AZE.US
Divorces among Azerbaijani couples married for at least 20 years rose by nearly 35% between 2021 and 2025, according to figures cited in a television report.
The number increased from 1,987 in 2021 to 2,681 in 2025, a rise of 694 cases. Separate Azerbaijani reports citing official statistics have also recorded 2,681 divorces among marriages lasting 20 years or longer in 2025.
The television report examined why relationships can collapse after decades of marriage, with specialists and residents pointing to accumulated conflict, financial strain and changing expectations about family life.
Long Marriages Can Carry Unresolved Problems
Specialists interviewed for the report cited a lack of mutual understanding, infidelity, financial problems and interference by relatives among the factors that can push couples toward separation.
They said emotional distance can deepen when spouses do not listen to one another or discuss disagreements. Couples may also avoid seeking professional help, allowing conflicts to remain unresolved for years.
The experts said the first two or three years of marriage can be especially difficult for couples who knew one another only briefly before marrying, as they adjust to living together and learn how to resolve disputes. Problems that emerge during that period can continue much longer if they are not addressed.
Social Media and Economic Pressure
Experts in the report also linked the increase to changes in attitudes toward marriage. They said social media, bloggers and other influential online personalities increasingly shape expectations about relationships and family life.
Participants in a street survey cited TikTok and the tendency to compare one’s own life with idealized images seen online. Some said people’s expectations of marriage have changed and their willingness to endure difficulties has declined.
Others identified economic pressure as the main problem. Income differences, household hardship and dissatisfaction with living conditions can intensify tensions between spouses, they said.
Several respondents also pointed to the declining role of older relatives in resolving family disputes. In the past, they said, relatives were more likely to intervene and try to reconcile a couple facing divorce.
Experts Call for Earlier Support
Specialists said psychological and social assistance should become more accessible to families experiencing serious conflict.
One proposal raised in the report was for local executive bodies to identify families in crisis and create a professional support system. Advocates said timely counseling and intervention could help couples address disputes before they lead to an irreversible breakdown.
The 2025 figure was also reported by Report.az, while Azerbaijan’s State Statistical Committee publishes national marriage and divorce data through its official statistics portal.
AZE.US