Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, has published a Special Supplement on Demographic Trends, which is dedicated to recent and historical trends related to population changes and structures, and highlights topics such as fertility, migration, marriage and divorce.
The figures reveal changes in family structures influenced by fewer marriages, more divorces and an increasing share of children born outside marriage.
The marriage rate in the EU27 has decreased continuously over the last two decades, from 6.3 marriages per 1000 persons in 1990 to 5.2% in 2000 and 4.4% in 2010. This pattern could be found in a majority of Member States.
Over the same period, the divorce rate in the EU27 has increased slightly. In 1990, there were 1.6 divorces per 1000 persons in the EU27, while the rate was 1.8% in 2000 and 1.9% in 2009.
According to Eurostat, the decreasing trend in the number of marriages is also reflected in an increase of children born outside marriage.
In 1990, 17% of all live births in the EU27 were outside marriage, compared with 27% in 2000 and 40% in 2011. Over this period, the share of live births outside marriage increased in all Member States.
