Two-thirds of Czech marriages divorce - EU statistics

Brussels, Jan 9 (CTK) - Only one-third of married couples do not divorce in the 10-million Czech Republic, which is almost the lowest figure in the EU, according to the statistics of Eurostat EU´s agency released to CTK.

Out of 100 Czech marriages, 67 divorce on average, while the EU average is some 40 divorces per 100 couples, the statistics says.

Along with Belgians and Estonians, Czechs divorce most frequently compared to other EU members states.

The situation in Belgium with almost the same number of inhabitants as the Czech Republic is even worse as three-fourths of Belgian marriages end in divorce.

On the contrary, the lowest divorce rate in the EU is in Ireland and Cyprus where only one-tenth of couples divorce. In the neighbouring Slovakia, the divorce rate of 33 per 100 married couples approaches the EU average.

The low number of divorces is also caused by a higher authority of churches in these countries.
According to sociologists, the rise in the number of divorces is connected with a changed life style in society , but at the same time the divorce rate in Europe has already culminated and is now gradually dropping.

The average length of marriage is 12 years. People most frequently divorce at the beginning of their relationship, after three to five years.

Moreover, the number of couples who live together without getting married has been rising in the past few years, also in the Czech Republic.

According to statistics, most young single Czech men and women prefer living together with their partner before marriage.