Top 20 Countries With the Highest Divorce Rates in 2025-26

In 2025, the global landscape of marriage and divorce continues to shift, reflecting deep social changes such as evolving gender roles, economic pressures, and changing cultural norms. Divorce rates — typically measured as the number of divorces per 1,000 people per year — vary widely across countries due to legal frameworks, cultural acceptance of divorce, economic conditions, and demographic trends.

The guide, we explore the top 20 countries with the highest divorce rates in 2025, explain what these numbers mean, and offer insight into broader global patterns of marital stability.

What Is Divorce Rate and Why Does It Matter?

The divorce rate represents the number of divorces per 1,000 people in a population within a year. It is a key socioeconomic indicator that helps researchers and policymakers understand:

• Changing family structures

• Social attitudes toward marriage and separation

• The impact of gender equality and economic independence

• Legal accessibility of divorce

A higher divorce rate doesn’t automatically mean worse relationships — it often reflects liberal legal systems that allow people to exit unhappy marriages without heavy stigma.

Top 20 Countries With the Highest Divorce Rates in 2025

Below is a ranked list of countries with the highest divorce rates per 1,000 people in 2025, based on the most current global data available:

(Countries tied at the same divorce rate share the ranking position where indicated.)

Maldives — Highest Divorce Rate Worldwide (5.52)

The Maldives tops the global divorce rankings in 2025 with a rate of 5.52 divorces per 1,000 people. This small island nation, while popular as a honeymoon destination, experiences high rates of marital dissolution. Several factors contribute:

• Progressive family laws that permit relatively straightforward divorce

• Increasing economic participation of women

• Evolving social norms that reduce stigma around separation

Interestingly, small population size can amplify per-capita statistics like divorce rate. Still, the Maldives consistently ranks at the top globally.

2. Kazakhstan — Rapidly Rising Divorce Rate (4.6)

Kazakhstan’s divorce rate of 4.6 per 1,000 people places it as the second-highest in the world. Post-Soviet social dynamics, urbanization, and shifting economic roles contribute to this trend. Divorce is legally accessible, and increasing independence for both partners, especially women, has changed family patterns across generations.

3. Russia — Social and Economic Shifts (3.9)

Russia’s divorce rate remains high at 3.9 per 1,000 people. Factors influencing this include:

• Historical patterns from the Soviet era, where divorce was not socially condemned

• Economic instability in some regions

• Large geographic and social diversity

High divorce rates in Russia also reflect changing expectations about marriage and individual fulfillment.

4–5. Belgium & Belarus — 3.7

Belgium and Belarus both show a divorce rate of 3.7 per 1,000 people, placing them near the top globally.

Belgium, a Western European nation with liberal social policies and accessible divorce procedures, has seen these rates rise as cultural norms shift.

Belarus, like other Eastern European countries, reflects both legal accessibility and social change as younger generations place different values on marriage and personal autonomy.

Moldova — 3.3

Moldova’s divorce rate of 3.3 per 1,000 people highlights the trend spreading across many former Soviet republics. Migration, economic pressures, and demographic shifts — including a younger population moving abroad — affect family cohesion.

China — 3.2

China, the world’s most populous country, has a divorce rate of 3.2 per 1,000 people in 2025. Although lower than in smaller nations, this rate represents millions of divorces annually due to China’s sheer population size.

Recent demographic shifts — including declining marriage rates, urban pressure, and evolving gender roles — are reshaping China’s family structure. Government efforts to encourage family formation have had limited impact on long-term trends.

8. Cuba — 2.9

Cuba’s divorce rate at 2.9 per 1,000 people reflects broader social transformations in the Caribbean and Latin America. Greater economic autonomy, urbanization, and shifting expectations around marriage contribute to elevated divorce rates.

9. Ukraine — 2.88

Ukraine’s divorce rate of 2.88 per 1,000 people places it near the top globally. Economic challenges, migration, and changing gender roles influence family stability. Cultural acceptance of marriage dissolution has increased, even amid broader national struggles.

10. United States — 2.7

With 2.7 divorces per 1,000 people, the United States remains one of the highest-ranking large countries in terms of divorce rate. While lower than many Eastern European and smaller nations, American couples face familiar pressures:

• Economic uncertainty

• Changing social expectations

• Later age at first marriage, which paradoxically can increase likelihood of divorce

U.S. divorce trends also vary widely by state and demographic groups.

