Why Women Initiate Divorce More Often Than Men | Singapore Insights

At PKWA Law, we notice a clear trend — women initiate divorce more often than men. This is not just something we see in our daily practice; official statistics back it up.

According to data from the Singapore Department of Statistics (2016), women filed for divorce in 61.6% of cases. In other words, nearly two out of every three divorces are started by the wife.

So what drives this? The most common grounds for divorce in Singapore include adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion, and separation. But within these categories, we see recurring themes that explain why women are more likely to take the first step.

According to the Department of Statistics data released in July 2016, divorce was initiated by the woman in 61.6 per cent of the cases. The most common grounds for divorce in Singapore are as follows:

• More than half (53.7 per cent) of plaintiffs in civil divorces cited “unreasonable behaviour” as the main reason for divorce.
• 42.6 per cent cited “having lived apart or separated for three years or more”.

Why are women more likely to initiate divorce than men? These are some of the key reasons:

Education and careers

More than ever, women are more educated and have better careers than at any time before. As women become more educated and therefore more affluent, they are more empowered to make decisions like getting a divorce if they are unhappy. Women feel that they are financially secure enough to leave a marriage and to seek happiness elsewhere. They no longer feel helpless and hapless.

Social stigma

The days when divorce is considered a social stigma are long gone. These days, it is acceptable to be a divorced woman. Society no longer frowns on women who are divorced.

Men prefer to accept the status quo

For most women, when they get married, life becomes more complicated. They are busy with their careers, and on top of that, they are expected to look after the home and the husband. When children come along, they are expected to be the dominant person looking after and caring for them.

The reverse is true for the men – once they get married, their lives become easier. They come home expecting a clean house with cooked meals; they no longer have to worry so much about their personal grooming. So men tend to accept the status quo because it is harder to give up the perks and convenience of married life. Men are change-averse.

For a woman, she will probably try everything to keep the marriage (and children) together until her tolerance breaks. However, once a marriage is no longer fulfilling or happy, she estimates that a divorce will probably improve the quality of her life.

Adultery, Abuse, and Financial Problems

From our experience as divorce lawyers, many women endure years of neglect or unhappiness in their marriage. However, there are three recurring issues that often become deal-breakers: repeated adultery, abuse, and financial irresponsibility.

While some women may forgive a single marital affair, repeated and willful infidelity is rarely tolerated. Similarly, persistent financial problems — such as gambling, overspending, or failing to contribute to household expenses — create deep insecurity about the future. For many women, staying in a marriage where the husband is constantly broke or asking for money becomes untenable.

Abuse is another clear red line. Whether physical or verbal, repeated abuse makes women feel unsafe and erodes trust beyond repair.

Where children are involved, these issues become even more pressing. Women whose husbands repeatedly cheat, drain the family of money, or subject them to abuse are often more determined to divorce. Their decision is not only about protecting themselves but also about safeguarding the well-being and stability of their children.

Conclusion

Women now expect more out of life and more out of marriage. As a result, more women find it unacceptable to be in a loveless, boring or abusive marriage. They will try to work things out by attempting to talk, but they are a lot more comfortable initiating divorce once they conclude that things are irreparable.