When exploring survey data recently released by the Jordan
Department of Statistics (DOS), a compelling narrative emerges regarding
divorce rates across the
twelve governorates of Jordan spanning the years 2016
to 2022. Within this dataset lies a tapestry of stories challenging prevailing
beliefs and shedding light on unexpected anomalies. Surprisingly, amidst the
complex landscape of marital dynamics, it appears that selecting a partner from
Jarash or Ajloun may represent an optimal choice for Jordanians. This
revelation not only piques curiosity but also underscores the nuanced
intricacies of marriage and divorce within Jordanian society.
اضافة اعلان
Based on the DOS survey data, the highest divorce rate
relative to the population in Jordan during 2016–2022 was in the
Aqaba Governorate. The Jarash Governorate, followed by its neighbor Ajloun, had the
lowest. The Amman Governorate follows the Jarash and Ajloun Governorates, and
it was a close third in some years. The divorce rates are surprising since
Aqaba enjoyed so much attention and vast expenditures on infrastructure over
the last 24 years, while Amman received most of the foreign and domestic direct
investment.
Surprisingly, governorates that are known to have several
poverty pockets, such as Jarash and Ajloun, have meager divorce rates per
population, specifically, 0.13 percent. Other governorates that have higher per
capita incomes, such as
Amman and Balqa, have higher divorce rates. Possibly
because the cost of living is higher in the last two governorates.
“Surprisingly, amidst the complex landscape of marital dynamics, it appears that selecting a partner from Jarash or Ajloun may represent an optimal choice for Jordanians.”
But this is not all; the one governorate that is consistent
with economic theory (which stipulates that low income leads to misery and
marital troubles and, thus, a higher divorce rate per capita) is the
Madaba Governorate. Throughout the 2016–2022 period, Madaba has been among the highest
in terms of divorce rates. Madaba enjoys the distinction of having the highest
divorce rate during 2016–2022, which was in Madaba in 2017.
The fact that divorce rates were not as high as pundits and
analysts in Jordan had predicted in 2020 is an intriguing finding. The extended
curfew, lockdowns, and stoppage of supply chains and transport led to being
stuck at home with one's spouse but did not lead to higher divorce rates. On
the contrary, the average divorce rate decreased across the 12 governorates
from 0.26 percent in 2019 to 0.22 percent in 2020. Additionally, Aqaba had the
highest divorce rate per capita with 0.22 percent, and Ajloun had the lowest, at
0.12 percent, with Jarash, Amman, and Karak following closely behind at 0.13%
each. The lowest average divorce rate over the period was in Jarash, as it
ranged between 0.10 percent and 0.21 percent. The highest average divorce rate
per capita was in Aqaba, which led to five years out of the seven years in
terms of having the highest divorce rate.
“The fact that divorce rates were not as high as pundits and analysts in Jordan had predicted in 2020 is an intriguing finding. The extended curfew, lockdowns, and stoppage of supply chains and transport led to being stuck at home with one's spouse but did not lead to higher divorce rates.”
The rates are extremely puzzling. What is so special about
Jarash and Ajloun that makes divorce rates so low there? Why does Aqaba have
such high divorce rates? Most importantly, why have people tended to avoid
divorce during the lockdowns, as shown by the divorce rate drop in 2020? This
last question may have some logical responses: the courts were closed for a
significant part of the year; transportation virtually stopped; aid targeted
households, not individuals; and several other reasons that had to do with the
stoppage of economic activities.
In summary, data suggests that marrying someone from Jarash
or Ajloun in Jordan could lead to a lower risk of divorce. The data hints that
the dynamics of marriage within Amman and other affluent regions may not align
with the relative stability observed in Jarash and Ajloun. Transplanting these
relationships into different socio-economic environments may introduce new
challenges and influences.
Yusuf Mansur is the CEO of the Envision
Consulting Group and former Minister of State for Economic Affairs.
Disclaimer:
Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Jordan News' point of view.
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