More than 53,000 couples divorced last year, half of whom were married less than nine years, Ministry of the Interior data released yesterday showed.
Last year, 53,351 couples divorced, equivalent to 145.8 divorces per day on average, the data showed.
The annual median marriage duration of divorced couples decreased to 8.3 years last year from nine years in 2015, while more than 33 percent of couples who divorced last year were married less than five years, it showed.
The ministry said the curve of divorced couples fluctuated over the past decade.
The number climbed slowly from 53,448 in 2015 to 54,439 in 2017, before declining steadily to 47,888 over the following four years, it said.
That figure rose to 53,351 last year, up by 280, or 0.5 percent, compared with 2023, but down by 97, or 0.2 percent compared with 2015, the ministry said.
Photo: CNA
On the other hand, the divorce rate was 10.5 per 1,000 married couples last year, up 0.1 compared with 2015, it said.
Of all the divorced couples last year, 52,425 were different-sex marriages and 926 were same-sex marriages, the data showed.
Of the same-sex divorces, 238 were male couples and 688 were female couples, it showed.
New Taipei City had the most same-sex divorces last year at 144, followed by Kaohsiung at 138, it showed.
Regarding the duration of marriages, 17,942 lasted less than five years and ended in divorce last year, accounting for the largest portion at 33.6 percent of all divorces last year, it showed.
The data showed that 12,577 of divorces last year were marriages that had lasted more than five years, but less than 10, or 23.6 percent.
The median duration of marriages was 8.3 years, meaning at least half of the couples divorced last year were married less than nine years.
The median marriage length was about the same as that of the previous year, but it was 0.8 years shorter compared with 2015, the data showed.
Most divorced couples, 85.3 percent, were Taiwanese, while 14.8 percent were divorces between a Taiwanese and non-Taiwanese citizen, it showed.
Most spouses in the divorces that did not have Taiwanese citizenship before marrying a Taiwanese were from China, Hong Kong or Macau, accounting for 7.2 percent, followed by those from Southeast Asian countries at 6.1 percent, it showed.
NEW AGREEMENT: Malaysia approved imports last year after nearly two years of negotiations and inspections to meet quarantine requirements, officials said Up to 3.6 tonnes of pomeloes from Taiwan cleared Malaysian customs on Friday, in the first shipment of Taiwanese pomeloes to Malaysia. Taiwan-grown pomeloes are popular in domestic and overseas markets for their tender and juicy taste, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said. The fruit is already exported to Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, it added. The agency began applying for access to the Malaysian market in 2023, compiling data on climate suitability, pests and diseases, and post-harvest handling, while also engaging in nearly two years of negotiations with Malaysian authorities and submitting supplementary
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
One of two tropical depressions that formed offshore this morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. It is expected to move in a northwesterly direction as it continues building momentum, possibly intensifying into Typhoon Mitag this weekend, she added. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is expected to approach southeast of Taiwan on Monday and pass through the Bashi Channel between Tuesday and Wednesday,
About nine Taiwanese are “disappeared,” detained, or otherwise deprived of freedom of movement in China each month, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. Between Jan. 1 last year and Aug. 31 this year, 188 Taiwanese travelers went missing, were detained and interrogated, or had their personal freedom restricted, with some questioned in airports or hotel lobbies, the council said. In a statement ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the council urged people visiting China for any reason to be highly vigilant and aware of the risks. Of the reported cases, 50 people were “disappeared” after entering China, 19 were detained and 119 had
RSS