The divorce rate in the Kingdom has in the last five years increased to such an extent that it has become a dangerous phenomenon that needs to be scientifically investigated, according to Sheikh Suliman Al-Umri, social researcher and general manager of the Public Relations Department at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. Statistics reveal that several factors are involved in predicting whether a marriage will end in divorce, among which are the origins of the couple (urban or rural), along with their educational level, financial position and age. “Seventy-five percent of divorced men and 86 percent of divorced women are of urban origin, with the divorce rate in villages being quite low,” said Al-Umri. Thirty-nine percent of divorced women have a university degree. “This high rate of divorce among educated women indicates their desire to depend on themselves and not to let anyone control them. Uneducated women, however, are not always able to depend on themselves for a living and for them divorce is a dangerous step to take,” Al-Umri said. He added: “Statistics reveal that those who are divorced are concentrated in the 25 to 49-year-old age group, with the largest proportion of divorced males being 30 to 34 years old, and divorced females 25 to 39 years old. This seems to indicate that divorce is taking place among younger people.” High income is also an important factor in predicting the chance of divorce. “The divorce rate among high-income males and females is 31 percent and 38 percent respectively,” Al-Umri added. Family relationship may also be a factor in predicting the likelihood of divorce with the intervention of relatives playing an important role. “Sixty-six percent of divorced couples are relatives who got divorced because of problems between their families,” Al-Umri explained. Divorced women and their children are often in need of special help and Al-Umri made the following recommendations: A fund should be established to help divorced women find employment so that they do not need to rely on subsidies and loans; divorced women and their children should be provided with social security which will assure them of housing, food and accommodation; and psychological help should be made available to help divorced women cope with their new life.
