800 Kuwaiti couples split before first year of marriage

• Most individuals who separated within a year were university graduates, numbering 296, followed by diploma holders with 191 and high school graduates with 149.

• For age groups, the highest percentage of divorces was among couples aged ‘45 years and older,’ accounting for 28.1% of total cases.

A recent official statistic highlights an intriguing trend where 800 Kuwaiti men and women divorced before their first anniversary, signaling a need for further research and analysis, according to Al Qabas newspaper.

Statistics from the Ministry of Justice, obtained by Al-Qabas newspaper, revealed that most individuals who chose to separate within less than a year were university graduates, numbering 296. This was followed by diploma holders with 191 individuals, and those with secondary school qualifications, totaling 149.

The statistics revealed that 30 individuals with master’s or doctorate degrees divorced within less than a year of marriage, while ten individuals with only an elementary school certificate also separated within the same period.

It is evident that these individuals decided to end their marriages in less than a year during 2023, choosing not to continue building a family.

Statistics on documented divorce cases by marital duration show that the highest percentage of divorces occurred among couples married for ‘one year to less than five years,’ accounting for 35.8% of the total cases. This was followed by those married ‘ten years to less than twenty years’ at 18.5%, ‘less than one year’ at 18.4%, ‘five years to less than ten years’ at 17.7%, and ‘twenty years or more’ at 9.6%.

For age groups, the highest percentage of divorces was among couples aged ‘45 years and older,’ accounting for 28.1% of total cases. This was followed by the ‘30-34 years’ group at 20.1%, the ‘25-29 years’ group at 18.0%, and the ‘35-39 years’ group at 17.6%.

Al-Qabas sources reported that hundreds of Kuwaiti marriages lasted only a few months before ending in divorce. This rapid separation warrants an investigation into its causes and highlights the need for raising awareness about its impact on family cohesion and stability, as well as the repercussions for any children involved.

Qualifications of the separated

• 296 hold university degrees.
• 191 have diplomas.
• 149 are high school graduates.

Age groups of divorcees

• 28% are aged 45 and over.
• 20% are between 30 and 34 years.
• 18% are between 25 and 29 years.
• 17.6% are between 35 and 39 years.