Türkiye recorded a slight decline in marriages and a modest increase in divorces in 2025, according to newly released data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).

Official figures show that 552,237 couples got married in 2025, down from 569,983 in 2024. The crude marriage rate — representing the number of marriages per thousand population — stood at 6.43 per thousand in 2025.

Despite the decline in total marriages, several provinces maintained notably high marriage rates.

Gaziantep Leads in Marriage Rate

Gaziantep recorded the highest crude marriage rate in the country at 7.76 per thousand. It was followed by Osmaniye (7.68 per thousand) and Şanlıurfa (7.50 per thousand).

At the other end of the spectrum, Tunceli had the lowest crude marriage rate at 4.18 per thousand. Gümüşhane (4.58 per thousand) and Ardahan (4.67 per thousand) followed as provinces with the lowest marriage rates.

Divorce Numbers Increase to 193 Thousand

While marriages declined, divorces rose in 2025. The number of divorced couples increased from 188,963 in 2024 to 193,793 in 2025. The crude divorce rate reached 2.26 per thousand.

İzmir Tops Divorce Rates

İzmir recorded the highest crude divorce rate at 3.28 per thousand. It was followed by Antalya (3.21 per thousand) and Denizli (3.14 per thousand).

The lowest crude divorce rate was observed in Hakkari at 0.51 per thousand. Şırnak (0.52 per thousand) and Bitlis (0.63 per thousand) followed among provinces with the lowest divorce rates.

One-Third of Divorces Occur Within First Five Years

An analysis of divorce duration reveals that 34.0% of divorces in 2025 occurred within the first five years of marriage. Additionally, 20.3% of divorces took place among couples married between six and ten years, indicating that more than half of all divorces happened within the first decade of marriage.

Mean Age at First Marriage Continues to Rise

The mean age at first marriage increased for both men and women in 2025. The average age at first marriage was 28.5 for men and 26.0 for women, with a 2.5-year age gap between spouses.

Foreign Marriages: Syrian Nationals Rank First

Foreign nationals continued to account for a portion of total marriages. In 2025, there were 5,347 foreign grooms, representing 1.0% of all grooms. Meanwhile, 28,646 foreign brides accounted for 5.2% of all brides.

Among foreign grooms, Syrian citizens ranked first with 20.9%, followed by German nationals (18.8%) and Afghan nationals (5.0%).

Among foreign brides, Syrian citizens again ranked first with 13.8%, followed closely by Uzbek brides (13.7%) and Moroccan brides (9.6%).

Nearly 191 Thousand Children Affected by Divorce

Divorce proceedings finalized in 2025 directly affected 191,371 children. Courts granted custody primarily to mothers, with 74.6% of children placed under maternal guardianship, while 25.4% were placed under paternal guardianship.

The latest data highlights shifting family dynamics in Türkiye, with marriage rates slightly declining, divorce rates edging upward, and the average age at first marriage continuing its gradual rise. (ILKHA)