UK

There were 141,750 divorces in 2005, compared with 153,399 in 2004.

wives, and in more than half these cases, the husband's behaviour was the reason cited.

Most divorces were granted to

Marriage rates in England and Wales have fallen to the lowest level since records began in 1862, the Office for National Statistics said.

The number of marriages has been in decline. In 2006 there were 237,000 - the lowest annual number since 1895.

The proportion of babies born to unmarried parents in Scotland has risen above 50% for the first time since records began.

Of the 60,041 babies born, 30,055 were to unmarried couples.

Demographer Peter McDonald calculates that if Italy gets stuck with recent fertility levels, and fails to top up with foreign migrants, it will lose 86% of its population by the end of the century, falling to 8 million compared with today's 56 million. Spain will lose 85%, Germany 83% and Greece 74%

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