IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

In 2009, 171 989 civil marriages were recorded in South Africa of those marriages 52,5% were solemnised by civil rites and 47,8% by religious rites.

The number of customary marriages has been fluctuating between 2003 and 2009 with the lowest number recorded.

Customary marriages observed in 2009 (13 506) which was also the lowest, and the highest was in 2004 (20 301).

In 2008, 732 civil unions were registered. A year later in 2009, the number of registration had increased to 760.

The total number of officially recorded divorces in 2009 was 30 763. This represents an increase of 6,4%, as compared to the 2008 divorces (28 924). It is observed that 45,2% of all the divorce cases were from marriages that were solemnised by civil rites and 47,9 by religious rites.