3310.0 - Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2008 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 31/08/2009   
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Contents >> Divorces >> Age-specific divorce rates

AGE-SPECIFIC DIVORCE RATES

Age-specific divorce rates can provide a more detailed picture of age at which people are granted divorce. These rates give an indication of the proportion of all males or females in a particular age group who were granted divorce. Further information on calculation of age-specific divorce rates is provided in the Glossary and Explanatory Notes 40-41 and 46.

For females, age-specific divorce rates in 2008 were highest for the 35 to 39 year age group, at 10.6 divorces per 1,000 estimated resident population. Amongst males, the age-specific divorce rate was highest for the 40 to 44 year age group (10.3 divorces per 1,000 estimated population). This difference may reflect the tendency for females to marry at a younger age than males.

Historically, the age-specific divorce rates have been highest for males between the ages of 35-49 years, and highest for females between the ages of 30-44 years. The 2008 age-specific divorce rates for these age groups are consistent with this trend.

Age-specific divorce rates for males in the 30-34 year age group have decreased consistently since 1989, falling from 12.5 to 7.9 divorces per 1,000 estimated population. A similar pattern has occurred for females in the same age group, with the age-specific divorce rate decreasing from 12.6 to 9.5 divorces per 1,000 estimated population from 1989 to 2008.

AGE-SPECIFIC DIVORCE RATES, Australia - Selected years - 1989-2008
Age group (years)
1989
1999
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Male
24 and under (a)
1.1
0.6
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
25-29
8.9
6.7
4.9
4.5
4.2
3.9
3.8
30-34
12.5
12.9
10.1
9.7
9.1
8.4
7.9
35-39
12.0
13.3
12.5
11.7
11.2
10.2
9.9
40-44
11.1
12.8
12.2
12.3
11.6
10.4
10.3
45-49
9.3
11.2
11.5
11.5
11.2
10.2
9.7
50-54
6.7
9.1
9.5
9.4
9.5
8.6
8.6
55-59(b)
2.3
3.2
6.8
7.0
7.0
6.8
6.6
60-64
na
na
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.6
4.4
65 and over
na
na
1.6
1.7
1.6
1.6
1.6
Female
24 and under (a)
2.5
1.3
1.0
0.9
0.9
0.8
0.8
25-29
12.5
10.8
8.0
7.3
7.0
6.4
6.3
30-34
12.6
14.1
12.4
11.8
11.1
9.9
9.5
35-39
11.5
13.7
12.9
12.8
11.9
11.0
10.6
40-44
10.1
12.3
12.1
12.0
11.8
10.8
10.4
45-49
7.6
9.8
10.4
10.3
10.3
9.4
9.1
50-54
4.9
6.8
7.5
7.7
7.5
7.2
7.2
55-59(b)
1.1
1.6
4.7
4.9
5.0
4.7
4.6
60-64
na
na
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.8
2.7
65 and over
na
na
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.6
na not available
(a) From 2006, age-specific rates for the 24 and under age group include males and females aged 16 years and over.
(b) For 1989 and 1999, this rate represents a divorce rate for persons aged 55 years and over.








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