(MENAFN- Jordan Times) Divorce rates in the Kingdom have increased steadily over the last five years, according to recent figures.
Department of Statistics (DoS) figures show that a total of 9,032 divorces were registered in 2002 compared to 11,413 divorces in 2006.
Meanwhile, a study set to be released by the Afaf Charitable Society revealed that divorce cases reached 13,530 last year, and indicated that the majority of the divorces, some 65 per cent, were due to financial hardships.
The report also stated that over half of the divorces were between more educated couples.
Sharia judge Abdullah Alaween described the figures as "a negative phenomenon" in Jordanian society, adding that the trend should be addressed through media-based awareness campaigns.
He told The Jordan Times on Wednesday that poor knowledge of religion and traditions and rising living costs are the main factors behind high divorce numbers, noting that divorce rates in the countryside are lower than those in cities.
High marriage costs combined with limited income and unemployment are also preventing many of the Kingdom's youth from marrying, he added.
According to DoS statistics, the percentage of women who have never been married doubled between 1995 and 2007.
The Kingdom's female population stands at 48.5 per cent, according to the DoS, and women 35 and over who have never been married rose from 3.9 per cent in 1995 to 7.6 per cent in 2007.
Since 1961, the average marriage age for Jordanian women rose from 18 to 26 while it increased from 20 to 29 years for men, according to the DoS.
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