Divorce levels fall due to recession

Many couples are more likely to choose to stay together these days as a result of the recession, recent research has shown.

According to figures from the regional courts, fewer couples have split up over the last 12 months, as more of them are forced into remaining together for financial reasons.

The difficulty of financing a second mortgage, job losses and insecurities surrounding employment often means that unhappy couples know that they cannot afford to go their separate ways, buy or rent property, or meet their bills as a single.

As a result of this, divorce figures have dropped by 4.8% over the last 12 months, while legal separations have dropped by 6.6%.

This trend was observed across all of the regions, with the exception of Murcia, which reported a 1.9% rise in the numbers of divorce and separation.

Approximately 66% of all divorces and legal separations are consenting, with both parties in agreement over the division of assets and terms.

During 2009 more couples in Andalucía separated than anywhere else in Spain – a total of 21,584 – closely followed by Catalunya with 21,220 and Madrid with 15,883. The region of La Rioja saw the lowest number of break-ups, at 599, but this figure is line with the size and total population of the area.