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Central Statistics Office
1996 Census of Population
Principal Demographic Results

Marriage breakdown Doubles !

1996 Census of Population - Principal Demographic Results also reveals that there were more than twice as many broken marriages in 1996 than ten years previously.

The increase in the number of separated people (including divorced couples) between 1986 and 1996 was 135.7%.
There were 87,800 separated (including divorced) people in 1996, compared with 55,100 in 1991 and 37,200 in 1986.

The Census report shows that the greatest growth occurred in the categories "legally separated" and "other separated" each of which more than doubled between 1991 and 1996.
See Separated persons section in Commentary.

Deserted women outnumbered men by 10,000 (16,785 compared with 6,363).

Also outlined in 1996 Census of Population - Principal Demographic Results is the fact that there were close to 130,000 lone-parent families in 1996, with more than four in five of them headed by women.

In more than 45% of lone-parent families a widowed person was the parent. In a further 28% the lone parent was separated while single parents accounted for 15.3% of all lone-parent families in 1996.

Also outlined in 1996 Census of Population - Principal Demographic Results is the fact that there were close to 130,000 lone-parent families in 1996, with more than four in five of them headed by women. In more than 45% of lone-parent families a widowed person was the parent. In a further 28% the lone parent was separated while single parents accounted for 15.3% of all lone-parent families in 1996.