The Canary Islands has the highest divorce rate in Spain

The Canary Islands continue to lead the statistics of marital dissolution in Spain, recording the highest rates of divorce, separation, or annulments in 2023, with 247.3 demands per 100,000 inhabitants, according to data from the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) published yesterday (Friday). The Canaries have led this trend since December 2019.

During the period from January to December 2023, the civil courts of the archipelago recorded a total of 5,473 demands for marital dissolution, a 1.4% increase compared to 2022 (5,398), as reported by the Superior Court of Justice in a statement.

Nationally, however, demands for marital dissolution filed in 2023 decreased by 3% compared to the previous year. This decrease was reflected in divorces, separations, and annulments.

In 2023, there were 52,803 consensual divorces (4.2% fewer than the previous year), while non-consensual divorces barely changed (0.5% less). Consensual separations were 2,369 (8.2% less), and non-consensual separations decreased by 11.5%, reaching 1,039. On the other hand, annulments decreased from 65 in 2022 to 50 in 2023.

Thus, in 2023, the rate of demands for dissolution per 100,000 inhabitants in Spain was 192.1. The highest rates were recorded in the Canary Islands, followed by Valencia, the Balearic Islands, Murcia, Andalusia, Castilla–La Mancha, and Catalonia.

Conversely, the lowest rates were observed in the Basque Country, Castilla y León, Madrid, Extremadura, and Cantabria.

Additionally, in 2023, 12,485 demands for modification of consensual measures were filed, 1.6% fewer than the previous year. The number of demands for modification of non-consensual measures also decreased, by 2.2% less.

However, demands for custody, guardianship, and child support for non-marital children experienced a slight increase, at 0.9% for consensual and a 3.1% increase for non-consensual, totalling 22,273 and 27,280, respectively.