Why do Muslim divorces cite infidelity more often than civil divorces?

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Muslim divorces cite infidelity more often than civil divorces because the two systems record different things and apply different proof requirements

In Singapore, Muslim divorces show infidelity as the main issue in 18.4% of cases, compared with 0.9% for adultery in civil divorces in 2025. Lawyers say this gap does not necessarily mean adultery is more common among Muslim couples; it mainly reflects differences in the legal frameworks and how reasons are recorded and proved. In civil divorces under the Women’s Charter, adultery must be proven as a legal fact, while Muslim divorce statistics reflect the reason stated for the marriage breakdown.
Civil divorces require proving irretrievable breakdown using specific legal facts
For a civil divorce in Singapore, couples must establish irretrievable breakdown by relying on one of six recognised legal facts under the Women’s Charter. Those legal facts include adultery, desertion, unreasonable behaviour, separation, and divorce by mutual agreement. This structure means adultery cannot simply be cited; it has to be proven within the legal process.
Adultery in civil cases has a higher evidential burden than other grounds
Lawyers interviewed say adultery in civil divorces carries a higher evidential burden, often requiring compelling circumstantial evidence. Examples given include private investigators’ reports or photographs showing a sexual relationship with a third party. As a result, spouses may rely on “unreasonable behaviour” instead of adultery when the facts are harder to prove to the required standard.
Unreasonable behaviour covers a wider range of conduct that can include extra-marital affairs
Unreasonable behaviour is described as a broader category that can encompass abuse, controlling behaviour, addiction, gambling, financial neglect, and extra-marital affairs. This breadth helps explain why “unreasonable behaviour” was the most commonly cited legal basis in civil divorces, at 48.7% in 2025. By comparison, adultery was cited in only 0.9% of civil divorces, the lowest proportion among the legal facts cited.
Muslim divorce figures record stated reasons, not the same kind of legal proof
Lawyers also note that Muslim divorce statistics record the reason given for the marriage breakdown, whereas civil divorces require adultery to be proved as a legal fact. That difference in how breakdown is documented means the higher share of Muslim divorces citing infidelity should not be read as proof that adultery is substantially more common. The figures therefore reflect procedural and evidential differences between the two divorce systems, not a direct comparison of underlying misconduct.

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Why do Muslim divorces cite infidelity more often than civil divorces?

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