Marriage rates are on the decline around the world. One in four young adults in India report not wanting to marry, Live Mint reports. Meanwhile, marriage rates in China are now down slightly from last year — a total of 5.87 million couples got married in China in the first three quarters of 2021. And, the US marriage rate is also hitting record lows. Unmarried Americans are rated at 38% of the US population compared to just 9% in 1970, Pew Research Center reveals. While each country has their own reasons for changing marriage and divorce rates, individuals who still want to marry and employ smart strategies to strengthen their relationships.
Keys to a happy marriage
Lack of trust, ongoing, unresolved conflicts, one partner attempting to control the other, or ongoing criticism, contempt, and defensiveness are key reasons for unhappy marriages. In fact, contempt was identified as the key reason marriages break down in a Gottman Institute study. On the other hand, a 2020 study of 11,196 couples identified the biggest signifiers of relationship satisfaction as being, above all, knowing your partner is committed to the relationship long-term and showing appreciation for your partner. Fortunately, couples can strengthen their marriages by working on the relationship everyday, maintaining open and honest lines of communication, and addressing any latent mental health issues. Being on the same page about the wedding ceremony itself can also help set couples up for a happy and harmonious future. The engagement and wedding rings, in particular, are an important consideration since they’re a symbol of lifelong love and commitment. Solitaire engagement rings, for example, are a great choice for couples who value minimalism and simplicity.
Divorce on the rise
Russia has the highest divorce rates in the world with five in every 1000 Russian citizens now divorcing. In comparison, Belarus has a rate of 3.80 per 1000 citizens, Ukraine has a rate of 3.60, Moldova 3.50, the USA 3.40, Bermuda 3.30, Cuba 3.20, and Lithuania 3.10. So, why is the divorce rate so high in Russia? Financial difficulty, alcoholism, and substandard living conditions are largely to blame for marriages falling apart. Additionally, the amount of people who believe in marriage has dropped by at least 10% here in the past few years. As for Belarus (home to the second highest divorce rate in the world), increasing poverty levels and secularization are key reasons for couples splitting. And, although couples in Ukraine still get married at a fairly young age, their inability to maintain these relationships is largely to blame for the country’s high divorce rate. Alcoholism, financial stress, irregular work hours, and lack of trust is also to blame.
Many countries are currently experiencing declining marriage and growing divorce rates. In response, a number of governments are working to provide marriage counseling and educational programs to teach couples healthy communication skills and conflict resolution in order to ultimately improve marriage and divorce rates.
