More than 25,000 once happily married couples in Sweden called time on their union last year, the highest number in nearly four decades.
Some 25,100 marriages wound up in divorce in 2013, revealed data from Statistics Sweden (Statistika centralbyran) – the highest number since 1975. The average length of marriage varied from region to region but in the capital, Stockholm, it was 10 years. In contrast, couples from Jamtland and Halland were able to draw their relationships out longer, with the union lasting an average of 13 years.
The report revealed when both parties were born in Sweden, marriages lasted an average of 13 years, while when both were originally from outside the Scandinavian country, the union lasted an average of seven years. Marriages between a Swede and a foreigner that ended in divorce last year lasted an average of nine and a half years. If both parties were born in the same country and later moved to Sweden, the marriage lasted an average of 11 years.
In the past three decades, the average number of divorces per year has been between 20,000 and 25,000. The number hit its highest point between 1974 and 1975 because of changes to the law that made the divorce process faster.
More than 54,000 marriages ended last year through death or divorce, with the average union length being 24 years. Some 28,800 marriages ended when one of the couple passed away. On average, marriages that were dissolved after one party died lasted 47 years. More than 200 of the unions that were brought to an end when one partner passed last year had lasted for at least 70 years.