After a seven-year-boom, the number of international marriages taking place in Shanghai each year is gradually reducing. However, now there is a new trend. The number of these marriages ending in divorce is increasing year on year.

In the first half of this year alone, 120 cross-cultural couples split up. This was more than for the whole of 2002.

More divorces

Since the reform and opening policy was adopted, the number of registered international marriages in Shanghai has grown sporadically. The first period of sustained growth occurred from 1980 to 1985. By the end of 1985, there were 826 mixed couples in Shanghai. A second boom started in the mid 1990s with over 3,000 marriages a year being registered. The record was set in 2001 with 3,442.

Cross-cultural love is a natural thing. However, the partners can face additional tensions arising from cultural differences and practical problems like where to live and how to bring up the children. Later as they grow accustomed to each other, they may have to deal with the "seven year itch."

The latest statistics show the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau handled some 90 international divorces in 2002. By 2003, this had grown by 60 percent to more than 140. Numbers have since increased further with 120 in the first half of this year alone.

Foreign husbands

Nowadays, Shanghai folk have been choosing their foreign spouses from 40 different countries and regions. They have come to the metropolis from all the continents of the world except the Antarctic. More than 50 percent are from Japan, USA or Canada.

The Population Research Institute of East China Normal University studied 21,000 international marriages entered into in Shanghai between 1996 and 2002. They found that 88.9 percent comprised a foreign husband and a local wife. Most of the foreign husbands were in the age band from 25 to 54 and married at an average age of 41.9 years. Meanwhile their Shanghai wives were mostly aged from 20-39 and married younger at 31.4 years on average. With husbands tending to tie the knot some 10.5 years older than their wives, the age gap is thought to be a major factor contributing to the high divorce rate.

New easier divorces

The new Marriage Registration Regulations now in force have helped to boost the rising divorce rate. They have simplified the procedures and led to an increased number of enquiries at the Civil Affairs Bureau.

"With the introduction of the new regulations, couples can complete the entire divorce procedure in one day. It costs just 10 yuan (a little over one US dollar) as long as both parties bring along all the necessary documents such as passports, ID cards and marriage certificate and have reached agreement on custody of the children, division of property and settling family debts," said Mr. Zhou of the Shanghai Municipal Marriage Registration Management Department.
 
Many couples choose to arrange their divorces in Civil Affairs Departments because of the fast and convenient service and the low fees.

(China.org.cn by Li Shen, September 20, 2004)