Editing Divorce (section)

==Statistics==
{{Further|Divorce demography}}

===Asia===
==== China ====
China currently holds one of the highest divorce rates in the Asia Pacific region. Compared to 2000, China's divorce rates have gone up substantially from a 0.96 crude divorce rate to 3.09 rate in 2020.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=China: divorce rate |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/279449/divorce-rate-in-china/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Statista |language=en |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405181709/https://www.statista.com/statistics/279449/divorce-rate-in-china/ |url-status=live }}</ref> While China's divorce rate has been increasing since 2000, the highest recorded crude divorce rate in the past 20 years was in 2019 with 3.36 divorces.<ref name=":0" /> Since 2019, China's recorded divorce rate has gone down.

As of 2019, women initiate more than 70% of divorces in China.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kennedy |first=John James |url=https://www.fulcrum.org/concern/monographs/vx021h696 |title=China as Number One? The Emerging Values of a Rising Power |last2= |first2= |date=2024 |publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] |isbn=978-0-472-07635-2 |editor-last=Zhong |editor-first=Yang |series=China Understandings Today series |location=Ann Arbor, Michigan |chapter=Contained Emancipative Social Values: Waves of Conservative and Liberal Trends in China |format=EPUB |editor-last2=Inglehart |editor-first2=Ronald |editor-last3=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=232}}

China has no-fault divorce which was implemented through the New Marriage Law in 1950. This allows individuals to divorce without showing any evidence of wrongdoing. China is one of the only Asian countries which permits no-fault divorce. {{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

As of January 2021, China introduced a new policy called the "cooling-off rule".  China, seeing the rise in divorce rates increasing on a yearly basis, the ''Marriage and Family Edition of Civil Code of the People's Republic of China'' secured an article 1077 establishing a mandatory cooling-off period, which has two requirements. First, on the day in which authorities have received the divorce applications, both parties can withdraw the registration within 30 days, and additionally to that, after 30 days are up, couples are required to physically apply for divorce certificate, and if they do not show up, the initial divorce application will be automatically perceived as withdrawn.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meng |first=Zeng |date=2021-07-15 |title=Research on China's Divorce Cooling-off Period System |url=https://francis-press.com/papers/4296#abstract |journal=The Frontiers of Society, Science and Technology |language=en |volume=3 |issue=4 |doi=10.25236/FSST.2021.030415 |s2cid=236448769 |access-date=22 August 2022 |archive-date=22 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822233357/https://francis-press.com/papers/4296#abstract |url-status=live |doi-access=free }}</ref> This novel policy has been extremely controversial, where couples are required to wait for at least 30-days before they can commence a divorce. The 30-day cooling off period is created with the aim of generating more social stability, which avoids couples from making rushed or in-the-heat-of-the-moment emotionally-charged decisions. Family stability has always been culturally rooted in China, influenced by Confucian beliefs where the harmony of family brings the success of everything.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=Kwan Yiu Cheng |title=Between Calmness and Passion:Cooling-off Divorces in China |journal=American Journal of Comparative Law |volume=17 |issue=1 |year=2022 |pages=63 et seq |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/jrnatila17&div=9&id=&page= |access-date=2022-08-22 |via=heinonline.org |archive-date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111014931/https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/jrnatila17&div=9&id=&page= |url-status=live }}</ref> A divorce can only be granted when couples have gone through a one-month long delay in order to make a decision.

