Philippines and Vatican City remain the only nations where divorce is illegal

According to data from the World Population Review, the Philippines and Vatican City are the only two countries in the world where divorce is currently illegal.

Vatican City maintains this prohibition based on religious doctrine under the leadership of the Pope. In the Philippines, where approximately 80 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, the Church exerts significant influence and opposes legislative efforts to legalize divorce. Additionally, adultery is a criminal offense in the Philippines, carrying potential prison sentences for both men and women.

Other nations maintain unique or strict divorce regulations. In Chile, no-fault divorce is not recognized, requiring specific grounds such as violence or abandonment. In India, while divorce is legal, the rate is low at 1 percent, and decisions rest with judges. Conversely, Luxembourg reports a high divorce rate of 87 percent.