South African women are leading the surge in divorce filings, according to the latest report from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). In 2024, women initiated 57.2% of all divorces, continuing a consistent trend observed over recent years.
The report highlights a notable shift in the country’s marital landscape, with more women exercising autonomy in ending relationships. Most women filing for divorce—89.1%—were ending their first marriage, reflecting changing social norms around marriage and partnership.
The data also points to a long-term decline in marriage registrations. Since the mid-2010s, annual civil marriages have dropped from over 130,000 to just above 100,000, indicating that fewer South Africans are choosing to marry.
“Taken together, the steady decline in marriages and unions since 2015 and the rise in divorces initiated by women tell a coherent story about social change,” Stats SA said.
Experts suggest the trends reflect broader societal shifts, including women’s increased financial independence and changing expectations of marriage.
No tags for this post.
