8% rise in divorce cases

MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman witnessed a notable 8 per cent rise in divorce cases during 2022, with the total count reaching 4,160. This marks an increase from 3,837 cases reported in 2021 and 3,426 cases in 2020, according to findings from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). This data highlights an ongoing trend of marital dissolution in the country.

An in-depth examination of the distribution across different governorates of Oman reveals that Muscat Governorate recorded the highest number of divorce cases, totalling 977. Following closely were Dhofar with 786 cases, North Al Batinah 666 and South Al Batinah 476 cases. This regional analysis provides valuable insights into the varying divorce rates across different areas within the country. In terms of the breakdown by nationality, the data indicates that most of the divorce cases (3,682) were between Omani men and Omani women. In contrast, the least frequent instances of divorce (182) were observed among expatriate couples. Additionally, there were 208 divorce cases involving Omani men and expatriate women. This classification by nationality offers a comprehensive view of divorce trends based on the cultural, legal and social dynamics that shape different segments of the population.

The surge in divorce cases over the evaluated years can be attributed to many factors, including evolving societal norms, economic stressors, shifting perspectives on marriage and family, and individual motivations for seeking a divorce. It is important to recognise that these statistics serve as a reflection of broader changes within Oman’s society, shedding light on transformations in cultural norms, economic pressures and personal choices.

Analysing these numbers further can facilitate a deeper understanding of the underlying drivers behind divorce rates and potentially guide efforts to address the underlying challenges faced by couples in Oman.

It is worth noting that the previous data on marriage in 2022 reveals the total number of registered marriages in 2021 stood at 19,294, while in 2022, there were 15,400 marriages, thus a decrease of 20 per cent in marriages in 2022 over 2021.