Dušana Dokupilová, Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences of the Slovak Academy of Science. Slovak Republic
Branislav Šprocha, INFOSTAT – Výskumné demografické centrumBranislav Šprocha, INFOSTAT – Demographic Research Centre, Slovak Republic

Type of article: scientific article
Pages: 24 – 46

Abstract

Religious affiliation represents one of the most consistent differentiating factors in family and reproductive behaviour. Individuals with a religious affiliation tend to have higher levels of marriage formation, lower divorce rates, and earlier entry into parenthood and higher number of children. Significant differences in the intensity and timing of marriage, divorce and fertility are also identified between individual religious groups. The aim of the presented study is to analyze family and reproductive behaviour, as well as family households in Slovakia, in connection with the religious affiliation, as declared in the 2021 Census. The results obtained confirmed the existence of differences in the intensity of marriage, fertility and divorce, as well as in the timing of the entry into marital and parental life courses, between believers and people without a religion. Furthermore, the results also indicated certain differences between Protestants and Catholics.