Armenia grappling with increasing divorces

An increasing number of divorce cases is disturbing the Armenian government.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs Anush Danielyan said PM Abrahamyan has tasked the relevant bodies to reveal the reasons behind the growing divorces in Armenia.

Danielyan noted that the main issue is to examine the upward tendency in divorce rate in the country. "About 154 divorces were registered per 1,000 marriages in 1990, while the figure has jumped up to 258 divorces per 1,000 marriages in 2014. The growing number of divorces has been observed since the early 1980s due to socio-economic factors," she said.

Danielyan revealed the key reasons behind the trend. She said labor migration, alcoholism and drug addiction, socio-economic problems, as well as sterility are among the top causes of widespread divorces. Emigration is a real threat, because a spouse's long absence weakens the family bonds.

Armenia's National Statistical Service's Census and Demography Department reported a 14.2 percent increase in divorce cases in 2013. The department has underlined the growing number of divorced men or widowers as an alarming situation.

Armenian men mostly look for good appearance while getting married. Slim girls meet the general taste of many males in the country. As for women, they often opt for men with a good job and a house of their own.

One more reason of the divorces in Armenia is domestic violence against women. Abuse of the women is deeply rooted in the country. Women in Armenia endure violence not only by their husbands, as well as by their mother-in-laws and father-in-laws. These intolerance fuels the divorce cases to destroy the family roots and worsen the social life in the country. For instance, five Armenian women aged between 28 and 38 were murdered by their husbands just in the first two months of 2014.

Divorces in Armenia are also increasing by high index of infertility rate. Latest statistics show infertility rate is 17 percent in the country. WHO standards see infertility above 15 percent as critical. Capital city Yerevan is among the cities with the highest rate of sterility. Having no child inspires Armenian couples to end their relations and it becomes one of driving factors to increase divorces.