This is indicated by flag b in the figures for 2001.
As of 1 January 2010, the statistics on the permanent resident population of Switzerland (CH) include all people in the asylum process who have been residing in Switzerland for 12 months or more. The change is reflected in Eurostat population figures starting with populations reported on 1 January 2011.
As of 1 January 2011, Belgium (BE) national population figures refer to all registered people, including asylum seekers.
As of 1 January 2010, Poland (PL) revised the methodology used to estimate the usually resident population. This is indicated by a flag b in the figures for 2010.
As of 1 January 2012, the reported Estonian (EE) population includes the migration component, whereas this was not included before.
These changes may affect also the statistics on marriages and divorces and are signalled by the flag b.
