The number of divorces and separations has risen steadily in Italy over the past ten years, national statistics bureau Istat said in a report issued on Friday.
According to Istat, divorces in 2005 were up 22.4% over 2000 and 40.6% over 1996, while separations climbed 14.3% over 2000 and 42.9% from 1996.
Istat added that this translated into 5.6 separations and 3.1 divorces per 1,000 marriages.
These percentages were even high among couples in which one of the partners is a foreigner, with separations running at 9.6% and divorces 6.2%.
The report was presented here at a conference on The Family Without Borders, organised by the center for the reform of family rights.
