Divorce

In Slovakia, the divorce as the only form of the termination of marriage was enacted in 1950. Since the half of 1960s we can observe an increase in divorce in Europe. In the SR, the divorce has significantly increased only in 1970s and since then the periods of stagnation are alternating with the periods of a slight increase. Since the post-war period the number of divorce in the SR has practically continuously increased and nowadays it reaches the most remarkable values. This development is unfavourable also due to the fact that recently the nuptiality has deeply decreased. At the beginning of 80s less than 17 divorces fell on 100 marriages, now it is more than 40.

Increasing intensity of divorce proves the high level of total divorce rate. In comparison with 70s the current value of total divorce rate is more than twofold higher. It means that per 100 contracted marriages fell 36 divorces or each third marriage is getting divorced now.

During 80s the mean age at divorce of both sexes sustained at the relatively stable values - 36 years for men and 33 for women. Since the half of 90s the mean age of men and women at divorce had begun significantly to grow as for recent 39.6 for men and 36.9 for women. Two significant changes in connection to age had occurred during last decade. First is a shift of maximal divorce rate towards to older age. Currently, the age of highest divorce in Slovakia is 30-34 years for men and women. The second change in the development of divorce by age is an evident increase of divorce rate values after 30 years of age at both sexes.

Marriages contracted 4 - 7 years ago are the most frequent subject of divorce. Also relatively high shares in total number of divorces are marriages lasting 10-14 years.

From the long-term standpoint the ratio of marriages getting divorced with small children exceeds 70%, but since 2003 the share of divorces with under-aged children is under that level - currently 66 %. The structure of divorces by the number of under-aged children had been slightly changing since the half of 90s. The number of divorces of marriages without children was gradually increasing as a result of preceding fall of fertility, the expansion of interval between the marriage and the birth of children and the prolongation of the average duration of marriage.

The most frequent causes of divorce at both genders are personality differences and differences in opinion and attitude (almost 60 % of all divorces). In case of men they are followed by alcoholism, infidelity and the lack of interest in the family. In case of women the second most frequent cause of divorce was where the court did not find the fault, followed by other causes and infidelity.