STATISTICS released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs show the number of divorces nationwide has been rising in the past 12 years, among which Shenzhen’s divorce rate ranks the highest in Guangdong Province, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

    According to the statistics, 3.64 million couples in China divorced last year, the highest number in the past 12 years.

    In 2014, an average of 1.66 couples divorced per 1,000 people in Guangdong Province, ranking 28th in China. The divorce rate of last year, the number of divorced couples compared to the number of married couples, was not available. The divorce rate in 2013 was about 27 percent in China, while the U.S. divorce rate is about 50 percent.

    In Shenzhen last year, five couples divorced per 1,000 people, 10 times that of Shantou, the city with the lowest rate of divorced couples in Guangdong.

    There are many reasons for the rising number of couples who divorce. According to Judicial Options of China, more than 30 percent of divorces are because of conflicting personalities.

    Other reports said social media is also contributing to the surging divorce rate.

    The growing divorce rate shows an advance in citizens’ opinions about marriage, and their pursuit of better-quality married life.

    Along with the rising divorce rate, the remarriage rate is also going up from 2003 to 2013. The rate of remarriage increased from 10.9 percent to 19.1 percent in 2013. (Zhang Xiaoyi, Yin Ran)