In 2008, 1,642 couples got married in Iceland according to preliminary data. Furthermore, there were 18 registered partnerships, 12 male and six female couples. The marriage rate was 5.5 per 1,000 population in 2008 compared with 5.6 in 2007.
Most married couples in Iceland marry after having lived together in a consensual union for a few years. Of those marrying, 86% had lived together prior to marriage. In 2008, 1,877 couples reported consensual union at the National registry. According to Act No 65/2006, same sex couples can register consensual unions, which 30 couples did in 2008, 10 male and 20 female couples. The mean age of those entering a consensual union was 31.0 years for men and 28.6 years for women, which is considerably lower than the mean age at marriage. The mean age at first marriage was 34.3 years for men and 32.1 years for women.
In 2008, 549 couples divorced in Iceland according to preliminary data. The crude divorce rate was 1.7 per 1,000 population. Total divorce rate was 37.2% in 2008 compared with 38.5% in 2007.
In 2008, there were 634 dissolutions of consensual unions. Furthermore, eight same sex couples got dissolution of consensual unions, three male and five female couples. Duration of consensual unions is shorter than of marriages. In 2008, 55.2% of consensual unions were dissolved within three years, while 11.1% of marriages ended in a divorce in that period. The mean duration of marriages in the year 2008 was 12.1 years.