The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) has released its annual report on marriage and divorce statistics for 2024, highlighting key trends across the country.

According to the data, the number of couples tying the knot in 2024 reached 568,395, a modest increase from 567,011 in 2023. The crude marriage rate, which measures marriages per thousand people, stood at 6.65 per thousand in 2024. Adıyaman led the nation with the highest crude marriage rate at 7.76 per thousand, followed closely by Gaziantep (7.68) and Kilis (7.66). On the lower end, Tunceli recorded the lowest rate at 4.01 per thousand, trailed by Gümüşhane (4.30) and Bayburt

Divorce numbers also rose, with 187,343 couples parting ways in 2024 compared to 173,342 in 2023. The crude divorce rate was 2.19 per thousand. Antalya topped the list with the highest divorce rate at 3.29 per thousand, followed by İzmir (3.09) and Karaman (3.04). Meanwhile, Hakkari reported the lowest rate at 0.45 per thousand, with Şırnak (0.55), Siirt, and Muş (both 0.60) rounding out the bottom.

The mean age at first marriage continued to climb in 2024, reaching 28.3 years for men and 25.8 years for women—a difference of 2.5 years between genders. This marks an upward trend for both sexes in recent years.

Foreign nationals played a notable role in Türkiye’s marriage statistics. In 2024, 5,923 foreign grooms accounted for 1.0% of total grooms, with Syrians leading at 20.6%, followed by Germans (19.5%) and Afghans (5.7%). Among brides, 29,115 were foreign nationals, making up 5.1% of the total. Syrian and Uzbek women tied for the top spot at 12.1% each, followed by Moroccans (8.3%) and Azerbaijanis (7.5%).

Of the divorces in 2024, 33.7% occurred within the first five years of marriage, while 21.3% took place between six and ten years. The report also noted that 186,536 children were affected by divorce cases finalized last year. In terms of custody, mothers received guardianship in 74.4% of cases, while fathers were granted custody in 25.6%.

The TurkStat data paints a picture of evolving social trends in Türkiye, with slight increases in both marriages and divorces, shifting demographics in first marriages, and regional variations reflecting diverse cultural dynamics across the provinces. (ILKHA)