Rudolf Gaiseb
The rise in singlehood has become a global phenomenon. Today, Namibia’s unmarried people are almost equivalent to the country’s entire population 14 years ago.
In 2023, the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) recorded that 69.7% of the population, 15 years and above, had never experienced marriage. Namibia’s total population has increased from 2 113 077 in 2011 to 3 022 401 in 2023.
In 2011, more than half (59%) of the population was recorded as unmarried. And in 2023, a total of 2.1 million were recorded as unmarried.
The NSA also recorded that consensual unions, which have dropped from 7.5% since 2011, stood at 4.1% in 2023.
In the face of the falling figures, one expert says that it is not a crisis but rather a transformation.
Namibian psychologist Shaun Whittaker, who also analyses social behavioural trends, spoke to New Era yesterday, detailing that many societies are witnessing a delay in marriage while also seeing fewer long partnerships.
Women and men increasingly put education, employment, and independence first, before getting married.
“It’s more a sign of social transformation taking place, where people are redefining relationships, independence, and family life. There are obviously more self-reliance and individualisation in life where people focus on their own development and self-actualisation and focus on their personal growth,” he said.
Economic pressure, unemployment, and income inequality make marriage financially challenging for people, prompting them to seek financial stability.
The statistics also show this exact trend.
NSA states that the average age of a person’s first marriage and consensual union in Namibia stood at 30.5, with males recording a higher mean age at 33.4 and females at 28.3. Which means more women marry sooner than men.
The trend is the same in both urban and rural areas.
It is also clear that marriage is no longer the central institution linking intimacy and childbearing, as out-of-wedlock childbearing is common, Whittaker said.
Namibia recorded a 3.8% growth in its fertility rate in 2023 from 3.6% in 2011.
Whittaker noted that cohabitation and childbearing outside marriage are increasingly accepted and normalised these days.
This is despite traditional and religious norms that expect otherwise.
“There are real challenges to traditional ideas around nuclear families. Young people certainly see it as a form of liberation, and this creates cultural tension with the older generation for sure,” Whittaker said.
Meanwhile, The Economist recently reported that in the United States of America, 50% of men and 41% of women aged 25 to 35 are not living with a partner, a share that has doubled in the past 50 years.
It aired that with this rising singlehood, there’s less social pressure for women to get married; they can now earn more than they used to, and divorce is easier than in the past.
And while dating apps are expected to make it easier to find a match, the reports suggest they could be making people much pickier.
Some people are even turning to technology to find partners who will never reject them.
The Economist adds that a striking 7% of young singles say they would consider a robo-romance with an artificial intelligence (AI) companion.
It suggests that as these lovebots get more sophisticated, they could worsen the decline of human relationships.
Whittaker also echoed that with the growth in women’s autonomy, empowerment and the changing gender roles, reliance on marriage is reduced.
Moreover, singlehood comes with various psychological, financial and physical advantages, such as independence, self-reliance, creativity, self-development and self-actualisation.
“But singlehood can also lead to loneliness and isolation if there are no good social networks,” Whittaker explained.
Meanwhile, the impacts of divorce rates also remain a concern.
Meanwhile, social welfare ministry spokesperson Lukas Haufiku said that the high rate of divorce is deeply disruptive to family units, the cornerstone of society, and often has far-reaching consequences such as mental and emotional distress, including guilt and shame, behavioural challenges and poor academic performances.
“Court records, including matters reflected on High Court rolls, indicate that the reasons for divorce vary widely. Common contributing factors include infidelity, poor communication, financial strain, domestic violence, substance abuse and broader socio-economic pressures,” Haufiku said.
Dynamically, high divorce rates are said to have profound societal consequences.
Children often experience emotional distress, depression, academic difficulties and an increased risk of repeating patterns of family breakdown later in life.
Women may be left economically vulnerable, while communities and extended family structures are weakened, eroding social structures and support systems, Haufiku noted.
As such, he said the ministry prioritises and advocates for processes and interventions that promote reconciliation where possible, while minimising trauma, especially for children who are most affected.
Over the past few years, divorce rates in Namibia have been skyrocketing. In 2018, it was reported that nearly 1 297 divorces were finalised in Windhoek.
About 1 422 cases were filed the following year, of which approximately 862 were finalised.
Another expert, mental health activist Ngajozikue Kavikairiua, was earlier of the fervent view that the alarming divorce rates are attributable to selfish individual interests among couples who enter these unions “to get something out of it.”