Since the implementation of the cooling-off rule, China's Ministry of Civil Affairs discovered a sharp 72 per cent drop in divorce rates since the previous quarter.<ref>{{Cite web |website=Sixth Tone |date=17 May 2021 |title='Cool-Off Period' Greatly Lowered Divorce Rate, China Says |url=https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1007480/cool-off-period-greatly-lowered-divorce-rate%2C-china-says |access-date=2022-08-22 |language=en |archive-date=22 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822233356/https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1007480/cool-off-period-greatly-lowered-divorce-rate,-china-says |url-status=live }}</ref> It would thus appear that, given the 30-day cooling-off period, many couples eventually change their minds, potentially supporting the argument that most divorce decisions are made irrationally and emotionally. Although this measure has helped to reduce divorce rates in the country, Chinese citizens have responded negatively to the cooling-off policy, especially in cases of domestic abuse. According to the ''China Digital Times'', a woman by the name of Kan Xiaofang was violently murdered by her husband during the 30-day cooling-off period after filing for divorce in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rudolph |first=Josh |date=2021-01-24 |title=Translation: "The First Woman To Die by the Divorce 'Cooling-off Period'" |url=http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2021/01/translation-the-first-woman-to-die-by-the-divorce-cooling-off-period/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=China Digital Times (CDT) |language=en-US |archive-date=22 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822233358/https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2021/01/translation-the-first-woman-to-die-by-the-divorce-cooling-off-period/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result of such incidents, the 30-day rule has angered Chinese feminists, who believe that the policy undermines the concept of freedom, and does not take into consideration of domestic violence, which runs commonly within Chinese households. With this policy being implemented relatively recently, many thus argue that the policy must be examined more deeply to analyze the consequences of delaying the divorce process.

====India====
India has one of the lowest divorce rates in the world with around 1% of marriages ending in divorce, mainly because divorce is still stigmatized and seen as taboo amongst a lot of families in India. A lot of individuals also split without choosing to go through the process of divorce.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} Even though it was considered as a taboo in 1980s, nowadays people's mindset has started to change and taboo against divorce has reduced.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

Divorce is governed by various acts in India, depending on the religion of the couple:
* [[The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955]]
* The Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936<ref>{{cite journal |title=Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936. |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/2476|website=India Code |publisher=Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India |access-date=6 August 2023  |date=23 April 1936}}</ref>
* The [[Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939]]
* The [[Special Marriage Act, 1954]] 
* The [[Foreign Marriage Act, 1969]] 
* The Indian Divorce Act, 1869.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Divorce Act, 1869 |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/2280|website=India Code |publisher=Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India |access-date=6 August 2023 |date=26 January 1869}}</ref>

==== Indonesia ====
In 2020 there were around 291,000 divorces recorded in Indonesia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indonesia: number of Muslim divorces 2020 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/705558/number-of-muslim-divorces-in-indonesia/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Statista |language=en |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405181709/https://www.statista.com/statistics/705558/number-of-muslim-divorces-in-indonesia/ |url-status=live }}</ref> These numbers are lower than the previous year – reportedly due to the pandemic and a longer dissolution process. Divorces are settled in religious courts, if they are Muslim, or through 'talaq' where a married man can pronounce divorce to his wife. There are six grounds of divorce, with an additional two for Muslim marriages, which include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Expatriate Divorce In Indonesia - Family and Matrimonial - Indonesia |url=https://www.mondaq.com/divorce/754770/expatriate-divorce-in-indonesia |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=mondaq.com |archive-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601131708/https://www.mondaq.com/divorce/754770/expatriate-divorce-in-indonesia |url-status=live }}</ref>

# One of the spouses has committed adultery, is an alcoholic, is addicted to drugs, is a gambler or has other vices which are difficult to cure
# One of the spouses has deserted the other spouse for two consecutive years – without consent and without legitimate reasons
# One of the spouses has been sentenced to imprisonment for five years or more
# One of the spouses has resorted to cruelty or severe ill-treatment, endangering the life of the other spouse
# One of the spouses has developed a disability or disease, preventing him or her from fulfilling the duties of husband or wife
# The spouses have irreconcilable differences as evidenced by frequent disagreements
# The husband has violated taklik talak (a promise that the husband expressly made and written onto the marriage certificate)
# One party converts from Islam to another faith

