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The World of Divorce Rates

Divorce laws vary from state to state and country to country.  Even within Europe there are vast differences in the laws.  It would appear that there are direct correlations between the frequency of divorce, the divorce rate, and the ease of which a divorce may occur.  This may not be a good thing, as divorce rates in some developing nations are low because the concept of a woman rejecting the man chosen for them is not acceptable.  What is not often discussed is that the divorce rate in civilized societies has remained stable, although not the same, for many years.

European Divorce Rates

In Europe, twenty-two nations participate in the Commission for European Family Law.  Many of these countries have mandatory waiting periods before a divorce is final and even some have mandatory counseling that must be attended prior to finalization.  Both of these factors may contribute to the reduction of the divorce rate in Europe, as compared to the United States. 

In addition, it may be that much of the mainland Europe is Catholic or Orthodox Christian in their upbringing and beliefs. In such societies divorce is considered a last resort, and not the solution to a series of seemingly minor disagreements and dissatisfaction with the relationship. Divorce rates in countries such as Italy are historically lower than in the rest of Europe.

Rate Computation

Unfortunately, in most countries the divorce rate calculations do not include legal separations, or multiple family marriages, or partnerships where there is no correlation to the real-life situation.  Calculation of divorce rates in the developing nations most likely does not include the correct data.  It is highly probable that not all of the African nations have an accurate method of reporting on the divorce rates, other than in certain more populous locations. 

In many of these countries, marriage and divorce are not used in the same way that the western world uses the terms. Therefore, relationships or partnerships are entered into and dissolved much more frequently, and without ceremony or legal interaction.

Statistics and Life

The divorce rate is one of those overused statistics that attempts to describe the condition of a society.  As we all know, individuals are not statistics.  Divorce rates in particular do not represent the state of a nation.  All statistics such as birth rate, death rate and the divorce rate should be considered only within context.  Context could include whether the country is at war, the regional climate and major events that may have influenced any of these particular rating systems.