Lebanon witnessed an unprecedented surge in divorce rates in 2024, far surpassing the average recorded between 2009 and 2024. According to Interior Ministry statistics, 6,894 divorces were registered last year, raising pressing questions about the underlying causes of this troubling social phenomenon.

A Geographic Breakdown of Divorce

The data reveals a clear geographic disparity. The highest number of divorces was reported in the northern governorate, with 1,348 cases, followed by Mount Lebanon with 1,072 cases. By contrast, the Bekaa governorate recorded the lowest rates, underscoring regional variations shaped by different social and economic factors. It is worth noting that these figures only reflect official cases registered with the Interior Ministry and do not account for informal separations or unresolved lawsuits still pending before the courts.

The Economic Crisis at the Forefront

For Dr. Fadi Akiki, a sociology professor at the Lebanese University, the rise in divorces is directly linked to the country’s suffocating economic collapse. He explains:

"Living pressures—unemployment, soaring prices, and chronic instability—have taken a direct toll on marital relationships. As couples find it increasingly difficult to cope with financial and psychological burdens, divorce has become a more common outcome."

He adds that broader social changes, such as shifting gender roles and women’s growing economic independence, have also reshaped traditional views of marriage, making separation a less daunting choice than in the past.

Couples Therapy: The Need for Better Communication

Family and couples therapist Dr. Lara Abdel Massih, who specializes in marital conflict resolution, points to the lack of communication skills as a leading cause of separation. “Many of the couples we see in therapy lack open dialogue and the ability to manage conflict healthily. Daily stress often exposes fragile communication patterns, causing problems to pile up instead of being resolved,” she says.

She emphasizes the importance of early intervention through counseling sessions before divorce becomes inevitable, noting that many marriages could be salvaged if couples recognized the value of psychological and emotional support.

A Social Crisis Demanding Comprehensive Solutions

The sharp rise in divorce rates highlights a profound social crisis in Lebanon—one no less serious than its economic or political turmoil. Solutions, experts argue, lie in strengthening marital education through awareness campaigns, expanding access to family counseling centers, and improving living conditions, which remain a cornerstone of family stability.

Divorce in Lebanon is no longer an isolated personal matter; it has become a growing phenomenon that threatens the country’s social fabric and demands urgent action from both the state and civil society.