Italy

Data on marriages and divorces at national level are based on the annual demographic data collections in the field of demography carried out by Eurostat. The completeness of information depends on the availability of data reported by the National Statistical Institutes. The Joint demographic data collection is carried out in cooperation with United Nation Statistical Division (UNSD) in the summer of each year, having the deadline 15 September. During this data collection Eurostat collects from the national statistical institutes detailed data by sex, age and other characteristics for the demographic events (births, deaths, marriages and divorces) of the previous year and the population on 1 January of the current and previous years. More specifically, during year T the following data are collected and disseminated on fertility field: - total number of marriages and divorces - persons getting married during the reference year by previous legal marital status, year T-1 Data can be found under the section Marriages and divorces (demo_nup). The information is updated towards the end of each year based on information collected during the Joint data collection. Moreover, any update sent by the countries in-between data collections are validated, processed and uploaded into Eurostat's demographic database and in Eurostat's free dissemination online database as soon as possible. Aggregates are recalculated accordingly. The data transmitted by the National Statistical Institutes are validated by Eurostat, processed and uploaded into Eurostat's Demographic Database and in Eurostat's free dissemination online database. The data are also disseminated in several thematic and horizontal Eurostat's publications. Data are presented by single country and for aggregates of countries. For EU and Euro Area, only the current and the previous version of the aggregates are published. The currently disseminated aggregates are: EU-27, EU-25, EA-16, and EA-15. Moreover, data is disseminated for the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). International marriages and divorces Statistics on the number of international marriages and divorces (2000-2007) were collected by Eurostat from national statistical institutes in September 2008. The data were further used by the European Commission for preparing  a proposal for a Council Regulation on the law applicable in divorce and legal separation.  These data collected are available upon request.

The crude marriage rate is the ratio of the number of marriages during the year to the average population in that year. The value is expressed per 1000 persons. The crude divorce rate is the ratio of the number of divorces during the year to the average population in that year. The value is expressed per 1000 persons.

Data on marriages and divorces at national level are based on the annual demographic data collections in the field of demography carried out by Eurostat. The completeness of information depends on the availability of data reported by the National Statistical Institutes. The Joint demographic data collection is carried out in cooperation with United Nation Statistical Division (UNSD) in the summer of each year, having the deadline 15 September. During this data collection Eurostat collects from the national statistical institutes detailed data by sex, age and other characteristics for the demographic events (births, deaths, marriages and divorces) of the previous year and the population on 1 January of the current and previous years. More specifically, during year T the following data are collected and disseminated on fertility field: - total number of marriages and divorces - persons getting married during the reference year by previous legal marital status, year T-1 Data can be found under the section Marriages and divorces (demo_nup). The information is updated towards the end of each year based on information collected during the Joint data collection. Moreover, any update sent by the countries in-between data collections are validated, processed and uploaded into Eurostat's demographic database and in Eurostat's free dissemination online database as soon as possible. Aggregates are recalculated accordingly. The data transmitted by the National Statistical Institutes are validated by Eurostat, processed and uploaded into Eurostat's Demographic Database and in Eurostat's free dissemination online database. The data are also disseminated in several thematic and horizontal Eurostat's publications. Data are presented by single country and for aggregates of countries. For EU and Euro Area, only the current and the previous version of the aggregates are published. The currently disseminated aggregates are: EU-27, EU-25, EA-16, and EA-15. Moreover, data is disseminated for the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). International marriages and divorces Statistics on the number of international marriages and divorces (2000-2007) were collected by Eurostat from national statistical institutes in September 2008. The data were further used by the European Commission for preparing  a proposal for a Council Regulation on the law applicable in divorce and legal separation.  These data collected are available upon request.

Data source(s) used: Marriage dissolution and termination of marriage civil effects (divorces): Every year ISTAT publishes the main results of its surveys of separations and divorces conducted at the registries of the civil courts, collecting data concerning every single procedure which was concluded in judicial terms during the reference year. As a consequence of the introduction of the extrajudicial agreements for consensual separations and divorces, in 2015 for the first year Istat disseminates data collected with a new information flow created with the civil registrar offices. These new data refer in particular to the two new cases introduced for those who intend to separate by mutual consent as an alternative to the traditional ratification by the court: lawyer assisted negotiation (art. 6); agreement before the civil registrar in the absence of patrimonial issues and underage children, or adult children who are legally incompetent, severely handicapped or not economically self-sufficient (Art. 12). These data make it possible to update trends in the two phenomena over time and monitor their main characteristics: the duration of marriages and the age of spouses upon separation, the type and duration of proceedings, the number of children involved and custody of minors. Other data characteristics: Due to rounding, totals in a table may slightly differ to the sum of the respective components.

