Marriage and Divorce in Belarus 2024: Key Trends and Insights

Love, weddings, and family life — topics that concern everyone. The National Statistical Committee (Belstat) published fresh data on marriages and divorces in Belarus for 2024 on April 9, 2025. The numbers speak for themselves: the country registered 46,242 marriages, which is almost 10,000 fewer than in 2023, while the number of divorces remained almost unchanged — 34,866. This means that for every four marriages there are three divorces. Let’s analyze what is behind these statistics and look at how family relationships in Belarus are changing.

Decline in the Number of Marriages: City vs. Countryside

In 2024, the marriage statistics in Belarus showed a noticeable decline: 46,242 unions were recorded, whereas the previous year saw 56,044. This 17.5% drop raises the question: why have Belarusians become less likely to marry? Perhaps it is due to economic instability, changing life priorities, or simply because young people are postponing weddings. Interestingly, love tends to blossom more often in cities. In 2024, urban areas recorded 5.6 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants, while rural areas saw only 3. This is not surprising: young people move to cities for work and new opportunities, leaving the countryside to an older generation that is already married. Meanwhile, the number of divorces has hardly changed: 34,866 in 2024 compared to 33,962 in 2023. The gap between marriages and divorces narrowed to 11,376 cases — only 24.6% of the number of new unions. These figures suggest that family life in Belarus is going through difficult times.

The Age of Love: More and More Later

Belarusians are in no hurry to tie the knot. In 2024, the average age for those entering marriage for the first time increased slightly: for women it was 26.7 years (previously 26.5), and for men it was 28.9 years (previously 28.8). Ten years ago, in 2014, these figures were noticeably lower: 25.3 and 27.4 years respectively. The trend toward later marriages is evident — people want to first build a career, achieve financial stability, or simply live for themselves. But love knows no age limits. In 2024, 633 women and 944 men over the age of 65 said “yes” to each other. This touching trend shows that the desire to start a family stays with us throughout life.

International Marriages: Russia Leads

International marriages in Belarus also occupy a significant place in the statistics. In 2024, 1,307 foreign brides married Belarusians, and 1,856 Belarusian women found happiness with foreign grooms. Russia remains the leader among the countries: 956 Russian women chose Belarusian husbands, and 957 Russian men married Belarusian women. Following Russia are Ukraine, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. Compared to 2023, the number of such unions has slightly decreased, but Russia retains its primacy. Perhaps this is linked to the close cultural ties, language, and geography that make creating such families easier.

Reasons for Divorce: When Does a Family Fall Apart?

The divorce statistics in Belarus reveal interesting details. The most vulnerable marriages are those lasting from 1 to 4 years (25% of all divorces) and from 5 to 9 years (24.7%). The first years of married life often prove to be a trial: couples learn to live together, face everyday challenges, and deal with differing personalities. However, only 3.2% of couples divorce in the first year of marriage — indicating that most still try to give their relationship a chance. After 10–19 years of living together, the risk of divorce slightly decreases, and marriages that have lasted 20 years break up in 15.7% of cases. This suggests that the most challenging times are during the first decades. Having children also plays a role. Among divorced couples, the largest group are those without children — 41.2%. Families with one child accounted for 36.3% of divorces, while those with two or more children made up 22.5%. It appears that children somewhat “bind” a marriage, but they do not guarantee its survival.

What Do the Numbers Say?

Belstat’s 2024 data paint a complex picture of family life in Belarus. The number of marriages is falling, while divorces remain steady — every third union ends in divorce. Belarusians are choosing to marry later in life, yet love finds them even at 65+. International marriages continue to be popular, especially with neighbors from Russia. These trends — declining marriage rates, high divorce rates among young families, and a rise in later unions — prompt us to consider how societal values and priorities are changing. Perhaps the government should provide more support to young families to reverse this worrying trend and strengthen the institution of marriage.