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The divorce rate in Canada is dropping, but it’s not because couples across the country are so in love.
A major factor is that they simply cannot afford it.
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A new report shedding light on family structure in Canada reveals that the divorce rate has declined since the 1990s. The rate is calculated as the number of people who divorce in a given year per 1,000 married persons.
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In 1991, the rate was 12.7 per 1,000 married people. In 2020, it was 5.6, according to a report by the Vanier Institute of the Family.
“In 2020, nearly 43,000 divorces were granted in Canada — the lowest number since 1973,” it said.
There are many reasons for the declining divorce rate, such as less divorces being granted due to disruptions caused by COVID at the outset of the pandemic. Couples are also less likely to get married, and if they do, they are waiting longer, the report said.
However, one of the main reasons wedding bells aren’t ringing seems to be the hefty price tag and overall cost of living.
One law firm put the average cost of divorce in Canada at $18,000. A 2021 survey on legal fees by Canadian Lawyer Magazine found that the price of a contested divorce ranges from $7,500 to $25,000.
Not only is the divorce itself expensive, so is finding adequate housing, especially for a newly single person.
“It is now very difficult for someone on the average salary to take on a new mortgage on their own,” said professor at University of Victoria’s School of Business Sorin Rizeanu in an article published in The Conversation.
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Rizeanu makes an example out of television couple Al and Peggy Bundy from Married… With Children.
If they lived in Canada during these times, “it’s likely Al and Peg would prioritize their practical needs over emotional complexities, in an unhappy but financially afloat situation.”
More young Canadians are also choosing to live at home with their parents or in multigenerational households. In 2021, nearly half of Canadians aged 20 to 29 lived with at least one parent, said the report, citing census data. This could lead to young people putting off marriage, thus staving off divorce, in order to be secure financially or in order to help their families.
“Understanding these trends is important because they provide unique insights on topics at the heart of family life, such as fertility, finances, housing, and caregiving,” said the report.
Only time will tell if more Canadian couples will remain in so-called marital bliss.
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