Erbil: More than 61,000 marriage contracts were registered last year in the Kurdistan Region, compared to approximately 16,000 divorces and separations.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the region’s courts recorded a total of approximately 133,936 completed judicial transactions in the courts of Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, Duhok, and Garmian governorates in 2025, with marriage and separation cases being the most prominent.

The data indicated that the total number of marriage contracts across the region reached 61,328, while 15,826 divorces and separations were registered during the same year. Sulaimaniyah Governorate recorded the highest number of marriage contracts in 2025, with 25,687 contracts, marking an increase from 18,522 contracts in 2024. Erbil Governorate followed with 19,620 marriage contracts, up from 17,591 in 2024. Duhok Governorate saw 12,955 marriage contracts in 2025, an increase from 12,199 in the previous year. Garmian recorded the lowest number of marriage contracts, with 3,066 in 2025, compared to 2,706 in 2024.

In terms of divorce and separation cases, Erbil Governorate saw a significant increase, recording 7,113 cases in 2025, up from 3,878 in 2024. Conversely, Sulaimaniyah Governorate experienced a decrease in divorce cases, with 5,369 in 2025, down from 5,745 in 2024. Duhok Governorate recorded 2,354 divorces in 2025, an increase from 2,033 in 2024, while Garmian Governorate reported 990 divorces, up from 728 in 2024.

The statistics also revealed that 107 second marriages were registered with judicial approval during 2025, with 42 in Erbil, 39 in Sulaimaniyah, and 26 in Duhok, while no second marriages were recorded in Garmian. These figures highlight the ongoing rise in marriage rates in the Kurdistan Region, alongside variations in divorce rates among the governorates, according to the official data.