Newly released data from Statistics Botswana shows the institution of marriage in Botswana is facing unprecedented challenges with a sharp decline in the number of registered unions. In 2023, the country recorded only 4,789 marriages—a dramatic 15.1% drop from 2022’s 5,642 and a far cry from the 7,631 unions celebrated in 2021. Is the downward trend a reflection of shifting societal values and the economic pressures shaping modern relationships? Once a cornerstone of stability and cultural pride, marriage now appears to be losing its grip.
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