The number of divorces has not been affected by the pandemic - but there are fires

Recently, Statistics Sweden's population statistics for the full year 2020 were updated and, just as expected, the number of marriages has plummeted from 48,481 in 2019 to 37,591.

- There is a natural explanation for that.

Throughout the year, we have known that weddings are canceled and that people postpone it to be able to have larger parties with larger parties.

That people have canceled is a direct consequence of the pandemic, says Linus Garp, population statistician at Statistics Sweden, to SVT News.

No change in the number of divorces

Somewhat more surprising are the figures for divorce - they have hardly been affected by the pandemic.

In 2020, 25,619 divorces took place, compared with 25,407 the year before.

This goes against previous information from the Swedish Courts Administration, where the number of cases concerning divorce applications increased significantly in 2020.

However, there may be several explanations for this.

One is that couples with joint children have six months to think before the divorce application goes through.

- For that reason, it is conceivable that this is a delay for a large proportion of those who have applied for divorce.

Then you can also imagine that there are many who apply for divorce and then change during the probationary period, says Linus Garp.

"Have many unmarried couples"

All in all, it is not quite easy to draw too drastic conclusions yet.

The same applies to another popular speculation: that restrictions, recommendations and homework during the pandemic will contribute to more children being born.

- Even there, there is a delay in the statistics which means that we may not see those events until this year (2021, editor's note).

On the other hand, is the reflection period over for at least some of those who submitted their divorce applications at the beginning of the pandemic?

- Exactly.

At the same time, it must be remembered that historically fewer people are getting married in Sweden and that more people are cohabiting.

We have many unmarried couples.

This is something we thought we could look at more.

Those statistics would perhaps show more on the number of separations of couples than just divorces.