Chinese divorce rate soars

The divorce rate in China increased by more than 18 per cent in 2007, as more than 1.4 million couples filed for a separation, according to official figures.

According to the figures, released from the Civil Affairs Department, the number of divorces has been steadily rising since 1980, when the figure was just 341,000. The China Daily added that the real number of divorces could be much greater than 1.4 million, because official reports did not include court-sanctioned divorces.

It has been speculated that the massive rise is due to relaxation of the law which made obtaining divorces easier, but others believe that China's one-child policy has created a generation of adults unable to maintain proper relationships because they are too focused on their own needs.

The Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences also cited increasing levels of migration, longer working hours and the changing role of women in Chinese society as major factors contributing to the rising divorce rate.

Xu Anqi, of the academy, told the Xinhua news agency: "People's expectations are higher. The things couples compromised on ten years ago aren't tolerated today."

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