Despite the fact that famous vow, “til death do us part”, is still proudly stated at just about every marriage ceremony happening today, the rate of marriages ending between two unsatisfied spouses has never been higher – no funeral required. According to Statistics Canada, just over one-third of all marriages in recent years will end in divorce with a significant 71,000 divorces processed in the year 2005 alone.

Divorce is a very complex issue and many marriages fail for many different reasons, showing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to fixing a relationship. This report will thoroughly examine the divorce with country, as well as in-depth marriage and divorce statistics. We shall approach the topic of divorce from describing the proceedings and broader impacts, which countries have the highest divorce rate, and what some of the potential causes of an amicable (or non-amicable) split may be.

What is the country with the highest divorce rate?

According to Unified Lawyers 2017 report of divorce rates, Luxembourg is the country with the highest divorce rate at 87%. India is the country with the lowest divorce rate at 1%. Canada ranks as the country with the tenth highest divorce rate at 38%.

Here is the complete list with the divorce rates by country:

For comparison, here is the complete list with the divorce rates by country:

What is the divorce rate in Canada?

Canada has a 38% divorce rate, making it the country with the tenth highest divorce rate in the world. However, the rate of divorced Canadians has been steadily increasing over the years, according to Statista’s infographic (refer to the chart below for complete information on between the years 2010 and 2017). These divorce statistics somewhat coincide with the steadily climbing population, which may suggest that there may not be any intense spikes or declines in the divorce rate.

According to M.J. O’nions’ report, the divorce rate in Canada peaked in the 1980’s with a rate of 41% as opposed to today’s rate of 38%. This peak was likely the cause of improved amendments to the Divorce Act (1985), which included a “no-fault” divorce clause to include a marriage breakdown as one of the reasons a separation can happen. Before this update to the act, a divorce caused by a marriage breakdown would be held off for a minimum of three years before it could go underway.

Divorce rates in Canada between 2000 – 2017.

What are the most common reasons for divorce?

The concept of the “no fault” divorce ended up being very popular. This is unsurprising when you consider how “incompatibility and grew apart” is the most common reason why couples consider divorce in the first place, holding a whopping 44% major portion of the chart below. This means that most divorces are “no fault” divorces, so determining how or when divorces will happen is very difficult to predict. The second most common reason for divorce is infidelity, which can be a common occurrence in relationships across North America.

The most common reasons for divorce include incompatibility (44%) and infidelity (18%).

The flexibility of divorce laws allows more couples that are dissatisfied with their relationships to discontinue the marriage. However, this can have impacts on a family unit and give children stress and anxiety during the process. Whether the increase of amicable divorces with these flexible divorce laws is a good thing or a bad thing, the family of the future will likely take on a different look as divorce becomes more normalized.

How do you get a divorce in Canada?

In Canada, divorces are filed through a civil court in order to be legally recognized, no matter which province the proceedings are occurring in. In accordance to the Divorce Act that was issued in 1986, cases can be split between a federal, provincial or territorial manner between two different kinds of courts: a superior court will handle courses that relate on a federal level while unified family courts are specialized courts that only surround family law on a provincial and territorial level.

These cases would then be observed to broadly go over custody rights of children if applicable, issues surrounding financial support for a spouse that was dependent on the other, and other potential conflicts. Property ownership rights, civil protection, adoption, etc. can also be covered if the two spouses cannot reach an agreement. In this case, each person would have to hire the services of a lawyer who would compare this case to other family court cases and present an argument on their behalf for a just settlement.

After a series of negotiations and consultations, the two would eventually agree on a divorce settlement that satisfies both parties. This can take any number of weeks or months depending on the nature of the divorce.

How much does a divorce cost in Canada?

Financially, the impacts of divorce can be pretty consequential. In a report gathered by the 2015 Canadian Lawyer Magazine Legal Fees survey, the costs of an uncontested divorce can range from $1,239 to $2,846 while the price range for a contested divorce can stand from $6,145 to $87,974. The issue of divorce is not specific to Canada, since most countries experience high rates of divorce and report steadily rising divorce statistics.

Besides financial costs, the most immediate impact of a divorce is the effects it will have on the family. If there are children involved, there can be psychological trauma of the family breaking apart and feeling the need to choose between the parents. Even if the divorce is amicable and the child custody is balanced, the child can feel uneasy about the severe change in family life.

In an article written for Psychology Today, Dr. Carl E. Pickhardt Ph.D. describes that the short-term impacts for younger children is a sharp spike in anxiety and nervous tendencies. The article also noted that there are distinct differences between young children (up to 8 or 9 years of age) and adolescents (generally between 9 and 13).

Young children tend to have regressive developmental attitudes and become more dependant on others, especially in the wake of so much change within the family make-up. Adolescents, on the other hand, tend to become more independent and aggressive, often resenting the parents and developing more skeptical and cynical attitudes. Consultations with therapists can help children address their concerns and feel like the can be heard.