11–13. Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia — 2.7

Denmark, Lithuania, and Latvia all report 2.7 divorces per 1,000 people.

• Denmark: Known for high social equality and liberal family policies, Denmark’s divorce rate reflects individual autonomy and progressive norms.

• Lithuania & Latvia: These Baltic nations mirror trends seen elsewhere in Eastern Europe — legal ease of divorce and shifting family expectations.

14–16. Cyprus, Liechtenstein, San Marino — 2.6

Small European states like Cyprus, Liechtenstein, and San Marino all report divorce rates of about 2.6 per 1,000 people. In smaller populations, even moderate numbers of divorces can translate into high per-capita rates. These countries combine European norms with close-knit communities where marriage and divorce both carry social weight.

17. Sweden — 2.5

Sweden’s divorce rate of 2.5 per 1,000 people reflects one of the most egalitarian societies in the world. High levels of gender equality, widespread acceptance of separation, and legal simplicity make divorce a common outcome for couples that choose to part ways.

18. Libya — 2.5

Libya appears on the list with 2.5 divorces per 1,000 people — significant for a predominantly Islamic country where divorce was once less common. Social change, increased legal access to khula (divorce initiated by women), and demographic shifts are reshaping family dynamics.

19. Finland — 2.4

Finland’s 2.4 per 1,000 people divorce rate highlights changing Nordic norms. Like its Scandinavian neighbors, Finland emphasizes gender equality and individual freedom, contributing to more accessible divorce processes.

20. Egypt, Taiwan & Costa Rica — 2.3

Rounding out the top 20 at 2.3 divorces per 1,000 people are Egypt, Taiwan, and Costa Rica. This trio represents:

• Egypt: A traditionally conservative society experiencing shifts in urban attitudes.

• Taiwan: Balancing Asian cultural norms with modern legal frameworks.

• Costa Rica: Reflecting broader Latin American trends toward legal divorce access.

Understanding the Global Patterns

Regions With Higher Divorce Rates

Eastern Europe, parts of Asia, and Western Europe dominate the list of highest divorce rates. Several common drivers include:

• Legal accessibility: Easier divorce procedures make formal separation more common.

• Economic independence: As women gain financial autonomy, leaving unhappy marriages becomes more feasible.

• Changing social norms: Reduced stigma surrounding divorce encourages couples to formalize separations.

Regions With Lower Divorce Rates

Many Middle Eastern, African, and South Asian countries show much lower divorce rates — often due to:

• Cultural or religious constraints

• Legal hurdles to divorce

• Strong family or community pressure to remain married

These patterns highlight that divorce rates are not just legal metrics — they reflect deep cultural and socioeconomic contexts.

What’s Changing in 2025? Key Trends

In 2025, global divorce trends continue to evolve:

Marriage Patterns Are Shifting.
Younger generations often delay marriage and emphasize individual compatibility over traditional arrangements.

Gender Roles Are Transforming.
Women’s increased participation in the workforce changes economic dynamics within relationships.

Urbanization Drives Change.
Urban areas often report higher divorce rates due to greater anonymity and lower social constraints.

Legal Reforms Affect Trends.
Countries with simplified divorce procedures report higher rates simply because the legal burden is lower.

Final Takeaways

The divorce landscape in 2025 reflects a complex interplay of culture, law, economy, and personal choice. While higher divorce rates are sometimes viewed negatively, they can also signal:

– Greater individual freedom
– Access to legal protections
– Improved autonomy for all genders

Conversely, lower divorce rates do not necessarily imply stronger marriages — sometimes they reflect social barriers or lack of legal options. Understanding divorce statistics requires nuance.

Data Source Acknowledgement

The divorce rate figures used in this article are based on the most current global divorce data available for 2025, including statistics that measure the number of divorces per 1,000 people and rank countries accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about divorce

Q: Does a high divorce rate mean a society has poor marriages?
Not always. High rates can reflect legal accessibility and social acceptance of divorce, not necessarily widespread marital unhappiness.

Q: Why do some small countries have high divorce rates?
Smaller populations make per-capita rates more sensitive — a moderate number of divorces can result in a high rate per 1,000 people.

Q: Are divorce rates rising globally?
In many regions they have stabilized or risen due to social change, but some countries show declines as marriage rates drop or legal barriers remain high.