- Joined
- Aug 29, 2008
- Messages
- 26,712
- Points
- 113
Jun 22, 2011
Marriage rates fall for the first time since 2003
The number of marriages in Singapore dipped in 2010, while divorce cases crept up again. -- PHOTO: LAVANIA MOGAN
THE number of marriages in Singapore dipped in 2010, while divorce cases crept up again.
The Singapore Department of Statistics released these figures in their annual Statistics on Marriages and Divorces for the year 2010, on Wednesday.
A total of 24,363 couples pledged to love and cherish their partners forever - a 6.6 per cent decrease from 2009 - and the first drop since 2003.
Interethnic marriages however, rose from 12 per cent in 2000 to 20 per cent in 2010. Chinese grooms tying the knot with brides who were not of Chinese, Malay or Indian ethnicity, formed 51.9 per cent of all interethnic marriages here last year.
On the other hand, 7,405 couples split up last year, slightly higher than the 7,386 divorce cases in 2009. Couples who were married for five to nine years accounted for 32 per cent - the largest group - of non-Muslim divorces. 'Unreasonable behaviour' and 'having lived apart or separated for three years or more' were the main reasons cited by almost all non-Muslim divorces in 2010.
In contrast, couples in Muslim divorces who were married for less than five years formed the largest group. Two out of every three Muslim divorce cases were filed by the wife. 'Domestic violence and abuses' and 'financial problems' were the top two reasons for divorce.
Marriage rates fall for the first time since 2003

The number of marriages in Singapore dipped in 2010, while divorce cases crept up again. -- PHOTO: LAVANIA MOGAN
THE number of marriages in Singapore dipped in 2010, while divorce cases crept up again.
The Singapore Department of Statistics released these figures in their annual Statistics on Marriages and Divorces for the year 2010, on Wednesday.
A total of 24,363 couples pledged to love and cherish their partners forever - a 6.6 per cent decrease from 2009 - and the first drop since 2003.
Interethnic marriages however, rose from 12 per cent in 2000 to 20 per cent in 2010. Chinese grooms tying the knot with brides who were not of Chinese, Malay or Indian ethnicity, formed 51.9 per cent of all interethnic marriages here last year.
On the other hand, 7,405 couples split up last year, slightly higher than the 7,386 divorce cases in 2009. Couples who were married for five to nine years accounted for 32 per cent - the largest group - of non-Muslim divorces. 'Unreasonable behaviour' and 'having lived apart or separated for three years or more' were the main reasons cited by almost all non-Muslim divorces in 2010.
In contrast, couples in Muslim divorces who were married for less than five years formed the largest group. Two out of every three Muslim divorce cases were filed by the wife. 'Domestic violence and abuses' and 'financial problems' were the top two reasons for divorce.