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The Only Divorce-Free Country in the World:
Marriage Culture in the PhilippinesBy_Kim Si-eun, CEO of ASEAN Lab

It is a blessing to live in a happy marriage without needing to get a divorce. But what do you do if the law prohibits divorce? It may sound improbable, but there is a country that bans divorce: the Philippines.

To be exact, both Vatican City and the Philippines prohibit divorce. But considering Vatican City’s peculiarity as a theocracy, the Philippines are often referred to as the only nation that forbids divorce. Exceptions are only being made for the country’s Muslim minority and for marriages where the husband is Muslim and the marriage was celebrated under Muslim rites, as well as in some cases where one of the spouses is of foreign nationality. However, the law applying to the vast majority of the population, of which more than 80% follow the Catholic faith, prohibits divorce, as Catholicism does not recognize the concept of divorce. Philippine law does not provide for divorce inside the country since 1954, and it remains the only member state of the United Nations without legal provision for divorce.

Unlike in Korea, marriages in the Philippines are not concluded through a simple administrative procedure. There is a licensing system that requires grooms and brides to obtain marriage certificates in advance in order to be able to book their wedding venues. To obtain this certificate, one must provide a number of documents, including birth certificates and a so-called “Certificate of No Impediment For Marriage,”and receive marriage-related counseling. Bridal couples are also required to take seminars on family planning and responsible parenting. On top of all the necessary preparations for a wedding, they need to undergo this admin is tractive or deal in order to eventually obtain their marriage license.

Getting a divorce, however, is even more difficult than getting married; in fact, it is nearly impossible. Does that mean that people in the Philippines live together forever without ever getting separated? Of course not. For starters, instead of a divorce, you can file for an annulment of your marriage. In other words, you need to invalidate the fact that you were married. It requires a solid reason, takes more than one year, and costs at least 5 million won—prohibitive costs for people with fewer means. However, once this annulment process is completed, you can return to the state of being unmarried.

As both marriage and divorce are challenging, many Philippine couples choose to live together without marrying. It is also common for married couples wanting to break up to live apart or meet new partners without getting a legal divorce. Due to the stronghold of Catholicism in the country, abortionsare also prohibited. As a result, over half of all Philippine children are born out of wedlock. On the upside, because so many women are single mothers, they experience less discrimination and greater acceptance in Philippine society, although challenges remain.As such, conservative and liberal aspects coexist in the complex marriage culture of the Philippines. However, the wind has started blowing in favor of changing the country’s divorce laws. With a new president soon in office, perhaps the Philippines may pave the way for its citizens to get legally divorced.