Indian Americans Less Likely to Divorce

Indian Americans exhibit “very high rates of marriage” and are less likely to divorce—as found in research published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The report, entitled Social Realities of Indian Americans: Results From the 2020 Indian American Attitudes Survey, is based on an online survey of 1,200 Indian Americans residing in the U.S. The study is the third in a series of reports focusing on the social, political, and foreign policy attitudes of Indian Americans. It indicated that around eight out of 10 people surveyed have a spouse or partner of Indian origin although there is a significant increase in marriage outside of the community among second-generation Indians. Finally, Indian Americans had four times the chance of being with someone who was born in the US but had Indian heritage.

The Nature of Indian American Marriages

The low divorce rates of Indian American marriages reflect the trend in India, which has the lowest divorce rate in the world. In India, only 1% of marriages end up in divorce. One of the most important reasons for the statistics is religion, with Hinduism seeing marriage as a sacred bond that outlives rebirths. Moreover, there are many societal norms that see some couples reluctant to end an unhappy marriage. Finally, the issue of child custody post divorce is another worry for both fathers and mothers. Although in the US joint custody is generally awarded to couples, divorce can hamper relationships with children—especially when one partner moves residence owing to a job change.

Arranged Marriages are Changing

In current times, Indian Americans have more of a say in whom they marry. Some families still look for matches, though prospective couples usually go on dates to work out whether or not they are compatible and/or have a spark that can lead to a deeper relationship. Families vary greatly in the extent to which they expect to have a say in their child’s future marriage. In essence, Indian Americans face the challenge of combining the best values from Indian and American culture. One aspect of marriage that is sometimes criticized by younger generations is the idea that one has to remain with one’s spouse regardless of what happens. Across all generations, there is a pattern of remaining in marriages which may not be satisfactory, since divorce is still shrouded in stigma.

What are the Causes of Divorce for Indian Americans?

Although divorce rates among Indian Americans are very low, marriages do sometimes break up. Reasons include having problems with in-laws, financial issues, infidelity, and domestic violence. If couples were married in the US, then their state laws apply. However, if they got married in India, there are limited reasons for a dissolution of marriage. These include cruelty, adultery, desertion, or divorce after the couple has lived separately for a minimum of one year.

Indian Americans have high marriage and low divorce rates. There are many reasons for this phenomenon, including the stigma that can still surround divorce, as well as religious reasons. Younger generations are increasingly seeking more freedom in their choice of couple, and many are questioning the idea that one should remain in a marriage if love no longer prevails.

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