Why new divorce figures show ‘unreasonable behaviour’ is Singapore’s biggest marriage breaker
Official statistics show that 'unreasonable behaviour' is the most common legal ground for civil divorce in Singapore, while adultery is rarely cited. Legal experts clarify that this trend is driven by the difficulty of proving adultery in court rather than a reflection of actual marital issues.
Why it matters
Provides insight into how legal frameworks influence social statistics and the perception of marital breakdown.
SINGAPORE, July 19 — Almost half of all civil divorces in Singapore last year were filed on the grounds of “unreasonable behaviour”, while adultery accounted for fewer than one in 100 cases, according to newly released official figures that lawyers say reflect legal rules rather than the true causes of marital breakdown.
Statistics published by Singapore’s Department of Statistics on July 10 showed that 48.7 per cent of civil, or non-Muslim, couples who divorced in 2025 cited unreasonable behaviour, making it the most commonly used legal basis for divorce, The Straits Times (ST) reported.
Adultery, by contrast, accounted for just 0.9 per cent of civil divorces — the lowest proportion of any legal fact cited.
The picture differs for Muslim divorces. Infidelity was cited as the “main issue” in 18.4 per cent of cases, making it the second most common reason after personality differences (21.5 per cent).
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