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updated 15 Jul 2014, 15:04
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Sat, Jul 13, 2013
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More weddings, fewer divorces

 

Marriages are up, while divorces and annulments are down, latest figures released by the Department of Statistics on Wednesday show.

There were 27,936 civil and Muslim marriages registered last year - 2.5 per cent higher than the 27,258 in 2011.

The total number of marriages dissolved (comprising divorces and annulments) was 7,421 in 2012, a decrease from 7,604 previously.

The median age for first-time grooms and brides remained the same compared to 2011 - 30.1 and 28.0 respectively.

The median age for divorces rose last year - for males it was 41.6 years and females 38.0. In 2011 it was 41.3 and 37.7 for men and women respectively.

Among the civil divorces, the top two main reasons cited were "unreasonable behaviour" and "having lived apart or separated for three years or more".

Among Muslim divorces, the top two main reasons for parting were "infidelity or extramarital affair" and "financial problems".

There were a total of 344 annulments under the Women's Charter last year, a decrease from the 370 in 2011.

Last year, 21 per cent of total marriages were inter-ethnic marriages, up from 12 per cent a decade ago, with such unions more prevalent among Muslim marriages (34 per cent) than among civil marriages (18 per cent), said the report. For details, go to www.singstat.gov.sg.

The National Family Council said that as "a people- sector Council promoting resilient families in Singapore, we find these trends very encouraging".


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