Spain Sees 2.7% Decline in Divorces as Shared Custody Becomes Majority Standard

Data from the National Statistics Institute indicates that 2025 marked another year of declining marital dissolutions in Spain. A total of 83,683 legal proceedings were recorded, including divorces, separations, and annulments. Divorces represented the vast majority at 96.5% (80,785 cases), followed by separations at 3.4% (2,872), and annulments at a minimal 0.1% (27). Both divorce and separation rates saw year-on-year decreases compared to 2024, falling by 2.7% and 20.3%, respectively.

The majority of these marital endings were resolved amicably; 80.5% of divorces were uncontested, while 19.5% required judicial intervention due to disagreements between the parties. Regarding legal procedures, 59.3% were finalized via court judgment, 24.8% through decree, and 15.9% through public deeds before a notary—a method that continues to gain popularity.

In 2025, 2,221 divorces (2.7% of the total) involved same-sex couples, with more cases occurring between women (1,226) than between men (999). Additionally, 80 separations involved same-sex couples.

Marriages ending in divorce in 2025 lasted an average of 16.2 years, maintaining a trend from the previous year. Approximately 31.2% of these break-ups occurred after at least 20 years of marriage, whereas only 3.4% involved couples who had been together for less than two years.

Demographics and Age Trends

The average age of individuals undergoing divorce continues to trend upward, reaching 49.1 for men and 46.6 for women in 2025, up from 46.7 and 44.2 in 2016. The most frequent divorce demographic for both genders was the 40 to 49 age bracket.

In 80.4% of heterosexual divorces, both spouses were Spanish nationals; in 12.1% of cases, only one spouse was a foreign national, and in 7.5%, both were foreign nationals. Most individuals entered their marriages without having been previously divorced, with only 9.3% of men and 10.1% of women having prior divorce records.

Shifting Trends in Custody and Maintenance

Nearly half of all dissolved marriages (47.1%) did not involve children, either minors or economically dependent adults. In cases involving minor children, the most significant shift is seen in custody arrangements: joint custody was selected in 50.8% of cases, overtaking the 45.3% where custody was granted solely to the mother, and the 3.4% awarded to the father. This marks a definitive reversal of historical patterns.

Regarding financial support, child maintenance was established in 53.7% of divorces involving children. In these instances, payments were made to the father in 52.1% of cases, while 44.1% saw payments shared between both parents. Compensatory maintenance was established in 6.4% of divorces, with husbands providing payment in 91.4% of those cases.

Regional Statistics

Geographically, Ceuta reported the highest rate of marital dissolution at 2.5 per 1,000 inhabitants, significantly higher than the national average of 1.7. Conversely, Extremadura and Castile and León reported the lowest rates, both at 1.4 per 1,000.

In a global context, Spain maintains a relatively stable demographic position. When comparing divorce rates to marriage rates—a ratio used to measure social trends—Spain’s figures remain consistent with international standards. (Note: Comparative data for other nations may reflect different reporting years, such as 2020 for Portugal and 2017 for Germany).

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