Marriage and Divorce Statistics in Turkey
Table of Contents
One in three Turkish marriages ends within the first five years—a stark reality that reflects deeper shifts in family dynamics across the country. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu, TÜİK), comprehensive marriage and divorce data is published annually with approximately a one-year lag. As of January 2026, the most recent complete dataset covers activity through 2023, with updated figures expected in February 2026.
Note: The statistics below represent the latest official data available. TÜİK has not yet released updated figures as of early 2026.
Here’s what the data shows:
| Statistic | Latest Available Value |
|---|---|
| Number of married couples | 565,435 |
| Crude marriage rate | 6.63 per thousand |
| Number of divorced couples | 171,881 |
| Crude divorce rate | 2.01 per thousand |
| Mean age at first marriage (males) | 28.3 years |
| Mean age at first marriage (females) | 25.7 years |
| Proportion of foreign grooms | 1.1% |
| Proportion of foreign brides | 5.5% |
| Proportion of divorces in first 5 years of marriage | 33.4% |
| Number of children given to guardianship | 171,213 |
Divorce Rates in Turkey
Divorce numbers dropped from 182,437 to 171,881 between consecutive reporting periods, translating to a crude divorce rate of 2.01 per thousand population. While this represents a decline, Turkey still sees roughly one divorce for every three marriages—a ratio that has remained relatively stable despite year-to-year fluctuations.
Mean Age at First Marriage
Turks are getting hitched later than their parents did. The mean age at first marriage continues its upward climb, reaching 28.3 for men and 25.7 for women. That 2.6-year gap between genders has held steady, though both figures have risen consistently over the past decade as more young Turks prioritize education and career establishment before settling down.
Highest and Lowest Crude Marriage Rates by Province
Marriage rates vary dramatically depending on where you are in Turkey. Kilis, a southeastern border province, topped the charts with 8.09 marriages per thousand residents, followed by Aksaray (7.81) and Gaziantep (7.57). On the opposite end, Gümüşhane recorded just 4.52 per thousand—nearly half the rate of Kilis. Tunceli (4.82) and Malatya (4.98) also registered notably low marriage rates, reflecting demographic trends in these provinces.
Foreign Grooms and Brides
Cross-border marriages tell an interesting story about Turkey’s international connections. Foreign brides significantly outnumber foreign grooms—31,029 (5.5% of all brides) versus just 6,345 (1.1% of grooms). German citizens lead among foreign grooms at 21.9%, followed by Syrians (19.2%) and Austrians (5.1%). Among foreign brides, Uzbek women top the list at 12.0%, with Syrian (11.3%) and Azerbaijani (9.1%) women close behind. These patterns reflect both historical diaspora ties and more recent migration flows.
Highest and Lowest Crude Divorce Rates by Province
İzmir, Turkey’s third-largest city, recorded the highest divorce rate at 3.05 per thousand—more than eight times the rate in Hakkari (0.36), which had the lowest. Antalya (2.94) and Karaman (2.80) rounded out the top three. The gap between urbanized western provinces and conservative southeastern regions is striking: Şırnak (0.44) and Muş (0.55) also registered minimal divorce rates, suggesting cultural factors play as big a role as legal accessibility.
Duration of Marriage and Divorce
The honeymoon phase is real—and so is its end. A full third (33.4%) of all divorces happen within the first five years of marriage, while another 21.7% occur between years six and ten. Combined, that means more than half of Turkish divorces happen before the couple reaches their tenth anniversary. The early-marriage breakup rate suggests that many couples struggle with the transition from romantic partnership to long-term commitment, particularly when children and financial pressures enter the picture.
Children Affected by Divorce
Divorce doesn’t just dissolve marriages—it reshapes families. Courts assigned guardianship for 171,213 children in finalized divorce cases, with mothers receiving custody in nearly three-quarters of cases (74.9%). Fathers were granted guardianship for the remaining 25.1%. Turkish family courts typically favor maternal custody, especially for younger children, though this is gradually shifting as courts consider each parent’s circumstances more individually.
Data Notes: TÜİK collects marriage and divorce statistics from MERNİS administrative records and publishes them annually. The next update is expected in February 2026, covering more recent years. All figures above represent the most current official data available as of January 2026.
Reference:
TÜİK. Marriage and Divorce Statistics [Press release]. Turkish Statistical Institute
