Are the divorce rates lower in poor countries than in developed countries? If yes, why do you think so?

Question

I'm not sure of the actual stats but I feel divorce rates are lower in poor countries than in developed countries. Does that mean, people are happier in poor countries in terms of relationships than in developed countries? Does development (could be any form of development) make us more individualistic?

Answer 1

In my opinion, I would say yes, they are and it's mainly because of the culture in those poor countries. To get divorced could isolate you from the rest of the community like you were some sort of disease due to cutlural values.

Reasons are because in these countries, marriage is considered sacred (not just something you have to do because people do it). They tend to stick to thei religious beliefs which condemns divorce unless in the case of a partner being unfaithful (like in the bible, that's the only grounds for divorce). In rich countries, who cares about what the bible teaches!? They think marriage is overrated and old-fashion.

Also, in these countries, due to poverty, people tend to live with theit parents and under their parents' authority so they get educated in the way of the elders and culture unlike rich countries whereby the government takes the lead! slapping a child not so as to cause a physical damage but rather in order to educate him is still feasible in poor countries, do that in a rich country, you deal with the parliement! So, parents' respect is greater and children tend to respect more their parents who wish they get married and form a structured family.

Another reason could be, which i think is one of the main reasons, married couples in poor countries are scared of what might other people in the society think when they break up, so they tend to stick together so as to maintain cultural values and not hurt their parents, relatives and friends.

there could be other reasons too.

Answer 2

I think so too, although there may be big differences between poor countries: In Brazil for instance divorce is much more accepted than in a country like Indonesia. One thing aside from tradition and shame that prevents people from divorcing is that women are very likely to fall into poverty when they divorce, so they take a lot more bullsh... from their husbands than women in more developed countries do.

Why would you think people are happier because they don't divorce, anyway? Better to be divorced than to be in an unhappy marriage.

Answer 3

Strongly agree with your hypothesis.Development is keeping up with the Joneses.Interpersonal relationship is compromised in order to sustain success.People in third world countries are satisfied with simple things while people in the First World do not settle for less.Thus, the poor countries are much happier than the rich ones.

Answer 4

I didn't think they have divorce too=) In my country, they didn't have.not sure now.
anyway, i think what makes divorce rate in poor countries lower than first worlds is the fact that they are poor countries. Most of the times, the couple would then be too tied up, concentrated, and seriously trying to manage their life. Their life would be like this: work>feed the kids>support kids misc. needs. They don't have time and money to afford social life to meet other people
Their first priority is putting roof over their children's head and food in their children's table.
They are poor, they are contented with every little thing they have in their hands. Law of supply and demand. The richer you are the more wantings you have in life including affairs illicit or not. The poorer you are, the more contented you are with one heart in your empty hand.

Answer 5

Poor countries don't have a lawyer on every corner, so it would not be as easy.

Poor countries are poor...so how could the man afford to divorce?

Three chickens and stack of wood is not much to split in a divorce so probably they learn to ignore a lot of marital issues and just deal with them.

Answer 6

I believe that it may be more to do with East and West rather than poor and rich.... it so happens that majority of poor countries are in the East,

The Eastern culture is responsible... there is a social stigma around Divorcee women and more importantly, there is little opportunity for them to be economically independent. These two factors make women hang on to a marriage while a corresponding Western culture woman would have seriously contemplated divorce.

Development probably does have an influence, though indirectly, through its ability to provide for educated and emancipated women in the society.

Answer 7

I don't have facts, but here is a theory. If the stats are lower is that because they are NOT getting married in poorer countries. Are they just shacking up and making kids without all of the financial responsibilities that come along with it.
I don't believe they are happier. Every socio economic class has its share of problems and the poor are DEFINITELY NOT ANY DIFFERENT.
Just a thought.
www.tagurit.net

Answer 8

No the demand of the partner is easy to satisfy than in developed, this make a man and women more happy to be with one another

Answer 9

Maybe it just means they are too poor to pay a lawyer.
A life of privelege can sometimes mean a life of dissatisfaction. The more you have, the more you want, the less you like what you've got.

Answer 10

I think that could be because people from poor countries learn to endeavour problems the moment they're out of their mother's wombs. They have so much less aspirations and they know that they cannot go on unless they learn to overcome their problems… and so they do!