Divorce and the economy: how family breakdowns impact financial well-being.

Today in Kazakhstan, 541 marriages are scheduled — this is the number of couples who have decided to tie the knot on Valentine's Day, as reported to the correspondent of inbusiness.kz by the "Government for Citizens". However, this time we won't traditionally discuss how and where to spend this day. Instead, the inbusiness.kz correspondent has chosen to focus on the increasing number of lonely Kazakhs, which, unfortunately, is on the rise in the country.

According to the Ministry of Justice, in 2024, Kazakhstan registered 124.7 thousand marriages, which is 3 thousand more than in 2023 (121.7 thousand). This indicates that, based on statistics, the country has potential in this regard. At least, there will be no need to introduce a childless tax.

However, it is still too early to celebrate. While the situation with marriage is relatively stable, Kazakhstan leads in terms of divorces. In 2024, over 17.7 thousand divorces were registered through the civil registry offices, which is 900 more compared to 2023 (16.8 thousand). Typically, about 30% of divorces occur by mutual consent of the spouses, while the remaining 70% go through court due to disputes over property division or child custody. The total number of divorces in 2024 amounted to 40.6 thousand. In 2023, Kazakhstan was among the countries with a high divorce rate — 40.2 thousand, with an annual increase of 400. On average, over 40 thousand marriages dissolve each year in the country.

The last population census was conducted in 2021, showing that the number of married men and women increased from 6.6 million in 2009 to 8.2 million in 2021. Since then, from 2022 to 2024, the number of married Kazakhs has grown to 8.5 million (+360 thousand). Considering the average number of divorces (around 40 thousand) during this period, the number of people married by 2024 is approximately 8.3 million.

In Kazakhstan, the population exceeds 20 million, of which about 7 million are children, 2.5 million are pensioners, and 725 thousand are individuals with disabilities (58% of whom are of working age). Thus, the working-age population is around 10 million. If we subtract the 8.3 million married Kazakhs from this number, it results in nearly 2 million single individuals.

These figures are approximate and based on official statistics. In reality, the number of single individuals may be significantly higher, especially considering those who are left alone with children after a divorce. According to statistics, the number of divorces continues to rise.

Additionally, the popularity of cohabitation and religious marriages is also increasing. However, such marriages are not recognized officially and do not provide any rights and guarantees for women and children, which poses a risk. In 2021, the Kazakhstan Institute for Development conducted a sociological study on divorces and their consequences. Experts identified several reasons for the breakdown of marriages:

• Divorce of parents or close relatives. The absence of a model of a full family with effective conflict resolution methods fosters a tolerant attitude towards divorce among spouses.
• The likelihood of divorce increases with low levels of education and income of the husband. Low social and economic status can negatively impact the wife's expectations and become a source of interpersonal conflicts.
• Forced marriage due to pregnancy can negatively affect the spouses' relationship, as they may not be ready for this step.
• A brief acquaintance before marriage (less than a year) does not allow partners to assess compatibility, depth of feelings, and develop a strategy for joint life.
• Lack of parental approval and their interference in the newlyweds' lives hinder the formation of healthy family relationships.
• Every sixth family in Kazakhstan faces infertility issues. Surveys show that about 20% of Kazakhs consider this a serious reason for divorce, with childlessness being one of the causes of separation.
• The rise of gender equality ideas also contributes to the increase in divorce rates, especially in cases of domestic violence and parental interference in marital relationships. Women are becoming less tolerant of such situations compared to previous generations.

"Parental interference in family life is one of the main reasons for divorces. Initially negative attitudes from parents towards spouses create conditions for constant conflicts. Some parents even openly express a desire to destroy their children's marriage, humiliating their daughters-in-law or sons-in-law," the study notes.

Women are often the initiators of divorces. Men, on the other hand, initiate the divorce process for various reasons: the emergence of a second family, parental interference, or infidelity of their wives.

Stress and Depression

The decision to divorce is usually formed under the influence of certain factors, which can develop over a significant period, sometimes reaching several decades. Research shows that in most cases, the initiator of the divorce is the woman, which is related to her increasing responsibility for herself and the children.

Divorce invariably brings serious changes to the lives of each former partner. They face the loss of a loved one and go through various stages of stress as they adapt to a new reality.

Psychologists note that divorce negatively affects the health of the former spouses: they may experience chronic fatigue, exacerbation of chronic diseases, depression, stress, insomnia, and deterioration of psychological well-being.

Regardless of who initiated the divorce, both partners often harbor negative feelings towards each other. Women often find it harder to break free from emotional dependence on their former partners; they face various socio-economic and psychological difficulties and more frequently seek support from relatives, friends, or psychologists. On the other hand, divorce can impact a woman's career and income: divorced women may receive child support or financial assistance from their ex-husbands, although there are cases where support is not paid.

The situation for men after divorce also worsens due to limited contact with their children. Research shows that some men fall into despair when the woman initiates the divorce. In such cases, courts often grant custody to the mother. This state of men has been termed "masculine vulnerability," accompanied by feelings of resentment towards women and a desire to start a new family to avoid loneliness.

Among divorced men, there is a high level of alcoholism, diseases, and depression, which are consequences of the changes in their lives after divorce. Loneliness affects women less negatively than men, as confirmed by research from University College London and other institutions. They concluded that marriage benefits men more, as wives motivate them to exercise, eat healthily, and regularly visit doctors. Women, on the other hand, derive emotional satisfaction from long-term relationships.

According to WHO data, the risk of early death and the occurrence of anxiety disorders and depression decreases by 15% among married individuals. Experts assert that divorce is one of the most potent stressors after the loss of a loved one, causing significant emotional strain.

Income Changes

A study conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research in the USA shows that couples in which the wife earns more than the husband often face relationship problems and have a higher risk of divorce. Similar trends are observed in Kazakhstan, where men may feel vulnerable when their partners earn more. As a result, such marriages often fall apart.

Divorce not only affects people's emotional state but also changes their socio-economic status — for better or worse. This particularly affects women, who are more likely to remain with children.

"After the divorce, my financial situation improved. When I was married, my husband didn't bring his salary home and spent money on himself and other women. We lived on my income and my grandfather's pension. After the divorce, I returned to my old clients, started doing design work, and selling vegetables at the market. I was ready to work under any conditions," shares her experience 59-year-old Altynai, a teacher from Uralsk.

Many women, who have been victims of domestic violence, after divorce, note the value of newfound freedom and peace. They also mention an increase in self-esteem and a decrease in stress. Divorce can foster personal growth and increase happiness levels. Some women note that after the divorce, they pursued education and achieved success in their careers, focusing on their own development and new goals.

Nevertheless, there are cases where financial conditions worsen, especially if the ex-spouse does not pay alimony or if the child has a disability requiring constant attention. Often, ex-spouses turn children against each other, leading to aggression and resentment in the children.

According to some researchers, most juvenile delinquents come from single-parent families, as divorce is a significant stressor for children, which can lead to deviant behavior and conflicts. Children from such families can become both victims and initiators of bullying at school and in the street.

Are Divorces Expensive?

In several countries, experts have observed a connection between the number of divorces and the state of the real estate market. The number of married and divorced couples affects the demand for housing: newlyweds strive to