73.70% of divorce filings in 2020 were initiated by wives.

The 2021 Indonesian Statistics Report recorded a total of 291,677 divorce cases in Indonesia in 2020. The report also shows that wives filed for divorce more often than husbands.

Specifically, 214,970 cases, or 73.70%, were initiated by wives (cerai gugat). Cerai gugat refers to divorce cases where the lawsuit is filed by the wife and ruled upon by the court.

Meanwhile, 76,707 cases, or 26.30%, were initiated by husbands (cerai talak). Cerai talak refers to divorce cases where the petition is filed by the husband and ruled upon by the court.

Imam Nahe'i, Commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), stated that more women are daring to take the risk of divorce. This signifies a growing awareness among women to separate from their husbands when family situations become untenable.

Nahe'i explained that Indonesian patriarchal views often blame wives for initiating divorce proceedings. This shift indicates an improvement in women's awareness amidst stereotypical cultural norms, thanks to education and gender empowerment initiatives in recent years.

Several factors contributed to divorces in 2020, including disagreements, economic issues, desertion, and domestic violence (KDRT).