Data source(s) used: Marriage dissolution and termination of marriage civil effects (divorces): Every year ISTAT publishes the main results of its surveys of separations and divorces conducted at the registries of the civil courts, collecting data concerning every single procedure which was concluded in judicial terms during the reference year. As a consequence of the introduction of the extrajudicial agreements for consensual separations and divorces, in 2015 for the first year Istat disseminates data collected with a new information flow created with the civil registrar offices. These new data refer in particular to the two new cases introduced for those who intend to separate by mutual consent as an alternative to the traditional ratification by the court: lawyer assisted negotiation (art. 6); agreement before the civil registrar in the absence of patrimonial issues and underage children, or adult children who are legally incompetent, severely handicapped or not economically self-sufficient (Art. 12). These data make it possible to update trends in the two phenomena over time and monitor their main characteristics: the duration of marriages and the age of spouses upon separation, the type and duration of proceedings, the number of children involved and custody of minors. Other data characteristics: Due to rounding, totals in a table may slightly differ to the sum of the respective components.Average duration of marriage is the difference, in completed years, between the date on which divorce proceedings are filed and the date of marriage.

Data source(s) used: Divorces: The main purpose of the survey is to monitor marital instability formalized through divorce.Statistical data allows to analyze the various components of the phenomenon: prosecution and appeal to legal assistance, characteristics of marriage, spouses and children, if any; economic measures as contribution to the maintenance and the allocation of the marital home. This information helps to shed light on structural changes and trends have emerged in recent years for the failure of marriages formalized following a judicial process.

Data source(s) used: Marriage dissolution and termination of marriage civil effects (divorces): Every year ISTAT publishes the main results of its surveys of separations and divorces conducted at the registries of the civil courts, collecting data concerning every single procedure which was concluded in judicial terms during the reference year. As a consequence of the introduction of the extrajudicial agreements for consensual separations and divorces, in 2015 for the first year Istat disseminates data collected with a new information flow created with the civil registrar offices. These new data refer in particular to the two new cases introduced for those who intend to separate by mutual consent as an alternative to the traditional ratification by the court: lawyer assisted negotiation (art. 6); agreement before the civil registrar in the absence of patrimonial issues and underage children, or adult children who are legally incompetent, severely handicapped or not economically self-sufficient (Art. 12). These data make it possible to update trends in the two phenomena over time and monitor their main characteristics: the duration of marriages and the age of spouses upon separation, the type and duration of proceedings, the number of children involved and custody of minors. Other data characteristics: Due to rounding, totals in a table may slightly differ to the sum of the respective components.

Metainformation:State of the database: June 2019 Last changes: new data (year 2018) Source: Vital statistics BEVNAT

Data source(s) used: Separation of spouses: Every year ISTAT publishes the main results of its surveys of separations and divorces conducted at the registries of the civil courts, collecting data concerning every single procedure which was concluded in judicial terms during the reference year. As a consequence of the introduction of the extrajudicial agreements for consensual separations and divorces, in 2015 for the first year Istat disseminates data collected with a new information flow created with the civil registrar offices. These new data refer in particular to the two new cases introduced for those who intend to separate by mutual consent as an alternative to the traditional ratification by the court: lawyer assisted negotiation (art. 6); agreement before the civil registrar in the absence of patrimonial issues and underage children, or adult children who are legally incompetent, severely handicapped or not economically self-sufficient (Art. 12). These data make it possible to update trends in the two phenomena over time and monitor their main characteristics: the duration of marriages and the age of spouses upon separation, the type and duration of proceedings, the number of children involved and custody of minors. Other data characteristics: Due to rounding, totals in a table may slightly differ to the sum of the respective components.Average duration of marriage is the difference, in completed years, between the date on which separation proceedings are filed and the date of marriage.

