Open Data Insight of the Day

In 2024, Basel-Stadt recorded a total of 361 divorces. The average age at divorce was 45.6 for women and 48.5 for men. The youngest individuals to divorce were both 23 years old, while the oldest woman was 82 and the oldest man was 85. The average age difference between partners was 2.9 years, with a maximum recorded difference of 40 years. On average, couples were married for 14.3 years before divorcing, with the longest marriage lasting 60 years. Compared to historical data, the minimum ages for divorce have remained consistent with the all-time lows of 18 for both men and women, while the maximum ages have not reached the historical peaks of 98 for women and 90 for men. The maximum age difference and years married before divorce in 2024 did not surpass the all-time records of 54 years and 63 years, respectively. Notably, 2024 does not appear among the three lowest divorce years, and the year with the highest number of divorces was 2010.

Since 1979, divorce numbers in Basel-Stadt have shown varied trends. The early years saw figures in the 400s, with a notable peak in 1999 at 580 divorces. The highest recorded number was in 2010 with 648 divorces. Since then, there has been a general decline, with recent years showing lower figures, such as 285 divorces in 2023. Table 1 reflects these fluctuations, highlighting shifts over the decades.

The age at which individuals divorce has increased over the years. In 1984, the average age was 37.7 for women and 40.2 for men. By 2024, these averages had risen to 45.6 and 48.5, respectively, indicating that divorces are occurring later in life. The average age difference has remained relatively stable, with minor fluctuations, as depicted in Table 1 and Figure 3.

Nationality patterns in divorces have evolved. Swiss–Swiss divorces have decreased from 342 in 1984 to 154 in 2024. Swiss–Foreign divorces have shown fluctuations, peaking in 2010 with 252 and settling at 142 in 2024. Foreign–Foreign divorces have increased from 30 in 1984 to 65 in 2024. These shifts suggest a convergence in divorce patterns across nationality groups, as seen in Table 2 and Figure 2.

Seasonal patterns in divorces reveal that November typically sees the highest average number of divorces at 49.5, while July has the lowest at 20.6. Figure 1's heatmap illustrates these dynamics, showing clusters and periods of strong seasonality, such as a pronounced peak in autumn during the 1990s.

Cohort comparisons in Table 4 and Figure 4 show that marriages from earlier years have a higher likelihood of ending in divorce. However, marriages before 1992 appear more stable, defying this trend.

In summary, Basel-Stadt has experienced a long-term decline in divorce rates since the peak in 2010. The age structure of divorcing individuals has shifted towards older ages, with a stable pattern in age differences. Nationality patterns show a convergence in divorce rates among different groups. Seasonal trends highlight November as a peak month for divorces, with notable historical variations.