The institution of family is considered one of the most sensitive and, at the same time, most resilient pillars of society. However, observations in recent years indicate that socio-economic changes, the acceleration of life's pace, and the increase in individual expectations do not leave family relationships unaffected. Against the backdrop of these processes, the observed changes in the number of divorces have become a serious topic of discussion in society. Particularly, the impact of professional, lifestyle, and psychological factors on family stability is also among the issues attracting attention.
In a statement to Modern.az, Mehriban Zeynalova, chairwoman of the "Clean World" Public Association for Women's Aid, noted that in 2025, a slight decrease in divorce cases in Azerbaijan is observed compared to previous years. In her opinion, the decrease is not sharp; it can rather be assessed as a stabilization trend. The current situation indicates a short-term balancing phase in the institution of family.
Our interviewee also clarified the role of professional and psychological factors in the number of divorces:
“Divorces are observed not so much among specific professions, but rather among those working in fields associated with certain work regimes and lifestyles. The risk of divorce is higher in families with behavioral disorders, domestic violence, and drug or alcohol addiction. In educated families, the main factors influencing divorces are the non-acceptance of differing opinions within the family, external interference, the increased burden on women, and the husband's failure to fully fulfill his family obligations. At the same time, a woman expecting demands from her husband that exceed his real capabilities can also cause tension in relationships. The autocratic nature of dominance in role distribution is also among the factors that deepen intra-family conflicts.”
Mehriban Zeynalova added that, overall, it is possible to conclude that divorces are related more to the social environment, the quality of relationships, and intra-family communication than to profession:
“The rapid integration of technologies into our lives also does not leave family relationships unaffected and can lead to a weakening of emotional intimacy.
Among the social and psychological reasons for the higher prevalence of divorces in certain areas, the disruption of work-life balance, chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, financial instability, debt pressure, role conflicts within the family, and long-term separation play a significant role. Furthermore, empathy fatigue, the weakening of family support networks, and a relative decrease in social stigma regarding divorce also influence this process. The increasing economic independence of women and rising legal awareness are among the factors that lower the threshold of tolerance in relationships.
Current trends indicate that the future dynamics of divorces may develop in several directions. On one hand, divorces may generally stabilize, continuing with slight fluctuations over the years. On the other hand, there is a possibility of a gradual decrease amidst the strengthening of family counseling and mediation services and the expansion of social support mechanisms. In a risk scenario, increased economic pressures, rising living costs, and deepening psychological tension could lead divorces to re-enter a growth phase. In the overall picture, the main issue is maintaining relative stability in divorces, and this directly depends on strengthening social and psychological support mechanisms.”
Our interlocutor also emphasized that one of the key points of attention is the increase in informal relationships:
“This trend can lead to divorces remaining statistically invisible and create an impression of stability or decrease in the overall picture. Crises occurring worldwide amidst existing economic uncertainty can also, to some extent, influence the decrease in divorces. In such circumstances, people may conclude that solving problems together is more expedient. At the same time, the divorce process creating additional costs and unexpected financial obligations can also lead to the postponement of this decision.”
M. Zeynalova concluded that one of the probable trends for the future is the strengthening of the growth dynamics of informal marriages, with the aim of avoiding additional legal and social obligations:
“This situation indicates that the institution of family is undergoing transformation not within its formal structures, but rather more on the plane of informal relationships. One of the predictions is also the possibility of an increase in the dynamics of informal marriages in the future to avoid additional obligations for now,” she said.
For information, during January-November 2025, district (city) registration departments of the Ministry of Justice registered 44996 marriages and 18832 divorces.
Statistical assessments show that compared to the corresponding period of 2024, the number of marriages per 1000 population decreased from 4.9 to 4.8, and the number of divorces decreased from 2.1 to 2.0.
