South Africa - Divorce Statistics
Key Findings 2016
Trends in divorces (2003 – 2016)
The 2016 divorce data revealed are based on 25 326 completed divorce forms that Stats SA received and prepared by the end of December 2017. The visible crude divorce rate was 0,5 divorces per 1 000 estimated resident population in 2016.
The number (25 326) shows a rise of 66 (0,3%) divorces from the 25 260 cases processed in 2015. The total number of divorces typically fluctuated over the period 2003 to 2010 then increased from 2011 to 2016, with the highest number observed in 2005 (32 484) and the lowest in 2011 (20 980).
In 2016, about 48 divorces were issued for same-sex couples of which 38 were female couples and 10 were male couples.
Population Groups
In 2016, the population group of 1 311 couples was not specified. Couples from the white population group dominated the number of divorces from 2003 to 2007; thereafter, black African couples had the highest number of divorces up until 2016. In 2003, 40,0% of the divorcees were from the white population group whereas 24,3% came from the black African population group. By 2016, 42,0% of the divorcees were from the black African population group and 24,8% from the white population group. The proportions of the divorcees from the coloured and the Indian/Asian population groups were quite invariable during the thirteen-year period.
Occupation
A significant proportion of husbands (29,3%) and wives (32,1%) did not specify the type of occupation they were engaged in at the time of divorce. In addition, 17,3% and 24,1% of husbands and wives respectively were not economically active at the time of divorce. Most male divorcees were managers and administrators 3 478 (13,7%) and 2 410 (9,5%) were employed in professional, semi-professional and technical occupations while female divorcees were largely in clerical and sales occupations 3 248 (12,8%) and professionals, semi-professionals and technical occupations 3 113 (12,3%).
Characteristics of plaintiffs
The 2016 data show that much more wives than husbands, 12 954 (51,1%) women compared to 8 651 (34,2%) men started divorce proceedings and 1 868 (7,4%) divorces were initiated by both husband and wife. The sex of the plaintiff was not specified in 1 853 (7,3%) cases. With the exception of women from the black African population who had a lower proportion of plaintiffs (44,4%), the proportion of women plaintiffs from the other population groups was above 50,0%. The proportion of women plaintiffs for the white population group, coloured population group and Indian/Asian population group were 58,1%, 56,7% and 55,7% respectively. Among black African divorcees, divorce initiated by both partners constituted about 10%.
Provincial Distribution
The provincial distribution indicates that Western Cape (6 224), Gauteng (5 816), KwaZulu-Natal (4 314) and Eastern Cape (3 352) were the provinces with the highest number of divorces granted. However, this could also be due to the fact that these provinces have the highest populations. In total, 77,8% of divorces granted in 2016 were from these four provinces. Eastern Cape (14,1%) and Gauteng (9,8%) show higher proportions of both male and female divorcees as plaintiffs.
Number of divorces by way of solemnisation of marriage
Information presented show that 11 794 (46,6%) of the 2016 divorce cases were from marriages that were solemnised by religious rites and 10 971 (43,3%) by civil rites. Over two-third (68,9%) of divorces from the white population group and 65,4% of divorces from the coloured population group were from marriages that were solemnised by religious rites. Most divorces from the black African and Indian/Asian population groups were from marriages that were solemnised by civil rites, 65,7% and 51,0% respectively.
Number of times married
Results presented show that the 2016 divorce cases for both men and women were mainly from individuals who had married once. More than 80,0% of divorces for men and women were from first-time marriages compared to 11,9% of men and 10,3% of women from second-time marriages. Less than 2,0% of men and women were getting divorced for at least the third time.
Age at the time of divorce
The median ages at the time of divorce in 2016 were 44 years for males and 40 years for females, indicating that generally, divorced males were older than divorced females, with a difference of about four years. The pattern of median ages in 2016 by population group showed similar median age for black African and white males (45 years). The Indian/Asian population group recorded the lowest median ages in female divorcees at 39 years. The difference in the median ages at the time of divorce between males and females was greater in the black African population group (five years) compared to the coloured, Indian/Asian and white population groups.
Although there were differences in the ages at which most men and women from the various population groups divorced, the age patterns were quite similar. The information reveal that there were fewer divorces among the younger (less than 25 years old) and the older (65 years and older) divorcees. For males, the peak age group at divorce was 40 to 44 for all population groups, except for the white population group where the highest peak was from the age group 45 to 49 years. In the case of females, the peak age group for black African and coloured population groups was 35 to 39 years and the peak for Indian/Asian and white population groups was 30 to 34 years.
