Divorce getting easier in China

The divorce rate in China has escalated considerably in the last 20 years, the Peninsula newspaper reports.

And experts believe one of the main reasons for the rise is women's increasing financial independence coupled with their changing attitudes towards being single and an embracing of more western ideas.

Divorce was once nearly unheard of in China, but figures from the Ministry of Civil Affairs reveal that since 1985 the rate has more than tripled to 1.37 couples out of every 1,000 people.

Moreover, the legality of the process has become easier, with restrictions such as the need to gain permission from employers before being granted a divorce having been removed.

Xu Anqi, a sociology professor and deputy director of the Family Research Centre at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said: "We used to think about how others see us, and the reputation of our families.

"With people's changing ideas and less control on society, people are eager to look for happiness. Now they pay attention to love and quality of life. I think that’s healthy."

The Chinese divorce rate is lower than in many developed countries. In the UK, 3.08 couples out of every 1,000 people get divorced, while in the US it is 4.95 out of every 1,000.