Fewer people widowed

Last year, 55 thousand people lost their husband or wife. With 38 thousand, the number of widows was more than twice as high as the number of widowers.
In the period 1996–2003, approximately 59 thousand persons were widowed annually. Since 2003, mortality has declined and as a result fewer people get widowed. This is only true for women. The annual number of widows was the same in 2006 as a decade ago. People lose their partner later in life. One in four are now 80 years or older when their partner dies, as against one in five a decade ago.

Number of widowed persons