Costa Rica News – In the early 1900s, a divorce would make headlines it was so rare.
By the 1980s, 10% of marriages ended in divorce. Divorce was very uncommon until relatively recently in Costa Rica.
By 1990, 15 out of every 100 marriages ended in divorce or legal separation. From then until the end of last year, the number of divorces in Costa Rica has tripled to 45 out of every 100.
In 1990 there were 22,275 marriages and 3,283 divorces whereas last year the figures were 23,901 and 10,649. Most couples stay married between six months and 9.5 years. 43% stick with it fewer than 10 years.
There have been changes in the law so that divorce is easier. It used to be allowed only in scandalous cases. Now it is allowed by mutual agreement or by one party in cases of abuse.
In addition to the legal changes, there is a cultural change of people being less religious and valuing individual choices more.
