Page 38 - IJPS-11-3

International Journal of
Population Studies Marital dissolution in India

higher rates of marital dissolution, with separation being increase in divorce and separation cases. The districts of
more prevalent than divorce cases. In the western parts, Aizawl (10.01%), Serchhip (11.58%), and Lunglei (11.36%)
Maharashtra (0.65%) and Dadar and Nagar Haveli have in Mizoram state have reported a higher prevalence of
recorded higher divorce rates compared to other states and marital dissolution among ever-married women aged
UTs. 15 – 49 years. Conversely, Jammu and Kashmir (0.47%) is

District-level mapping reveals significant inter- and the state with the lowest cases of marital dissolution, with
intra-state heterogeneity in levels of marital dissolution some districts like Shupiyan and Badgam recording no
(Figure 2). The map highlights that the southern regions of marital dissolution cases at all in the survey. In the northern
the country are where marital dissolution is most common. regions, states like Rajasthan (0.91%), Uttarakhand
We also discovered that the pace of dissolution is higher (0.74%), Jammu and Kashmir (0.47%), Ladakh (0.63%),
in the north-eastern states compared to the northern and and Haryana (0.77%) have recorded comparatively lower
western parts of the nation. The rate of marital dissolution, rates of marital dissolution than other states.
which includes divorce and separation cases, spans from 3.3. Differentials of marital dissolution by
the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya (16.3%) to the background characteristics
Jalaun district of Uttar Pradesh (0.06%). When compared
to other southern states, Tamil Nadu (2.46%), Kerala Table 3 presents the prevalence of marital dissolution among
(2.14%), Andhra Pradesh (2.36%), and Karnataka (2.05%) ever-married women of reproductive age (15 – 49 years)
have a disproportionately high number of divorce cases. categorized by demographic and socio-economic
Mizoram (9.25%) and Meghalaya (6.74%), in contrast characteristics. The prevalence was relatively higher
to other north-east states, have witnessed a considerable among women born during the 1969 – 1979 birth cohort

Figure 2. District-wise variation of marital dissolution in India, 2019 – 2021. Source: Computed from data of National Family Health Surveys-5.

Volume 11 Issue 3 (2025) 32 https://doi:10.36922/ijps.1681