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

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.

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.