Muscat – The number of divorce cases went down while marriages registered went up in the sultanate in 2020, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

NCSI data shows that the total number of divorce certificates issued in the sultanate in 2020 were 3,426 (9.4 cases a day), marking a decline of 8.1 per cent compared to 2019.

‘The number of divorce cases among Omanis fell by 192 cases, and by 17 cases between GCC citizens and Omani women,’ NCSI stated.

The Governorate of Muscat recorded the highest number of divorce cases – 796 – followed by North Batinah (672). Musandam recorded the lowest with 18 divorce cases.

The data indicated that the number of marriage certificates issued increased by 2.1 per cent in 2020; 18,621 marriage certificates were issued in the year.

North Batinah topped the list with 3,938 marriages, accounting for an 11 per cent increase over 2019. Muscat was second with 3,354 marriages registered – an increase of 1.9 per cent compared to 2019. Musandam recorded the least number of marriages – 104 – in 2020, which was 31.1 per cent less that 2019.

NCSI data also indicated a decrease by 180 cases in the number of Omanis married to expatriates in 2020. The number of Omanis married to GCC women also declined by 49 cases compared to 2019.

Additionally, the number of Omani women married to GCC citizens went down by 65 cases. The number of Omani women married to expatriates also fell by 53 cases in 2020.