Overall, some 16,200 divorces were registered in 2018, a slight increase of 2.1% on the previous year, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) announced Tuesday. The average staying power of a marriage ending in divorce was 15 years.
If such a trend continued, two-fifths of all marriages would be likely to one day end in separation, the FSO said.
The numbers vary across nationalities: while divorce between Swiss partners, or between one Swiss and one foreign, declined, divorces of non-Swiss pairs increased massively (+23.4%).
Most cantons, also, confirmed the story of mounting divorces, though eight out of the 26 (including Vaud, Bern, and St Gallen) bucked the trend.
On the other side of the coin, instances of marriage continued to decline; 39,800 unions were celebrated, a downward trend of 2%. This trend occurred across all types of marriages except Swiss-Swiss unions. It was also seen in a decline of civil partnerships between same-sex couples.
As for the birth rate, the total number of babies also declined slightly, by 2.4% to 85,300. The average age of a mother giving birth for the first time continued to rise, and now stands at 30.9 years. An average of 1.47 children per woman is the norm.
More
More
How to marry like a Swiss commoner
This content was published on
How does a typical Swiss couple get married? We’ve created a handy guide on how to tie the knot in Switzerland.
Two decades after tsunami, Swiss tourists flock to Southeast Asia
This content was published on
Twenty years after a catastrophic tsunami in Southeast Asia, the region is again a top destination for Swiss, including at Christmas.
Swiss forests better equipped for storms 25 years after Lothar
This content was published on
Twenty-five years after Hurricane Lothar wreaked havoc in Switzerland, the country’s forests are now better prepared, experts say.
Media: Swiss medical services done abroad are billed at Swiss rates
This content was published on
In Switzerland, some medical services carried out abroad are still billed at Swiss rates, despite costing less, RTS reports.
This content was published on
Sophie Hediger, a member of the Swiss national snowboard cross team, has died in an avalanche in Arosa. She was 26 years old.
This content was published on
Several Swiss films exceeded the 100,000 admissions mark worldwide in 2024 and received widespread praise at international film festivals.
Swiss Alpine resorts covered in white gold for Christmas
This content was published on
Many areas at low altitudes in Switzerland are enjoying a blanket of snow. In the mountains, intense precipitation has delighted skiers.
SWISS makes emergency landing in Austria after smoke in cockpit
This content was published on
Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) made an emergency landing of an Airbus in Graz, Austria on Monday evening after engine problems.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Government seeks to end ‘unequal’ taxation of married couples
This content was published on
The Swiss government wants to amend tax law to ensure equal fiscal treatment of married couples compared to unmarried cohabitating couples.
Do these villages hold the secret to a happy marriage?
This content was published on
The quaint village of Niederwald in canton Valais features an opulent 17th century church and the locals say religion and social responsibility play a key role in keeping couples together. But 20 km away in the village of Bister, the mayor says religion is not a major factor, but traditional values do influence behaviour. Also…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.