Duration of marriage of divorcing couples
Statistics from the annual divorce data do not give a comprehensive picture of the number of marriages ending in divorce. The largest number [6 817 (26,9%)] of divorces among males were for marriages that lasted between five and nine years. This group is followed by marriages that lasted between ten and fourteen years [4 955 (19,6%)] and marriages that lasted for less than five years [4 436 (17,5%)]. Results showed that four in ten divorces (44,4%) of the 25 326 in 2016 were marriages that lasted for less than 10 years. According to results, irrespective of the population group, the highest proportion of divorces occurred to couples who had been married for five to nine years. Population group variations showed that 31,7% of divorces from the black African; 25,4% from coloured; 25,0% from white and 22,4% from Indian/Asian population groups were marriages that lasted between five and nine years. The white population had the highest proportion (22,6%) of divorces that occurred in the first five years. The proportion of divorces in all population groups declined as the duration of marriage increased, with a significant decline being observed after nine years of marriage.
Divorces involving couples with minor children
In 2016, 13 922 (55,0%) of the 25 326 divorces had children younger than 18 years. Looking at the coloured divorcees, proportion of divorces involving couples with minor children constituted about 62,0%. The profile of white divorcees showed that more than half of the recorded divorces were without children (54,4%). 45,5% of children affected by divorce were from the black African population group; 21,7% from the coloured population group; 20,0% from the white population group and 5,5% from the Indian/Asian population group.
In conclusion
Generally speaking, there was an increase in the proportion of divorces for black Africans and decline for white population group from 2003 to 2016. Divorces were primarily from people who had married for the first time. There were more wives than husband plaintiffs, with husbands usually getting divorced at a later age than wives. The provincial distribution shows that Western Cape (6 224), Gauteng (5 816), KwaZulu-Natal (4 314) and Eastern Cape (3 352) were the provinces with the highest number of divorces granted. About 22 750 children aged less than 18 years were affected by divorces that took place in 2016.
Overall, the information provided in this release showed fluctuations over time in the number of marriages, unions and divorces in the country.
Below are the latest statistics:
- The number of divorces increased by 0,3% from 25 260 divorces granted in 2015 to 25 326 of those granted in 2016.
- The median age of males and females remained the same with 44 years and 40 years respectively between 2015 and 2016.
- About (51,1%) of divorces in 2016 were filed by women while men filed 34,2% divorce cases.
- About 44,4% of the 2016 divorces came from marriages that did not spend their tenth wedding anniversary.
- In 2016, there were 13 922 (55,0%) divorce cases with children aged less than 18 years.
Trends in divorces (2003 – 2016)
The 2016 divorce data revealed are based on 25 326 completed divorce forms that Stats SA received and prepared by the end of December 2017. The visible crude divorce rate was 0,5 divorces per 1 000 estimated resident population in 2016.
The number (25 326) shows a rise of 66 (0,3%) divorces from the 25 260 cases processed in 2015. The total number of divorces typically fluctuated over the period 2003 to 2010 then increased from 2011 to 2016, with the highest number observed in 2005 (32 484) and the lowest in 2011 (20 980).
In 2016, about 48 divorces were issued for same-sex couples of which 38 were female couples and 10 were male couples.
Population Groups
In 2016, the population group of 1 311 couples was not specified. Couples from the white population group dominated the number of divorces from 2003 to 2007; thereafter, black African couples had the highest number of divorces up until 2016. In 2003, 40,0% of the divorcees were from the white population group whereas 24,3% came from the black African population group. By 2016, 42,0% of the divorcees were from the black African population group and 24,8% from the white population group. The proportions of the divorcees from the coloured and the Indian/Asian population groups were quite invariable during the thirteen-year period.
Occupation
A significant proportion of husbands (29,3%) and wives (32,1%) did not specify the type of occupation they were engaged in at the time of divorce. In addition, 17,3% and 24,1% of husbands and wives respectively were not economically active at the time of divorce. Most male divorcees were managers and administrators 3 478 (13,7%) and 2 410 (9,5%) were employed in professional, semi-professional and technical occupations while female divorcees were largely in clerical and sales occupations 3 248 (12,8%) and professionals, semi-professionals and technical occupations 3 113 (12,3%).
Characteristics of plaintiffs
The 2016 data show that much more wives than husbands, 12 954 (51,1%) women compared to 8 651 (34,2%) men started divorce proceedings and 1 868 (7,4%) divorces were initiated by both husband and wife. The sex of the plaintiff was not specified in 1 853 (7,3%) cases. With the exception of women from the black African population who had a lower proportion of plaintiffs (44,4%), the proportion of women plaintiffs from the other population groups was above 50,0%. The proportion of women plaintiffs for the white population group, coloured population group and Indian/Asian population group were 58,1%, 56,7% and 55,7% respectively. Among black African divorcees, divorce initiated by both partners constituted about 10%.
