Bulgaria has the lowest marriage rate among all EU member states – merely 2.9 marriages per 1000 persons, according to Eurostat's latest data.

The Balkan country also has the bloc's third highest share of births outside marriage – 56%

The marriage rate in the EU27 has decreased continuously over the last two decades, from 6.3 marriages per 1000 persons in 1990 to 5.2‰ in 2000 and 4.4‰ in 2010.

This pattern could be found in a majority of member states. In 2011, the highest marriage rates were recorded in Cyprus (7.3 marriages per 1000 persons), Lithuania (6.3‰) and Malta (6.1‰),

The decreasing trend in the number of marriages is also reflected in an increase of children born outside marriage. In 1990, 17% of all live births in the EU27 were outside marriage, compared with 27% in 2000 and 40% in 2011.

Over this period, the share of live births outside marriage increased in all member states.

There were considerable differences in the share of live births outside marriage across the member states. In 1990, almost half of live births were outside marriage in Sweden and Denmark, while it was 2% or less in Cyprus, Malta and Greece.

In 2011, the highest shares were registered in Estonia(60%), Slovenia(57%), Bulgaria and France (both 56%), and the lowest in Greece (7%), Cyprus (17%) and Poland (21%).

The full Eurostat demography report can be read HERE.

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