==== Iran ====
Iran introduced divorce quotas to break the rise in divorce rates amidst low marriage rates.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-23 |title=سهمیه بندی دستوری کاهش طلاق؛ افزایش آمار و دلایل اقتصادی، فرهنگی و جنسی - BBC News فارسی |newspaper=BBC News فارسی |url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-features-51264049 |access-date=2023-06-08 |archive-date=23 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923203844/https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-features-51264049 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ازدواج-اگر-آسان-نشود-کار-سخت-می-شود |url=https://www.irna.ir/news/85133573/%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%A7%DA%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A2%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%AF-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D8%AE%D8%AA-%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%AF |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=www.irna.ir|date=8 June 2023 }}</ref> The law grants the female party easy divorce if there is a certified document showing lack of compatibility.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-01-05 |title=همه چیز درباره گواهی عدم امکان سازش |url=https://jamejamonline.ir/fa/news/632226 |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=jamejamonline.ir |language=fa}}</ref> In part because of economic conditions one in every three marriages resulted in divorce by 2021; the high rates are linked to the shifting status of women and empowerment of individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=چرا-آمار-طلاق-توافقی-بالا-رفته-است |url=https://www.irna.ir/news/84683200/%DA%86%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%82%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=www.irna.ir|date=14 March 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Drastic Increase of Divorce Rates in Iran: nearly one in three marriages lead to divorce |url=https://iranopendata.org/en/pages/the-drastic-increase-of-divorce-rates-in-iran-nearly-one-in-three-marriages-lead-to-divroce |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Iran Open Data |date=18 August 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-10-22 |title=Rise in divorce in Iran linked to shift in status of women |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/iran-divorce-idINKCN0IB0EL20141022 |access-date=2023-06-08}}</ref>

==== Japan ====
In Japan, divorces were on an upward trend from the 1960s until 2002 when they hit a peak of 290,000 divorces.<ref name="Japan: divorce number">{{Cite web |title=Japan: divorce number |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/611929/japan-divorce-number/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Statista |language=en |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405181701/https://www.statista.com/statistics/611929/japan-divorce-number/ |url-status=live }}</ref> While divorce rates have increased since the 1900s, they have also slightly declined since 2002. In fact, in 2020 there were approximately 193,300 divorces.<ref name="Japan: divorce number"/> This is a significant decrease from the prior year, 2019, which recorded 208,489 divorces.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-07 |title=Marriage Statistics in Japan: Average Age of Couples Continues to Rise |url=https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00759/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=nippon.com |language=en |archive-date=5 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605105633/https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00759/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are several types of divorces in Japan; Divorce by Agreement, Divorce by Conciliation, and Divorce by Judgement.&nbsp; Divorce by Agreement (rikon), occurs when both parties mutually agree to separate and do not need to go to court. This is the most common type of divorce in Japan. Divorce by Conciliation (chotei rikon) is sought out when individuals are unable to agree on terms or separate. Thus, these cases go to court in hope to come to a mutual agreement for both parties. Lastly, Divorce by Judgement (saiban rikon) occurs when individuals are unable to reach an agreement in court during conciliation. Divorce by judgement is uncommon in Japan.

==== Singapore ====
Singapore has a crude divorce rate of 1.7 divorce per 1,000 residents.<ref name="singstat.gov.sg">{{Cite web |title=Marital Status, Marriages and Divorces - Latest Data |url=http://www.singstat.gov.sg/find-data/search-by-theme/population/marital-status-marriages-and-divorces/latest-data |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Base |language=en |archive-date=13 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513113758/https://www.singstat.gov.sg/find-data/search-by-theme/population/marital-status-marriages-and-divorces/latest-data |url-status=live }}</ref> Singapore has seen a decrease in divorce rates compared to previous years. In fact, 2020 marks the lowest number of divorces recorded. In 2020, there were 6,700 divorces compared to 2015–2019, which recorded an average number of 7,536 marital dissolutions.<ref name="singstat.gov.sg"/> Additionally, most divorces were initiated by women.

