Number of marriages in ČR down by half in 20 years

Prague, Feb 11 (CTK) - The number of marriages has about halved in the 10.5 million Czech Republic since the fall of the previous regime in 1989 to some 45,000 annually now while almost a half of marriages falls apart, according to data by the Czech Statistical Office (CSU) released yesterday.

Twenty years ago, when the independent Czech Republic was established, there were seven or eight weddings per 1000 inhabitants in the country.

Experts say the family model is changing. The process started after the communist regime fell and more people could start to study, build their career and travel.

Many couples do not need the wedding for their common life. This is reflected in that more and more children are born out of wedlock.

At the beginning of the 1990s they constituted about 10 percent of the newly born. The percentage grew to some 42 percent in 2011.

If yet couples decide to enter into marriage, they do so at a higher age. In 1993 men in the Czech Republic got married for the first time on average at the age of 25.4 years and women at 23.2 years, now the bridegrooms are over 32 years and the brides about 29.5 years.

Divorces to not copy the decreasing trend of marriages. Almost throughout the whole 20 years, there were three divorces per 1000 inhabitants.

The divorce rate peaked in 2010 when it reached 50 percent. In 2011 it decreased to 46 percent.

Some experts ascribe the liberal attitude to marriage to the Czechs' attitude to religion. They are considered atheists in Europe.

Others, however, say religion is not the main cause and point to that about three quarters of Austria's inhabitants claim a faith, yet there are also only slightly more than four marriages per 1000 inhabitants.

Demographers say Czechs only copy the developments in western countries.