Divorce is no longer rare in India. While India still has a low divorce rate around 1.0–1.5% in 2025 compared to western countries reports state that divorce is rising in India. We can expect this rate to grow to 2.0–2.5% in the coming years.
As womens are now more aware of their rights and society is also changing its mindset towards divorce, people now see divorce as a new way of living life peacefully. In this article, we will talk about the most common reasons people are getting divorced in India.

Disclaimer: Getting divorced is a deeply personal decision. The information provided in this article is for awareness and educational purposes only. Divorce Lawyer New Delhi does not encourage or advise any individual to take legal action solely based on the situations mentioned. Always consult a qualified legal professional before making any decisions related to divorce or separation.

Top Divorce Reasons in India

Getting divorced is a private matter for any individual, and nobody likes to involve the public in it. So getting the exact data about why people are getting divorced is difficult. But when someone files for separation in court, their case file becomes a record, which can be obtained publicly by news agencies, NGOs, or survey companies.
We are also using this data to find out the most common reasons people are getting divorced in India. We have also written the estimated number of cases filed for each specific reason from 2000–2025 so far.

Mutual Consent Divorce

This is the most peaceful and common cause of divorce in India. Both partners agree to end the marriage without blaming each other. We can also say that sometimes people don’t want to stay together without stating any reason, so they end their marriage with mutual consent.
Estimated cases till 2025: Around 2.5 to 3 lakh mutual consent divorce petitions filed across India.
Sources: Ministry of Law & Justice, Delhi HC, LiveLaw, Bar & Bench.

Cruelty (Physical or Mental)

Many people file for divorce due to cruelty, which includes both physical violence and emotional abuse. Insulting, threatening, beating, or mentally torturing a partner can make life hell. It’s one of the most serious and legally accepted reasons for divorce in India.
Estimated cases till 2025: Over 1.8 to 2 lakh cases filed under cruelty grounds.
Sources: NCRB, Legal Service India, High Court records.

Adultery (Extra-marital Affair) – Trending Now

Adultery has become a major reason for divorce nowadays and is rising in India. When one partner cheats or has a physical relationship outside the marriage, then it’s considered an extra-marital affair. Even though adultery is no longer a criminal offence (after 2018), who wants to see his/her spouse sleeping with another person while still married? So it is still a valid reason to end the marriage in India.
Estimated cases till 2025: Approx. 50,000–60,000 cases filed on the grounds of adultery.
Sources: Supreme Court judgments, SC Verdict 2018, Family court data.

Desertion (Abandonment)

If one partner leaves the other without any valid reason and does not return for years (at least 2 years) without any contact, it’s called desertion. The abandoned partner can seek divorce after proving that the other spouse deserted them.
Estimated cases till 2025: Around 40,000–50,000 desertion-based petitions.
Sources: Indian Kanoon, District court databases.

Dowry Harassment & Domestic Violence (Most Common)

Sadly, dowry demands (dahej pratha) still exist. Even with rising awareness, society still demands dowry even educated, rich families do that too. It’s really a shame people still support things like that. If a woman is harassed mentally or physically over dowry, she can file for divorce and also take criminal action. Many such cases end with divorce along with other legal charges.
Estimated cases till 2025: Over 1.2 lakh related divorce cases (linked with IPC 498A).
Sources: NCRB reports, Legal Services India, Times of India legal archives.

Lack of Compatibility / Constant Fights

People in India mostly prefer arranged marriages without understanding that the partner they are choosing must be compatible with them. Eventually, they get married and start arguing constantly and are never able to agree on anything. Over time, this creates distance and less attachment. When it becomes a daily struggle, many choose to end the marriage.
Estimated cases till 2025: Estimated 90,000–1 lakh+ cases fall under incompatibility/conflict of interest.
Sources: Court case summaries, family court lawyers’ interviews.

Sexual Issues / Impotency

Sex is very important in any marriage. It makes the marriage much stronger if the couple is sexually satisfied with each other. But if they are not physically satisfied, this can lead to fights and family conflicts. People often don’t talk about it openly nor even discuss it with family. But still, in many divorce cases, they mention it and why not? Everybody has the right to live happily. If you are not physically satisfied with your spouse, divorce him/her and start a new life.
Estimated cases till 2025: Estimated 15,000–20,000 cases nationwide.
Sources: Family court cases, Law journals (LiveLaw, SCC Online).

Mental Illness or Unsound Mind

If a spouse suffers from a serious mental disorder or mental disease that makes it nearly impossible to survive in the relationship, one can file for divorce with a valid reason in court. What’s the point of living a life as a widow or living with someone who is mentally ill?
Estimated cases till 2025: Approx. 10,000–15,000 cases cited under this reason.
Sources: Delhi & Mumbai family court data, legal publications.

Religious or Cultural Differences

In some interfaith or intercaste marriages, families or partners can’t adjust due to pressure or fundamental differences in religion. In simple terms, if a Hindu or Muslim couple marry and later can’t adjust with each other’s religion or cultural beliefs in some cases even forcing the wife to convert they often don’t agree and get divorced.
Estimated cases till 2025: Around 5,000–10,000 cases cited religious differences.
Sources: Legal NGOs, family court mediators, case surveys.

Fraud or Misrepresentation Before Marriage

If a person hides important facts (like a criminal record, addiction, mental illness, infertility, or an earlier marriage) or lies before the marriage and the truth is discovered afterward they can decide to end the marriage. This is also a common reason for divorce in India. For example: in India, the bride’s family always prefers a boy with a government job. It’s commonly seen that people lie about having a government job to get a beautiful girl or higher dowry. But after the truth comes out, some of them settle with it, but some stand against it and file for divorce.
Estimated cases till 2025: 8,000–12,000 cases across India.
Sources: Court case records, Bar Council legal blogs.

Final Thoughts

These are just some common reasons people get divorced in India. But that doesn’t mean this list is complete. Every individual has their personal reason for divorce, which can’t be listed everywhere. Even in courts, people often come with reasons for divorce that even amaze the judges. So, just because your reason isn’t listed or mentioned in legal forms doesn’t mean it won’t be valid. If you find yourself in this type of situation, always prefer legal consultation from a professional divorce lawyer.

Data Sources and References:

• National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) – Annual Crime in India Reports
• Delhi High Court & District Courts – Public Legal Case Archives
• LiveLaw.in – Indian Legal News Portal
• Bar & Bench – Indian Legal & Judiciary Updates
• India Today, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, Indian Express – Legal and Social Reports
• National Commission for Women (NCW) – Case studies and complaint statistics
• NGOs: All India Women’s Conference (AIWC), Majlis, Snehi Delhi
• Lawyers & Legal Experts – Based on interviews and case analysis from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore family courtss