Singapore requires the applicant to be married for three years before filing for divorce. That being said, if one has suffered exceptional hardship, they are eligible to file for divorce before the three years. Additionally, to get a divorce, there must be proof of an "irretrievable breakdown" of one of the four factors which include adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion and separation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What are the Legal Grounds for Getting a Divorce? |url=https://singaporelegaladvice.com/law-articles/what-are-the-grounds-for-getting-a-divorce/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=SingaporeLegalAdvice.com |date=10 August 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601120818/https://singaporelegaladvice.com/law-articles/what-are-the-grounds-for-getting-a-divorce/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== South Korea ====
The crude divorce rate in South Korea in 2020 was 2.1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Korea: divorce rate 2018 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/642501/south-korea-divorce-rate/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Statista |language=en |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405181658/https://www.statista.com/statistics/642501/south-korea-divorce-rate/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Compared to prior years, the number of divorces recorded depicts that there are less filed divorces each year. Both the number of marriages and divorces decreased from 2019 by 10.7% and 3.9% respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Korea: number of divorces 2020 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/641517/south-korea-divorce-number/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Statista |language=en |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220094841/https://www.statista.com/statistics/641517/south-korea-divorce-number/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The highest proportion of divorces in 2020 was amongst those who have been married for 20 years or more followed by those who have been married for four years or less.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statistics Korea |url=http://kostat.go.kr/portal/eng/pressReleases/8/11/index.board?bmode=read&bSeq=&aSeq=389170&pageNo=1&rowNum=10&navCount=10&currPg=&searchInfo=&sTarget=title&sTxt= |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=kostat.go.kr |archive-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601095434/http://kostat.go.kr/portal/eng/pressReleases/8/11/index.board?bmode=read&bSeq=&aSeq=389170&pageNo=1&rowNum=10&navCount=10&currPg=&searchInfo=&sTarget=title&sTxt= |url-status=live }}</ref> Such findings may suggest that divorce has become more socially accepted in South Korea and the stigma behind separating has lessened.

====Taiwan====
Taiwan's divorce rate in 2020 stood at 2.19 divorces per 1,000 residents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Taiwan: divorce rate |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/321430/taiwan-divorce-rate/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Statista |language=en |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405192312/https://www.statista.com/statistics/321430/taiwan-divorce-rate/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This is the lowest recorded divorce rate in the past 10 years. Many divorces in Taiwan are not done in court if there is a mutual agreement. If one of the parties does not consent to the divorce, then the other spouse may file for divorce under a valid reason of bigamy, infidelity, ill treatment or desertion. Before 2020, adultery in Taiwan was considered a crime and punishable by law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-01 |title=Law banning adultery removed from Taiwan's criminal code |website=Taiwan News |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4214098 |access-date=2022-04-05 |archive-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601141911/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4214098 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Europe===
Divorce has increased across Europe in the past decade – the rate varies between European countries. One study estimated that legal reforms accounted for about 20% increase of the divorce rates in Europe between 1960 and 2002. In 2019, Luxembourg had the highest divorce rate per 100 marriages followed by Portugal, Finland, and Spain.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Europe: divorce rate by country |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/612207/divorce-rates-in-european-countries-per-100-marriages/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Statista |language=en |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405181704/https://www.statista.com/statistics/612207/divorce-rates-in-european-countries-per-100-marriages/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Countries in Europe with some of the lowest number of divorces per 100 marriages are Ireland and Malta.<ref name=":1" />

