Marriage rate slips further in Uzbekistan, urban divorces dominate

Uzbekistan has recorded a decline in the number of registered marriages for the fourth consecutive year, while divorces have generally trended upward over the same period, according to data released by the National Statistics Committee.

Official figures show that 267,100 marriages were registered nationwide between January and December 2025. The marriage rate stood at 7.1 per 1,000 people, reflecting the average number of marriages per 1,000 residents.

The downward trend in marriages has been evident since 2021. That year, Uzbekistan recorded 305,200 marriages, followed by 296,700 in 2022, 283,800 in 2023, and 271,800 in 2024. While the sharpest declines were observed between 2022 and 2024, the pace of decrease slowed in 2025, indicating a more gradual contraction.

At the same time, the country has seen a rise in divorces in recent years. In 2021, 39,300 divorces were registered. The figure climbed sharply to 48,700 in 2022 and increased slightly to 49,200 in 2023. Although divorces fell to 45,100 in 2024, the number rose again in 2025 to 46,900.

Data also reveal notable differences between urban and rural areas. Of the marriages registered in 2025, 134,500 cases, or 50.3 percent, were recorded in rural areas, while 132,600 marriages, or 49.7 percent, took place in cities. Divorce patterns showed a stronger urban concentration: 28,200 divorces, or 60.1 percent, were registered in urban areas, compared with 18,700 cases, or 39.9 percent, in rural regions.