SINGAPORE : A larger proportion of divorces were initiated
by the wives last year as compared to 1999, according to the latest
statistics on marriages and divorces published by the Department of
Statistics (DOS).
The publication said wives initiated 64 per cent of all
non-Muslim divorces and 66 per cent of Muslim divorces last year,
compared to 62 per cent and 60 per cent in 1999.
"Having lived apart or separated for three years or more" and
"Unreasonable behaviour" were the main reasons cited for almost all
(97 per cent) of non-Muslim divorces in 2009.
Among Muslims, "Infidelity" was the main reason cited (21 per
cent), followed by "Personality difference" (16 per cent).
A higher proportion of males (29 per cent) than females (8.7 per
cent) petitioned on the ground of "Personality difference".
The median marriage duration before divorces was 10.1 years.
Divorcing Muslims have a shorter median duration of marriage (8.3
years) compared to non-Muslims (10.5 years).
Couples who were married for 5 to 9 years accounted for the largest
group (33 per cent) of non-Muslim divorces.
In contrast, among Muslim divorces last year, couples who were
married for less than 5 years were the largest group (31 per cent),
followed by couples who were married for 5 to 9 years (26 per
cent).
As for the number of marriages, it rose for a sixth successive year
last year. It went up 6 per cent to 26,081.
The number of marriages registered under the Women's Charter
increased, which offset a 4 per cent decline in the number of
Muslim marriages.
DOS said while the number of marriages rose, the general marriage
rates declined.
Among unmarried male residents, the general marriage rate declined
slightly from 43.9 marriages per thousand unmarried males in 2008
to 43.6 in 2009. Among unmarried female residents, the general
marriage rate declined from 41.9 marriages per thousand unmarried
females in 2008 to 41.1 in 2009.
Marriage rates fell across the younger age groups of below 30
years. Males aged 25-29 years and females aged 20-24 years
experienced the largest fall compared to 2000.
The peak age group for men marrying shifted from 25-29 years in
1990 and 2000 to 30-34 years in 2009. The peak age group for women
marrying remained at 25-29 years in 2009.
Men and women are also marrying later in life. For men, the median
age at first marriage rose from 28.5 years in 1999 to 29.8 years in
2009. For women, it rose from 26.0 years to 27.5 years.
The median age at remarriage also rose. The median age of grooms
who were remarrying rose from 39.8 years in 1999 to 41.8 years in
2009. For the brides, it increased from 34.2 years to 35.7
years.
The delay in marriage occurred among grooms and brides of all
educational groups, except for Muslim grooms and brides with
post-secondary qualifications.
In 2009, the median age at first marriage was highest for both
non-Muslim and Muslim grooms with primary or no education at 40.7
years and 31.0 years respectively.
In contrast, the median age at first marriage for both non-Muslim
and Muslim brides was highest for those with university
qualifications at 28.3 years and 27.3 years respectively.
- CNA/al
