AMMAN — Divorce rates in Jordan have remained stable over the past decade, with no alarming trends recorded between 2015 and 2024, according to figures released on Wednesday by the Higher Population Council (HPC).

 

Citing data from the Chief Islamic Justice Department, the council said divorce rates have stayed within normal ranges relative to population growth and annual marriage levels, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

The HPC noted that 27 per cent of divorces during the 10-year period occurred before consummation, before the wedding ceremony, meaning no children were involved, which increases the likelihood of remarriage for divorced women.

 

The data also showed that 19 per cent of marriages registered during the same period involved women who had previously been divorced, reflecting continued opportunities for remarriage after a first divorce.

 

Reversible divorces, in which a husband may reconcile with his wife during the waiting period without a new contract or dowry, accounted for around 23 per cent of all recorded cases.

 

The average divorce rate over the decade stood at 2.4 per 1,000 people, dropping to about 1.8 per 1,000 when excluding pre-consummation cases, the council said, highlighting that figures indicate overall stability in Jordan’s marital and social dynamics.

 

The HPC added that economic and living conditions naturally influence marriage and divorce trends, noting that international experience shows such rates often stabilise or decline during economic downturns, as young people delay marriage or divorce decisions amid financial uncertainty.

 

While the total number of divorce cases may have risen due to population growth and an increase in the number of marriages, the council said the overall rate has remained steady, reflecting "a relative balance in marital relations within the Jordanian society".

 

The HPC underscored that tracking these indicators is part of its national mandate to provide evidence-based demographic analysis, in partnership with the Chief Islamic Justice Department, the main collaborator in monitoring marital and social trends across the Kingdom.