Only an average of 11 Maltese couples registered divorces obtained abroad every year, the anti-divorce movement said.

This was less than 0.5 per cent of the average of 2,400 marriages registered in Malta each year, it said in a statement.

The movement said it studied the number of divorces obtained from abroad and registered in Malta between 2000 and 2010 and found that three of every four divorces registered in Malta was between foreign couples or couples where one of the parties was a foreigner.

Last week, the Divorce Movement said that in the 36 years since Malta started recognising divorce granted abroad, recognition had been granted in 785 cases and the rate was constantly increasing.

The movement had said that the spouses were either both Maltese, both foreigners, or a mix.

Over the years, 422 of the divorces recognised by Malta were registered in the UK, followed by 112 from Australia, 43 from the US, 31 from Germany, 29 from Canada, and 18 from Italy, the divorce movement had said.