Key findings: Report-03-07-01 - Marriages and divorces, 2003

The overall number of officially recorded marriages in South Africa in 2003 was 178 689. This represented an increase of less than 1% (0,8%) as compared to 177 202 marriages recorded in 2002.

In 2003, a considerable number (92 286) of officially recorded marriages were solemnised by civil rites. This constituted over a half (55,6%) of all officially recorded marriages. The number of officially recorded marriages solemnised through religious ceremonies was 51 242, which constituted 28,7% of all officially recorded marriages.

The total number of officially recorded divorces in 2003 was 31 566. This represented an increase of less than 1% (0,6%) as compared to the 2002 figure of 31 370. The modified crude divorce rate in South Africa for 2003 was 520,4 per 100 000 married females.

In 2003, there were in total 33 424 minor children involved in divorce. This figure was lower than the figure observed in 2002 (34 400).