There are more marriages and fewer divorces in Belarus

June 26, Minsk /Elena Prus - BELTA/. The number of marriages in Belarus is increasing, while divorces are decreasing. As reported to BELTA correspondent by the Main Department of Employment Policy and Demography of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, in January-May of this year, 20,983 marriages were registered, which is 15.3% more compared to the same period last year. New family unions are increasing in all regions of the republic. Gomel region maintains its leadership in the wedding rating (in January-May 2009, 21.6% more marriages were registered here compared to January-May 2008). However, in Minsk, interest in the stamp in the passport is weakening - the Wedding March sounded only 10% more often than in January-May of last year. The bonds of Hymen are gaining popularity in both cities and rural areas. Moreover, rural residents demonstrate much greater marital activity than urban residents: the increase in the number of marriage registrations in rural areas was 21.9% compared to 13.9% in urban areas. The highest rates of marital activity were demonstrated by rural residents of Mogilev and Vitebsk regions - over five months, the number of marriages increased by 30.4% and 28.5% respectively, compared to the same period last year. It is gratifying that the number of divorces in Belarus is decreasing. In January-May of this year, 14,066 couples divorced, which is 4.4% less than in January-May 2008. Minsk region stands out among the regions for marital instability: the number of divorces increased by 1.9%, and in rural areas - by 21.1%. The most optimistic family statistics are observed in Vitebsk region: over five months of the current year, 9.6% fewer divorces were registered compared to the same period in 2008, and in the rural areas of Vitebsk region - 27.2% fewer. -0-