In 2004 1,472 couples got married in Iceland. Furthermore, there were 17 registered partnerships, 9 male and 8 female. The number of divorces was 552. As in the other Nordic countries marriage rate is rather low in Iceland. Marriage rate was 5.0 per 1,000. The divorce rate was 1.9 per 1,000 which is considerably lower than in all the other Nordic countries. 

Most couples in Iceland marry after living together in a consensual union for a few years. Of those marrying in 2004 nearly 90 per cent had lived together prior to marriage. In 2004, 1.762 reported consensual union at the National registry. Not surprisingly, the mean and modal age of those entering a consensual union was considerably lower than mean and modal age at marriage. Modal age at first marriage was 30 years for men and 27 years for women, compared to a modal age of 24 years for men and 23 years for women in the case of consensual unions.    

A total of 1,201 children experienced divorce or dissolution of consensual union of their parents in 2004. Currently, it is most common that parents share the custody of their children. In the case of divorce, common custody was chosen in 60.7 per cent of all children and in 75.8 per cent of all children after dissolution of consensual union.  

Custody of dependent children after divorce and dissolution of consensual union 2004 - publication