Why does the Maldives have the world’s highest divorce rate?
Women and children are overwhelmingly disadvantaged by the prevalence of divorce in the Maldives.
Artwork: Dosain
18 Aug, 1:30 PM
“Divorce is rampant in this country, but getting one is a difficult journey on its own,” says a young woman who made the difficult choice to discontinue her marriage. The Maldives has one of the highest divorce rates in the world. Last year the family court processed 1,154 divorces, almost equal to the number of marriages in the same period. Since January this year there have already been 588 registered divorces.
The dramatic prevalence of separation stems from several socioeconomic and cultural factors, yet overwhelmingly disadvantages women and children involved – socially, emotionally and economically.
The Maldives National University has published research into the causes of divorce in Maldivian society, and identified nine primary risk factors. These include marrying too young or for the wrong reasons, financial pressure, crowded living conditions, immaturity, substance abuse, domestic violence and lack of autonomy.
With separation occurring within high profile couples and everyday families, we must ask key questions about how we got here – and ask who is really bearing the brunt of the toll in this society?
Family law and its need to adapt
Maldivian law under Shariah jurisprudence allows divorce through talaq (husband-initiated repudiation) or khula, initiated by the wife via compensation, often returning her mahr or ran. Whilst reforms since 2000 introduced judicial divorce proceedings under “irretrievable breakdown” of marriage, procedural matters have still overwhelmingly benefited men.
Men can easily dissolve their marriage by the simple act of pronouncing it in court, with or without witnesses involved, and apply for divorce with simplified justifications.
On the other hand, the process in practice for women is more burdensome. For a woman to get divorced often requires financial sacrifice, lengthy justifications and court approval.
All of this not only delays the outcome but also adds to the stress of possible forced reconciliation by court order – regardless of whether violent or unpleasant circumstances await her if she stays married.
The UN working group on discrimination against women and girls strongly recommends vital reforms within the existing Family Law. The government in 2022 made a commitment towards remedial changes. Experts suggest also resourcing such laws, and building a counter-narrative that elevates women and girls as equal citizens with full rights within their country.
Early marriage and early divorce
In the Maldives many young people, especially young women, marry early in their early 20s seeking privacy away from family – to escape crowded living conditions in hopes of at least a separate room.
The societal pressures of remaining unmarried also push youth into marriage, even when ill-prepared for the responsibilities of marriage and parenthood.
In the capital Malé, high living costs often require both spouses to work, reducing time for intimacy and increasing family tensions. About 85 percent of Malé’s population lives in congested conditions, exacerbating interpersonal conflicts.
Unemployment or underemployment further stresses households, leading to family breakdowns. Thus, early marriages without proper counsel or knowledge often lead to conflict, instability and eventually breakup. Such marriages adversely affect young women’s course of life, education, work and empowerment.
Custody and child support
For families of divorce with children, there are instances of fathers who do not pay child support. Such outcomes further discourage women from seeking divorce, and disadvantage those who already are. Though mothers commonly receive custody of young children, fathers retain legal guardianship but may default on financial responsibilities.
While some magistrate courts in the islands are disclosing the identities of those who do not pay child support, the family court only recently started doing so.
The Family Act already stipulates that identities of those failing to pay their obligations can always be exposed – nonetheless in practice it was not the case for decades. However, the disclosure of names does not seem to reduce the number of cases of men who pay child support.
Reports also highlight the mismanagement of child support. Many single mothers, particularly in the atolls, never receive the modest state allowance of MVR 2,000 (US$ 130) or are effectively barred from receiving it if they are civil servants or otherwise ineligible.
A burden for women
Cases of domestic violence are well documented in the Maldives. But women who seek divorce can end up living in limbo. This includes being forced to stay in their ex‑husband’s house without renewing the marriage or network of care, which strains personal dignity and security.
Financial dependence also remains pervasive, as for those without income or assets, divorced women rely on the government’s single mother allowance, male relatives or other informal arrangements. This exposes them to further stigma, gossip and accusations of immoral behaviour.
Economic hardships also compound the stress of divorce. Data from UN Women and UNFPA highlight women spending an average of 19 hours per day engaged in unpaid domestic and care work – more than twice that of men.
Women in the Maldives also face structural barriers to market participation, with lack of affordable child care, geographic mobility constraints, and societal discouragement from employers in keeping a work life balance when married or pregnant. After divorce, women with no formal support often lose employment or cannot enter the job market which exacerbates poverty risks.
“I often had to worry about my own finances and how I was going to survive, and how was I going to take care of my children all alone?” says one woman who chose to stay married under difficult circumstances, making amends with her husband for the sake of their children.
Challenging gender norms
Gender norms often compound these inequities. The family court's chief judge reported in 2024 that men frequently cite “wives’ disobedience” or “disrespect” as grounds for divorce, while women cite their husband’s neglect or absence.
The reasonings often reflect the deeper gendered inequalities rather than just marital breakdown. Yet mediation and family counselling remain underused.
Courts have also granted divorces within 14 days as a matter of expedience rather than resolving underlying issues. While women are offered advice on how to be obedient and respectful housewives, the husband’s absence and lack of emotional support especially within family settings are overlooked.
Towards reform
The Maldives has come far in its demographic shift. Though women and girls increasingly attain education and economic awareness, the lack of legal protections and safety netting do not compensate for the heavy socioeconomic, financial and emotional burdens they bear post-divorce.
Policies that ensure legal recourse, fair child-support enforcement, affordable child care and livelihood training - or even even reforming court procedures and mediation, are urgently needed to curb the rising divorce numbers and mitigate the disproportionate harm inflicted on women in the wake of it.
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