Divorce and Separation in India

In India divorce and separation are perceived to be relatively rare events. While quantitative data are lacking, there is a rich multi-disciplinary literature on various aspects of marital stability in India. This article draws on this literature to contextualize the key aspects of marriage and the socio-cultural and legal systems that influence durability of marriages in India. The article then presents estimates of prevalence, trends, and variations in divorce and separation using data from a large nationally representative survey. Finally, using education as a broad measure, the article investigates the impact of social changes on durability of marriages between 1987 and 2007. The findings reveal an upward trend and significant variations in divorce and separation by region, religion, rural and urban residence, and number and sex of children. Marriage among bettereducated women is more durable and the difference between less-educated and better-educated women has widened over time.Accepted versio