Divorce Rates by Country

In every corner of the world, marriage remains a key cultural and societal reality. Each culture may view marriage through a unique lens, but across all societies, the dissolution of these unions, or divorce, is an equally crucial facet to explore. Divorce rates can serve as a lens to analyze societal norms, family structures, gender equalities, and a nation's legal framework around the institution of marriage.

This article embarks on an exploration of divorce rates across various countries, providing valuable insights into the intricacies of marital relationships on a global scale. Using the available public data, we reveal noteworthy trends and discrepancies on a country basis. 

Key findings from the data include:

• Maldives tops the list with the highest divorce rate per 1,000 people, standing at 5.52, followed by Kazakhstan, Russia, Belgium, and Belarus. 
• The United States comes in midway, with a divorce rate of 2.7 per 1,000 people, equaling countries such as Denmark, Lithuania, and Latvia.
• European countries generally occupy both the upper and lower echelons of the list, with higher divorce rates in Eastern Europe and lower divorce rates in the Mediterranean region.
• Asian countries have a wide range of divorce rates. For instance, China is much higher up the list with a rate of 3.2 while Sri Lanka exhibits one of the lowest divorce rates at 0.15 per 1,000 people.  
• On a global scale, the generally lower divorce rates observed in Middle Eastern and North African countries as compared to Western countries are potentially due to cultural, religious, and legal factors unique to these regions.

As we navigate through the complexities of divorce rates worldwide, it becomes clear that these figures reflect both societal changes and the enduring cultural and legal aspects unique to each country. Dive deeper with us as we explore the topic.

To sort the data in the table, click on the column headers.

OECD Family Database: Marriage and Divorce Rates