Main data on marriages
In 2022 in the Republic of Serbia there were 32 821 marriages, an increase of 0.2% relative to the previous year. At the same time, 26 911 concluded first marriages indicate an increase of 2.3% when compared to 2021. The number of marriages per 1 000 population amounted to 4.9. The average age at the time of marriage for grooms was 34.1 and for brides 31.1 years.
The most frequent marriages were ethnically homogeneous ones, i.e. marriages between spouses of the same ethnicity – 28 692 (87.4%). Most of marriages were those where spouses had the same educational level – 22 532 (68.7%), and from the economic point of view in 24 526 marriages (74.7%) both spouses were economically active. Most marriages, 30 041 (91.5%), were concluded between the citizens of the Republic of Serbia.
Main data on divorces
In 2022, in the Republic of Serbia, there were 9 813 divorces, i.e. by 0.2% more than in the previous year. The number of divorces per 1 000 population was 1.5. The average age for husbands at divorce was 45.1 and for wives 41.5 years.
The largest number of marriages that ended in divorce are those with children – 5 151 (52.5%). In the total number of marriages that ended in divorce with children, the most frequent ones were those with one child – 2 683 (52.1%). After divorce, dependent children were mostly given to wives, being recorded in 3 495 divorces (67.9%). The average duration of legally ended marriage in 2022 was 13.8 years.
Table 1. Marriages and divorces by regions, 2022
| Marriages | Divorces | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Per 1 000 population | Total | Per 1 000 population | Per 1 000 marriages | |
| REPUBLIC OF SERBIA | 32821 | 4.9 | 9813 | 1.5 | 299.0 |
| SRBIJA – SEVER | 17052 | 5.0 | 5774 | 1.7 | 338.6 |
| Beogradski region | 8644 | 5.1 | 2529 | 1.5 | 292.6 |
| Region Vojvodine | 8408 | 4.8 | 3245 | 1.9 | 385.9 |
| SRBIJA – JUG | 15769 | 4.9 | 4039 | 1.2 | 256.1 |
| Region Šumadije i Zapadne Srbije | 9385 | 5.1 | 2146 | 1.2 | 228.7 |
| Region Južne i Istočne Srbije | 6384 | 4.5 | 1893 | 1.3 | 296.5 |
| Region Kosovo i Metohija | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
Overview by regions, 2022
The crude marriage rate for the level of Srbija – sever amounted to 5.0‰ and was higher by 0.1‰ than that for the level of Srbija – jug, being 4.9‰. Observing the regions, the lowest rate, 4.5‰, was recorded in Region Južne i Istočne Srbije and the highest, 5.1‰, in Beogradski Region and Region Šumadije i Zapadne Srbije.
The crude divorce rate for the level of Srbija – sever, 1.7‰, was higher by 0.5‰ than that for the level of Srbija – jug, amounting to 1.2‰. Observed by regions, Region Šumadije i Zapadne Srbije saw the lowest divorciality rate,1.2‰, and Region Vojvodine the highest, amounting to 1.9‰.
Table 2. Main indicators of marriages and divorces, 2018–2022
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of marriages - total | 36321 | 35570 | 23599 | 32757 | 32821 |
| Number of marriages per 1000 inhabitants | 5.2 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 4.8 | 4.9 |
| Average age of groom at marriage | 34.2 | 34.5 | 34.8 | 34.3 | 34.1 |
| Average age of bride at marriage | 31.1 | 31.3 | 31.5 | 31.1 | 31.1 |
| Number of first marriages | 29005 | 28113 | 18209 | 26309 | 26911 |
| Average age of groom at first marriage | 31.3 | 31.4 | 31.5 | 31.5 | 31.5 |
| Average age of bride at first marriage | 28.5 | 28.6 | 28.6 | 28.7 | 28.8 |
| Number of divorces - total | 9995 | 10899 | 8687 | 9790 | 9813 |
| Number of divorces per 1000 inhabitants | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.5 |
| Number of divorces per 1000 marriages | 275.2 | 306.4 | 368.1 | 298.9 | 299.0 |
| Average age of husband at divorce | 44.1 | 44.2 | 44.5 | 44.7 | 45.1 |
| Average age of wife at divorce | 40.5 | 40.6 | 41.0 | 41.2 | 41.5 |
Main indicators of marriages and divorces over 2018–2022
Over 2018–2022 the number of marriages in the Republic of Serbia amounted, on average, to 32 214 and the average value of crude marriage rate was 4.7 per 1 000 population. The average number of divorces in the observed five-year period was 9 837, while the average value of divorciality rate was 1.4 per 1 000 population.
The age at which men and women are getting married is rising, but they also divorce later. The difference in the age between spouses amounts, on average, to slightly more than three years – men are usually older than women, when looking both at marriages and divorces.
Methodological explanations
Marriage is the cohabitation of a woman and a man governed by law (Family Law, „Official Gazette of the RS“ No 18/2005, 72/2011 and other law, 6/2015).
Marriage is a marriage concluded according to valid regulations and registered in marriage registrar.
Crude marriage rate is the number of marriages per 1 000 population in the reference year.
Divorce is every legally terminated and annulled marriage by the competent court. The way a marriage terminates is governed by the Family Law.
Crude divorce rate is the number of divorces per 1 000 population in the reference year.
Since 2018 a new method of data collection has been introduced for divorces. Reports are electronically retrieved from the judicial information system of which the Ministry of Justice is in charge.
Starting from 1998 the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia has not at disposal and may not provide available certain data relative to AP Kosovo and Metohija and therefore these data are not included in the coverage for the Republic of Serbia (total).