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. |