====Serbia====

On average, for every three new marriages in Serbia, one divorce occurs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://advokatiubeogradu.rs/divorce-in-serbia/ |title=Marriage and Divorce in Serbia |publisher=Vladisavljevic Law Office - Advokat Beograd |date=2020-12-06 |access-date=2021-05-13 |archive-date=13 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513200214/https://advokatiubeogradu.rs/divorce-in-serbia/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, 35,570 marriages were concluded in Serbia, 10,899 marriages were divorced, and the number of divorces  per 1,000 inhabitants was 1.6%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stat.gov.rs/sr-latn/oblasti/stanovnistvo/zakljuceni-i-razvedeni-brakovi/ |title=Concluded and Divorced Marriages in 2019 |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia |date=2020-07-10 |access-date=2021-05-13 |archive-date=8 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508192014/https://www.stat.gov.rs/sr-latn/oblasti/stanovnistvo/zakljuceni-i-razvedeni-brakovi/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Sweden====
The divorce proceedings begin with an application for separation of marriage to the [[District courts of Sweden|district court]]. The application can be submitted by both parties jointly, if the spouses are in agreement, or individually by any of the parties, who do not have to agree to a divorce. Spouses who agree to a divorce, and do not have children under the age of 16, receive a judgment (decision) of divorce within a few weeks. If there are children under the age of 16 (including step children), the parties must wait 6 months before either, or both, parties may request completion of the divorce, in order to be formally separated in marriage. If the parties have lived apart for at least two  years before the application for separation of marriage, the district court may decide on a direct divorce.<ref>[https://lexly.se/fakta-och-rad/skilsmassa "Allt om skilsmässa." ''Lexly.''] Retrieved 2024-04-21.</ref>

Fifty percent of all marriages in Sweden end in a divorce. Marriages that ended in a divorce lasted an average of 11.7 years. The most common age for divorce is between 35 and 49. Couples without mutual children separate or divorce most frequently.<ref>[https://endbright.se/foretag/statistik-kring-skilsmassa-och-separation/ "Statistik kring skilsmässa och separation." ''Endbright.''] Retrieved 2024-04-21.</ref>

====United Kingdom====
{{main|Divorce in England and Wales|Divorce in Scotland}}
In 2015, the highest divorces rates in the UK were recorded all beside the sea{{explain|date=April 2024}}, with Blackpool in the top position. The UK divorce rate is estimated at 42% and in 2019, around 107,599 divorces were reported.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divorces in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/divorce/bulletins/divorcesinenglandandwales/2019#main-points |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=ons.gov.uk |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407022502/https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/divorce/bulletins/divorcesinenglandandwales/2019#main-points |url-status=live }}</ref> The highest number of divorce applications are reportedly made on Divorce Day, which is always the first Monday of the new year.

===North America===
====United States====
{{Main|Divorce in the United States}}The [[Divorce demography#Crude divorce rate|crude divorce rate]] in 2022 in the United States is 2.3 divorces. This is significantly lower than prior years, such as those in 2001 where 4.1 divorces were recorded. These recent findings suggest a downward trend of the number of people dissolving their marriage. However, divorce rates range from state to state.

The [[National Center for Health Statistics]] reports that wives, with children present, filed for divorce in approximately two-thirds of cases from 1975 to 1988 in the U.S. For example, 71.4% of the cases were filed by women in 1975 and 65% were filed by women in 1988. It is estimated that upwards of 95% of divorces in the U.S. are "uncontested", because the two parties are able to come to an agreement without a hearing (either with or without lawyers/mediators/collaborative counsel) about the property, children, and support issues.

In 2000, the divorce rate reached its peak at 40% but has since slowly declined. In 2001, marriages between people of different faiths were three times more likely to get divorced than those of the same faith. In fact, in a 1993 study, members of two mainline Protestant religions had a 20% chance of being divorced in 5 years; a 33% for a Catholic and Evangelical, and a 40% chance for a Jew and a Christian.

Couples with different ethnicities and races also had distinctive divorce statistics. In 2008, a study by [[Jenifer L. Bratter]] and Rosalind B. King on the [[Education Resources Information Center]], found that unions between White males and non-White females as well as between Hispanics and non-Hispanic individuals, have similar or lower risks of divorce than White marriages. Unions between a White male and Black female last longer than White-White pairings or White-Asian pairings. Conversely, a White female with a Black male and White female with an Asian male are more prone to divorce than White-White pairings.

