SINGAPORE: Singapore’s overall marital stability continues to improve, but newly released data shows that remarried couples and those who marry at a younger age remain significantly more likely to divorce within the first decade of marriage.

The findings were published in the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s (MSF) 2026 Family Trends Report, which found that among resident couples who married in 2014, 12.3% of marriages involving two first-time spouses ended in divorce before their tenth anniversary.

The likelihood of divorce was higher for remarried couples. Where one spouse had previously been married, the divorce rate within ten years rose to 16.8%. For couples in which both spouses had been married before, the figure increased further to 18.7%.

Even so, the report noted that the gap in divorce rates between first-time and remarried couples has gradually narrowed in recent years.

Divorce lawyers and marriage counsellors interviewed by 8World said remarried couples often face challenges that differ from those experienced in first marriages. Some individuals may enter a new relationship without fully processing the breakdown of their previous marriage or may still be dealing with emotional trauma from the past.

They also pointed to the complexities that arise when two families come together. The presence of children from previous relationships and continued interactions with former spouses can add strain to a marriage and reduce couples’ tolerance when conflicts arise.

Experts said building trust within blended families, particularly where stepchildren are involved, takes time. They advised individuals to spend time reflecting on the lessons from a previous marriage before entering a new one.

The MSF report also found that the period between the fifth and tenth year of marriage remains the most vulnerable stage for divorce. Divorce rates rise most noticeably after five years of marriage, suggesting this is the period during which relationships require the greatest effort to sustain.

According to experts interviewed by 8World, couples in this stage often face multiple pressures simultaneously, including servicing mortgages, raising children, caring for ageing parents, and advancing their careers. As priorities and personal values evolve over time, unresolved disagreements can accumulate if communication breaks down.

One counsellor told 8World that while the early years of marriage are often sustained by love, the years that follow require conscious effort a...