Provincial Distribution
The provincial distribution indicates that Western Cape (6 224), Gauteng (5 816), KwaZulu-Natal (4 314) and Eastern Cape (3 352) were the provinces with the highest number of divorces granted. However, this could also be due to the fact that these provinces have the highest populations. In total, 77,8% of divorces granted in 2016 were from these four provinces. Eastern Cape (14,1%) and Gauteng (9,8%) show higher proportions of both male and female divorcees as plaintiffs.
Number of divorces by way of solemnisation of marriage
Information presented show that 11 794 (46,6%) of the 2016 divorce cases were from marriages that were solemnised by religious rites and 10 971 (43,3%) by civil rites. Over two-third (68,9%) of divorces from the white population group and 65,4% of divorces from the coloured population group were from marriages that were solemnised by religious rites. Most divorces from the black African and Indian/Asian population groups were from marriages that were solemnised by civil rites, 65,7% and 51,0% respectively.
Number of times married
Results presented show that the 2016 divorce cases for both men and women were mainly from individuals who had married once. More than 80,0% of divorces for men and women were from first-time marriages compared to 11,9% of men and 10,3% of women from second-time marriages. Less than 2,0% of men and women were getting divorced for at least the third time.
Age at the time of divorce
The median ages at the time of divorce in 2016 were 44 years for males and 40 years for females, indicating that generally, divorced males were older than divorced females, with a difference of about four years. The pattern of median ages in 2016 by population group showed similar median age for black African and white males (45 years). The Indian/Asian population group recorded the lowest median ages in female divorcees at 39 years. The difference in the median ages at the time of divorce between males and females was greater in the black African population group (five years) compared to the coloured, Indian/Asian and white population groups.
Although there were differences in the ages at which most men and women from the various population groups divorced, the age patterns were quite similar. The information reveal that there were fewer divorces among the younger (less than 25 years old) and the older (65 years and older) divorcees. For males, the peak age group at divorce was 40 to 44 for all population groups, except for the white population group where the highest peak was from the age group 45 to 49 years. In the case of females, the peak age group for black African and coloured population groups was 35 to 39 years and the peak for Indian/Asian and white population groups was 30 to 34 years.
Duration of marriage of divorcing couples
Statistics from the annual divorce data do not give a comprehensive picture of the number of marriages ending in divorce. The largest number [6 817 (26,9%)] of divorces among males were for marriages that lasted between five and nine years. This group is followed by marriages that lasted between ten and fourteen years [4 955 (19,6%)] and marriages that lasted for less than five years [4 436 (17,5%)]. Results showed that four in ten divorces (44,4%) of the 25 326 in 2016 were marriages that lasted for less than 10 years. According to results, irrespective of the population group, the highest proportion of divorces occurred to couples who had been married for five to nine years. Population group variations showed that 31,7% of divorces from the black African; 25,4% from coloured; 25,0% from white and 22,4% from Indian/Asian population groups were marriages that lasted between five and nine years. The white population had the highest proportion (22,6%) of divorces that occurred in the first five years. The proportion of divorces in all population groups declined as the duration of marriage increased, with a significant decline being observed after nine years of marriage.
Divorces involving couples with minor children
In 2016, 13 922 (55,0%) of the 25 326 divorces had children younger than 18 years. Looking at the coloured divorcees, proportion of divorces involving couples with minor children constituted about 62,0%. The profile of white divorcees showed that more than half of the recorded divorces were without children (54,4%). 45,5% of children affected by divorce were from the black African population group; 21,7% from the coloured population group; 20,0% from the white population group and 5,5% from the Indian/Asian population group.
In conclusion
Generally speaking, there was an increase in the proportion of divorces for black Africans and decline for white population group from 2003 to 2016. Divorces were primarily from people who had married for the first time. There were more wives than husband plaintiffs, with husbands usually getting divorced at a later age than wives. The provincial distribution shows that Western Cape (6 224), Gauteng (5 816), KwaZulu-Natal (4 314) and Eastern Cape (3 352) were the provinces with the highest number of divorces granted. About 22 750 children aged less than 18 years were affected by divorces that took place in 2016.
Overall, the information provided in this release showed fluctuations over time in the number of marriages, unions and divorces in the country.
Below are the latest statistics:
| divorce_statistics_2016_p03072016.pdf |
| divorce statistics 2015 p03072015.pdf |
| divorce_statistics__south_africa__-_2014.pdf |
| divorce_statistics__south_africa__-_2013.pdf |
| divorce_statistics_south_africa_2012.pdf |
| divorce_statistics_south_africa_-_2011.pdf |
| divorce_statistics_south_africa_-_2010.pdf |
| divorce_statistics_south_africa_-_2009.pdf |
| divorce_statistics_south_africa_-_2008.pdf |