Data source(s) used: Separation of spouses: Every year ISTAT publishes the main results of its surveys of separations and divorces conducted at the registries of the civil courts, collecting data concerning every single procedure which was concluded in judicial terms during the reference year. As a consequence of the introduction of the extrajudicial agreements for consensual separations and divorces, in 2015 for the first year Istat disseminates data collected with a new information flow created with the civil registrar offices. These new data refer in particular to the two new cases introduced for those who intend to separate by mutual consent as an alternative to the traditional ratification by the court: lawyer assisted negotiation (art. 6); agreement before the civil registrar in the absence of patrimonial issues and underage children, or adult children who are legally incompetent, severely handicapped or not economically self-sufficient (Art. 12). These data make it possible to update trends in the two phenomena over time and monitor their main characteristics: the duration of marriages and the age of spouses upon separation, the type and duration of proceedings, the number of children involved and custody of minors. Other data characteristics: Due to rounding, totals in a table may slightly differ to the sum of the respective components.

Data source(s) used: Separation of spouses: Every year ISTAT publishes the main results of its surveys of separations and divorces conducted at the registries of the civil courts, collecting data concerning every single procedure which was concluded in judicial terms during the reference year. As a consequence of the introduction of the extrajudicial agreements for consensual separations and divorces, in 2015 for the first year Istat disseminates data collected with a new information flow created with the civil registrar offices. These new data refer in particular to the two new cases introduced for those who intend to separate by mutual consent as an alternative to the traditional ratification by the court: lawyer assisted negotiation (art. 6); agreement before the civil registrar in the absence of patrimonial issues and underage children, or adult children who are legally incompetent, severely handicapped or not economically self-sufficient (Art. 12). These data make it possible to update trends in the two phenomena over time and monitor their main characteristics: the duration of marriages and the age of spouses upon separation, the type and duration of proceedings, the number of children involved and custody of minors. Other data characteristics: Due to rounding, totals in a table may slightly differ to the sum of the respective components.Average duration of marriage is the difference, in completed years, between the date on which separation proceedings are filed and the date of marriage.

Data source(s) used: Separation of spouses: Every year ISTAT publishes the main results of its surveys of separations and divorces conducted at the registries of the civil courts, collecting data concerning every single procedure which was concluded in judicial terms during the reference year. As a consequence of the introduction of the extrajudicial agreements for consensual separations and divorces, in 2015 for the first year Istat disseminates data collected with a new information flow created with the civil registrar offices. These new data refer in particular to the two new cases introduced for those who intend to separate by mutual consent as an alternative to the traditional ratification by the court: lawyer assisted negotiation (art. 6); agreement before the civil registrar in the absence of patrimonial issues and underage children, or adult children who are legally incompetent, severely handicapped or not economically self-sufficient (Art. 12). These data make it possible to update trends in the two phenomena over time and monitor their main characteristics: the duration of marriages and the age of spouses upon separation, the type and duration of proceedings, the number of children involved and custody of minors. Other data characteristics: Due to rounding, totals in a table may slightly differ to the sum of the respective components.Average duration of marriage is the difference, in completed years, between the date on which separation proceedings are filed and the date of marriage.

Data source(s) used: Marriages: The survey on marriages, was established in 1926. It's an individual and exhaustive survey, which collects the data of all the marriages celebrated in Italy and the socio-demographic characteristics of the spouses.The survey uses the Istat D.3 model, compiled by the officer of the municipality where the marriage was celebrated. The model is divided into two parts: the first one collects the information about the marriage: the date, the rite of celebration (religious or civil), and the common property regime chosen by the couple (joint or separated ownership of property); the second one collects information about the spouses: date of birth, place of birth, place of residence at the time of marriage, future place of residence of the spouses, marital status, level of education, occupational status, position in the profession, branch of economic activity, citizenship. Other data characteristics: The indicators that do not involve the use of the population (civil weddings - percentage values, joint ownership of property - percentages, marriages with at least one foreign spouse - percentages, second or later marriages - percentages) were calculated according to three different territorial classification:- According to the classification in force in 2017 (107 provinces);- According to the classification in force at the time of the Census of 2011 (110 provinces);- According to the classification in force in the year in which the marriage was celebrated, in the event that was different from that of 2017 and of the Census of 2011 (103 provinces for 2004 and 2005, 107 provinces for the years ranging from 2006 to 2009).