While the British and other foreigners flock to Mallorca and the Balearics every year to get married, not to mention a host of Spanish stars, all is not well across the island. There doesn’t appear to be too much local love in the air. It has been revealed today that the Balearics, together with the Canary Islands, lead the Spanish regions in marital dissolutions, with 41.9 per 100,000 inhabitants in the third quarter of this year.
The courts registered 16,444 separations, divorces and annulments throughout Spain in the third quarter of this year, representing a 14.9% decrease in marriage dissolution cases compared to the same period in 2024, according to the General Council of the Judiciary. Between July and September, all types of lawsuits decreased, with the exception of consensual divorces, including annulments.
There were 4,417 non-consensual divorce lawsuits (40.8% less) and 147 non-consensual separations (21% less).
On the other hand, consensual divorces increased by 2.2% to 11,437, while consensual separation proceedings fell by 8.9% to 432. In the third quarter of the year, there were 11 petitions for marriage annulment, one less than in the third quarter of 2024. The national average for marriage dissolutions per 100,000 inhabitants stood at 33.8. By region, the highest rates, behind the two archipelagos, were recorded in the Valencian Community (39.5), Murcia (37), Aragon (36.3), La Rioja (34.9), Asturias and Castile-La Mancha (34.3) and Navarre (34.2).
The lowest rates were in the Basque Country (26.2), Castile and León (26.4), Cantabria (31.1), the Community of Madrid (31.5), Galicia (31.6), Extremadura (32.7), Catalonia and Andalusia (33.3).
In its quarterly statistics, the CGPJ also reports on proceedings to modify measures in separation and divorce cases, as well as on the guardianship, custody and maintenance of children born out of wedlock. Requests to modify agreed measures increased by 5.1% to 2,734, while those not agreed upon decreased by 44.1% to 4,681.
Modifications of measures relating to children born out of wedlock fell in the case of non-consensual measures (down 34.1% to 3,788), while consensual measures increased by 6% to 4,963. Spanish dating culture generally differs from Anglo-Saxon norms. People often prioritise building a strong friendship before committing to a relationship.
Socialising: Dating often happens organically through social gatherings and group “going out,“ rather than formal, pre-arranged dates.
Physicality and Affection: There is often a greater degree of physical affection in public compared to some other cultures, and expectations around physical intimacy can be more direct.
Commitment: Most Spaniards value monogamy, with a survey showing that nearly 95% of couples identifying as sexually faithful. Couples typically move in together only after two or three years of dating, viewing cohabitation as a sign of a long-term future.
Romantic Destinations: Cities often cited as highly romantic for couples or for finding a fling include Madrid, Seville, Barcelona, Granada, and Girona (which was named the second most romantic destination in Europe by “European Best Destination”)