Fewest marriages since 2006

There were about 200 fewer contracted marriages than the year before. Seen in relation to the population in the counties, there was a small increase in the number of marriages in Østfold, Telemark, Sogn og Fjordane and Sør-Trøndelag, while there were insignificant changes in the other counties. A total of 9 300 couples divorced and 10 800 couples separated.

The annual average number of divorces in the last five-year period is the lowest since the period 1986-1990, and the annual average for separations in the same period is the lowest since 1981-1985.

In 2016, 278 marriages were contracted between same sex couples. Of these, 121 marriages were contracted between two men and 157 were contracted between two women. Oslo and Akershus had the highest number of same sex marriages. The number of contracted marriages between two women was the lowest since the new marriage act was introduced in 2009. For men, the situation was the opposite, with the highest number since the new act was introduced.

In 2016, 96 couples of the same sex separated and 78 couples divorced.