Additionally, as found in 2010, success in marriage has been associated with a higher education and older age. For example, 81% of college graduates who were over 26 years old, who wed in the 1980s, were still married 20 years later. Additionally, 65% of college graduates under 26, who married in the 1980s, were still married 20 years later. Furthermore, 49% of high school graduates under 26 years old, who married in the 1980s, were still married 20 years later. Conversely, 2.9% of adults aged 35–39 and without a college degree got divorced in the year 2009 – compared with 1.6% with a college education.

Another study looking at population differences found that a 1% increase in the [[unemployment rate]] correlated with a 1% decrease in the divorce rate. This was found to be presumably true for individuals who were financially challenged when trying to afford the legal proceedings. Nevertheless, another study from 1900 to 2008 found that there was a significant increase in the risk of divorce following a layoff and being unemployed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-21 |title=Layoffs, Divorce, and the Effect of Unemployment Insurance |website=Econofact |url=https://econofact.org/layoffs-divorce-and-the-effect-of-unemployment-insurance |access-date=2022-04-05 |language=en-US |archive-date=7 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507044005/https://econofact.org/layoffs-divorce-and-the-effect-of-unemployment-insurance |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Oceania===

====Australia====
The crude divorce rate in Australia in 2020 was 1.9 divorces per 1,000 residents.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2021-11-24 |title=Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2020 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/marriages-and-divorces-australia/latest-release |access-date=2022-04-05 |language=en |archive-date=3 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203232303/https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/marriages-and-divorces-australia/latest-release |url-status=live }}</ref> This rate has remained somewhat consistent throughout the past few years and is the same as the previous year. However, as divorces are granted after 12 months of separation, splits during COVID may not be reflected in the current divorce rate. The divorce rate has decreased substantially over the past 20 years with 2.6 divorces recorded per 1,000 residents in 2000.<ref name=":2" /> In order to apply for divorce, one must be separated for at least 12 months.

==== New Zealand ====
{{Main|Divorce in New Zealand}}
New Zealand's divorce rate in 2020 was 7.6 divorces per 1,000 residents.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Marriages, civil unions, and divorces: Year ended December 2020 |publisher=Stats NZ |url=https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/marriages-civil-unions-and-divorces-year-ended-december-2020 |access-date=2022-04-05 |archive-date=5 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305090047/https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/marriages-civil-unions-and-divorces-year-ended-december-2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> This rate marks a decrease from previous years – such as those in 1983 with a crude divorce rate of 13.3. In fact, this rate has decreased significantly from the previous year, 2019, with a divorce rate of 8.4.<ref name=":3" /> Before filing for divorce, the parties must be separated for at least two years.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Separating or getting divorced |url=https://www.govt.nz/browse/family-and-whanau/separating-or-getting-divorced/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |publisher=New Zealand Government |language=en-NZ |archive-date=29 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529020753/https://www.govt.nz/browse/family-and-whanau/separating-or-getting-divorced/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After this time, either party is able to submit an application. If it is a joint application but the parties do not appear in court, a dissolution order can be granted with  the divorce taking effect after one month.<ref name=":4" /> If the parties appear in court together, the judge can make the dissolution order and the divorce will be effective immediately. If one party applies as a sole application, then the other spouse has the opportunity to defend it within a certain time period.

=== Africa ===

==== South Africa ====
{{Main|Divorce in South Africa}}

According to Statistics South Africa, the number of divorces increased by 0.3% from 25,260 divorces granted in 2015 to 25,326 granted in 2016. About 44.4% of the 2016 divorces came from marriages that did not reach their tenth wedding anniversary. About 51.1% of divorces in 2016 were filed by women while men filed 34.2% divorce cases.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Key Findings |publisher=Statistics South Africa |url=https://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1856 |access-date=2022-07-15 |language=en-US |archive-date=9 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709210116/https://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1856 |url-status=live }}</ref>