In the statistics of the number of divorce cases tried in 2023 by the General Statistics Office, the whole country recorded 32,060 divorce cases, a sharp increase compared to the number of 22,762 cases in 2020.
Among them, the locality with the least number of divorces is Bac Kan with 55 cases, much lower than provinces and cities such as Ho Chi Minh City (1,816 cases), Ca Mau (1,309 cases), Tien Giang (1,262 cases), Nghe An (1,227 cases)...
Speaking with Lao Dong reporter, Dr. Pham Thi Thuy - lecturer at the National Academy of Public Administration, Ho Chi Minh City branch, psychological consultant at the Ho Chi Minh City Women's Cultural House - said that the two important factors affecting the divorce rate are culture and economy.
Comparing the difference between Ho Chi Minh City - the city with the highest divorce rate - and Bac Kan, Dr. Pham Thi Thuy assessed: "In key economic regions such as Ho Chi Minh City, the number of immigrants is high, economic factors have a great impact on marriage.
Geographical distance between spouses and children, difficulties in raising children, along with the increased risk of infidelity have contributed to making marriages more likely to break down.
Culturally, in the northern mountainous regions, people's lives are highly communal, the immigration rate is low, and culture changes little. Therefore, they do not easily divorce. Differences in economy and culture make the divorce rate different in each locality."
Due to cultural differences and local characteristics, experts affirm that marriage policies for each region also need to depend on local characteristics.
Economic pressure and cultural fluctuations affect divorce rates, leading to localities with less economic pressure, less cultural fluctuations, people can maintain traditional lifestyles, have different views on marriage.
To limit the decision to divorce, Ms. Pham Thi Thuy proposed solutions such as equipping young people with skills to be wives and husbands; raising awareness about the value of marriage and family.
In particular, there should be economic support policies (on housing, education, healthcare) for young couples, especially those with young children; strengthening marriage counseling, resolving conflicts, and fostering family sustainability.
The clear differences in divorce rates between provinces and cities show different realities. However, Dr. Pham Thi Thuy pointed out that we should not discuss good or bad when seeing high or low divorce rates.
"Divorce has a positive side that helps couples and children have a better life. If the marriage is not happy but the couple still maintains it, creating a shell of happiness, it will create a toxic environment for the children. There is nothing wrong with a healthy marriage.
If there is still a way to get along and live together, the couple should resolve the conflict together to preserve the marriage. If the marriage no longer has respect and love, the children will be affected, even having psychological instability," the expert shared.
In fact, statistics from the Institute for Family and Gender Studies also point out many different causes leading to marital crises. Of these, 27.7% are lifestyle conflicts, 25.9% are due to infidelity, 13% are economic factors, 6.7% are domestic violence, 2.2% are health problems, and 1.3% are living apart for many days. All of the above crises lead to divorce when a solution cannot be found.
