Divorce rate in Belgium continues to fall

The number of divorces in Belgium has decreased by nearly one-tenth over the last two years, according to the Statistical Office of the Federal Public Service Economy. Still, one in two marriages ends in divorce.

In 2013, the FPS Economy recorded nearly 25,000 divorces, compared with more than 26,000 in 2012, and nearly 28,000 in 2011.

However, the figure remains high when considering the total number of marriages. The latest figures from 2012 show more than 42,000 marriages in Belgium, meaning more than one out of every two marriages end in divorce. In 1960 that figure was one in 15.

"In absolute terms, it is normal that the number of divorces is decreasing," says Patrick Deboosere, demographer and sociologist at the ULB. “The number of people getting married in Belgium is also on the decline, as legal cohabitation becomes more popular. Moreover, young people are now trying to live together first before they get married, which translates into less failed marriages."