Number of divorce cases in Saudi Arabia 2011-2020
Saudi Arabia saw its highest number of divorce cases in 2020, slightly exceeding the 57,500 cases recorded in 2017. Since 2011, the number of divorces in the Kingdom has risen consistently each subsequent year, with 2019 being the only outlier, dropping by 6,400 cases from the previous year.
Traditional views on marriage
Saudi Arabia is still a deeply conservative society, where marriages and divorce are heavily influenced by tradition and familial ties. Cases of marriage and divorce continue to be overseen by the state’s Islamic courts. Unlike the number of divorce cases in Saudi Arabia, the number of marriage cases has been trending in the opposite direction. There is also a notable share of women who were married between the ages of 15 and 18 among both Saudi and non-Saudi women in the country. However, as more and more women opt to take on professional careers and pursue higher education, trends are changing.
Social reform in the Kingdom
Recently, Saudi Arabia has undergone considerable social reforms, which have transformed the role of women in public life. After years of prohibition, women were finally permitted to legally drive as of June 2018. Although the participation of women in the economy has increased in the past years, certain sectors attract more female participation than others. It is safe to say that Saudi Arabia is gradually opening up to the involvement of women in more public affairs. It is therefore expected that the Kingdom may encounter some of the challenges women in other economies have faced for years, such as a discrepancy in average wages between men and women.
