Countries Where Divorce Is Illegal 2024

As of now, there are only two countries in the world where divorce remains illegal: the Philippines and Vatican City. Vatican City, ruled by the Pope, strictly prohibits divorce, aligning with its religious doctrines. This tiny sovereign city-state spans merely 100 acres and is home to approximately 842 Catholic residents.

In the Philippines, where 80% of the population is Roman Catholic and 5% is Muslim, the influence of the Catholic Church is profound. The Philippine Catholic Church staunchly opposes any legislative efforts to legalize divorce, maintaining its adherence to traditional church teachings. Interestingly, adultery is a criminal offense in the Philippines, carrying a penalty of up to six years in jail for women and four years for men.

Contrasting these nations, Japan permits divorce, but with notable gender-specific stipulations. A woman must wait six months to remarry post-divorce, whereas men face no such waiting period. Additionally, if a woman is pregnant during the divorce process, she must wait 100 days before the marriage can be officially dissolved.

While only two countries outright ban divorce, several others have unique or stringent divorce laws. For example, in Chile, no-fault divorce is not recognized. Divorce is only granted under specific circumstances such as abuse, abandonment, or infidelity, and the process can take between one to three years to complete. Among the Eskimo people, a period of extended separation is a prerequisite before a couple can legally end their marriage.

Russia's divorce laws focus mainly on financial aspects. Upon divorce, the husband is only required to divide assets acquired during the marriage, excluding any inheritance. In contrast, Ireland only legalized divorce as recently as 1994, following a majority vote in the predominantly Catholic country.

In India, where divorce is legal, the rate of marital dissolution is remarkably low, with only 1% of marriages ending in divorce. The decision to grant a divorce rests with a judge and is not always guaranteed. Luxembourg, despite being one of the smallest countries globally, has a soaring divorce rate of 87%. To obtain a divorce in Luxembourg, an individual must be over 21 years old and have been married for at least two years.