Why unreasonable behaviour is the top reason cited for divorce in S’pore, and adultery the least
Statistics from 2025 show that 'unreasonable behaviour' is the most common reason cited for civil divorces in Singapore, while adultery remains the least cited. Legal experts note that differences in divorce statistics between civil and Muslim marriages are largely driven by distinct legal frameworks rather than social behavior.
Why it matters
Understanding the legal and social drivers of divorce provides insight into shifting family structures and the efficacy of current matrimonial laws.
Adultery was the least commonly cited fact in civil divorces, accounting for just 0.9 per cent of such cases in 2025.
Listen Summarise Unreasonable behaviour is the most cited reason for civil divorces in 2025, accounting for 48.7%, while adultery is the least cited at 0.9% due to the difficulty and cost of proving it in Court. Muslim divorces differ legally from civil divorces; infidelity is the second top reason cited, while the top reason was personality differences. Divorce by mutual agreement, effective from July 2024, reduces acrimony by allowing couples to end marriages without blame, promoting cooperative co-parenting. AI generated
SINGAPORE – Almost half, or 48.7 per cent, of all civil, or non-Muslim, couples who divorced in 2025 cited unreasonable behaviour , making it the most commonly used reason for such marital breakdowns.
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