This is one of the most striking findings of the 2025 National Family Survey released by the High Commission for Planning (HCP). In Morocco, divorce is not the culmination of years of silent wear and tear. In many cases, it is an early breakup that occurs in the very first years of marriage.

According to the report, the divorce rate “is highest during the first two years of marriage, at 26.8%—more than five times the national average,” which stands at 3.6%. In other words, out of every 100 couples married for less than two years, nearly 27 divorce each year, compared to a national average of 3.6. This figure speaks volumes about the fragility of Moroccan couples in the early stages of their marriage.

Children, a factor of resilience

The report describes the early stages of married life as a « phase of high marital vulnerability, marked, among other things, by the rapid emergence of relational incompatibilities, economic difficulties, and family pressures. «  All these tensions, when combined, can precipitate a separation before the couple has even had time to solidify their relationship.

The average duration of marriage before divorce is 9 years nationwide, but this average masks very disparate realities. In rural areas, it drops to 6.8 years, compared to 9.8 years in urban areas. The report links this early divorce rate in rural areas to “earlier marriage age and the tensions that can result from living with in-laws.”

Among the chapter’s telling findings is also the stabilizing role of children. “The presence of children is a very powerful factor in resilience. The more children there are, the longer the couple seems to resist the risks of separation, ” the study notes.

For couples without minor children, separation occurs on average after 7.4 years of marriage. This figure rises to 9.5 years for families with a single child, then “climbs to 18.6 years” for households with two or more minor children—more than double.

Who gets divorced and why?

Divorce appears to be more common among women (4.9‰) than men (2.4‰), in the sense that more women were counted as divorced at the time of the survey. The HCP attributes this gap in part to the fact that men remarry more quickly after a breakup, thereby falling off the statistical radar.

Another significant finding: the divorce rate increases with educational attainment. Those with no education have the lowest rates (1.3‰), while secondary and higher education levels are associated with rates “exceeding 4.6‰.” The report notes that at the same educational level, women divorce more frequently, particularly among the most educated, which can be explained by “greater economic and social autonomy, a better understanding of their rights, and an increased ability to challenge unsatisfactory relationships.”

As for the causes, they are primarily domestic: everyday disagreements account for 30.9% of the reasons cited, ahead of financial difficulties (12%), conflicts with in-laws (11.6%), and domestic violence (8.8%). While men predominantly cite domestic conflicts (48.9% of cases), women more often mention tensions with in-laws, violence, and financial difficulties.

Legally, the Chiqaq procedure—divorce on the grounds of discord—dominates, accounting for 49.7% of cases, ahead of mutual consent (39.2%). And it is most often the woman who takes the initiative. “58% of women report that they are most often the ones to file for divorce, ” the report notes.

Returning to her parents’ home

Once the divorce is finalized, women shoulder the bulk of the responsibility: nearly six in ten (58.6%) have sole custody of the children. But they face a difficult financial reality. According to the report, 67.3% of them believe that the alimony they receive does not cover their needs, and 83.5% feel that the child support allocated to their children is insufficient. Among those living in single-parent households, “the feeling of inadequacy is almost universal” (94.4%).

In the face of this shortfall, the extended family acts as a buffer, since 73.9% of divorced women live with their relatives. Family solidarity remains, implicitly, the true social safety net for women after divorce.

Overall, the HCP survey paints a nuanced and at times harsh picture of divorce in Morocco: a phenomenon affecting young and old, educated and uneducated, urban and rural populations, but one that strikes with particular intensity those who have not yet had time to solidify their union. It is as if marriage in Morocco were undergoing a first decisive test, and many were failing it.

Written in French by Ghita Ismaili; edited in English by AngloMedia Group.