Page 39 - IJPS-11-3

International Journal of
Population Studies Marital dissolution in India

Table 3. Prevalence of martial dissolution among Table 3. (Continued)
ever‑married women of reproductive age group (15 – 49 years)
by background characteristics in India (NFHS 2019 – 2021) Background characteristics Divorced Separated Dissolved
marriage
Background characteristics Divorced Separated Dissolved Exposure to mass media
marriage
Not at all 0.39 1.06 1.45
Birth cohort
Partially exposed 0.47 1.04 1.51
1969 – 1979 0.48 1.28 1.76
Fully exposed 0.73 0.97 1.7
1980 – 1989 0.47 1.14 1.61
Wealth status
1990 – 1999 0.43 0.8 1.23
Poorest 0.39 1.29 1.68
2000 – 2006 0.32 0.64 0.96
Poor 0.41 1.23 1.64
Current age
Middle 0.46 1.19 1.65
15 – 24 0.36 0.68 1.04
Richer 0.53 0.92 1.45
25 – 34 0.47 0.95 1.42
Richest 0.47 0.6 1.07
35+ 0.48 1.24 1.72
Residence
Age at first cohabitation (years) Urban 0.6 1.25 1.85
<18 0.39 1.06 1.45
Rural 0.39 0.94 1.33
18 – 21 0.37 0.91 1.28
Region
22 – 29 0.7 1.13 1.83
North 0.37 0.59 0.96
>30 1.47 3.19 4.66
Central 0.35 0.67 1.02
Number of sons
East 0.3 0.91 1.21
None 1.17 1.81 2.98
Northeast 0.71 1.29 2
One 0.27 0.92 1.19
West 0.77 1.18 1.95
Two 0.1 0.58 0.68
South 0.54 1.76 2.3
3 or more 0.1 0.44 0.54
Total 0.46 1.04 1.5
Consanguineous marriage
Note: The sample size is 511,604.
No 0.47 1.04 1.51 Source: Computed from data of NFHS-5.
Yes 0.36 1.05 1.41 Abbreviation: NFHS-5: National Family Health Surveys.
Declared infecundity compared to those born in later birth cohorts (Figure 3).
No 0.42 0.98 1.4 Additionally, the prevalence of marital dissolution was
Yes 1.87 3.63 5.5 comparatively higher in the southern region (2.3%) and
Social groups the north-east region (2%). Furthermore, the prevalence of
SC 0.46 1.28 1.74 separation and divorce increased with the age of women;
ST 0.55 1.25 1.8 with those aged 35 years (1.7%) exhibiting a higher
prevalence compared to those aged 15 – 24 years. The
OBC 0.44 0.96 1.4
None of them 0.41 0.88 1.29 prevalence of marital dissolution was higher among ever-
married women who resided in urban areas (1.9%) than
Religion people who lived in rural areas. The prevalence of marital
Hindu 0.38 1.02 1.4 dissolution was higher among Christian women (2.9%)
Muslim 0.73 1.02 1.75 compared to Hindus and Muslims. Women who reported
Christian 1.01 1.91 2.92 having no sons were more susceptible to marital dissolution
Others 0.82 1.18 2 (2.9%), particularly separation (1.8%). Education also
Educational attainment played a major role in character development and stable
No education 0.45 1.16 1.61 marital status, with women lacking any level of education
presenting a comparatively higher prevalence of marital
Primary 0.44 1.06 1.5 dissolution (1.61%). However, the prevalence rate decreased
Secondary 0.49 0.91 1.4 with increasing levels of education, with those with higher
Higher 0.55 0.71 1.26 education displaying a low prevalence (1.2%). Fecundity
(Cont’d...) status also plays a major role in the overall stability of

Volume 11 Issue 3 (2025) 33 https://doi:10.36922/ijps.1681