Abstract
The intact family serves as the cornerstone for building a healthy society, and achieving this necessitates marriage. Therefore, a decline in marriage rates foreshadows a decline in family structure. Conversely, escalating divorce rates dismantle both the family and the societal fabric, inflicting economic, social, and psychological damages on both parties and their descendants. This research aims to measure and analyze various economic factors alongside other variables influencing marriage and divorce processes in Iraq between (2000-2023(. This period witnessed significant political, economic, and social transformations, and forecasts for marriage and divorce rates were made until) 2030(. To fulfill the research objectives, the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model was utilized for short- and long-term estimations. The study derived several conclusions, including the positive impact of (per capita GDP, population, female labor force participation, female literacy rates, and political and economic stability) on (marriage rates), while (poverty and unemployment rates) contribute to increased (divorce rates). The research also proposes recommendations, emphasizing governmental support for employment opportunities and small-scale projects for youth, and promoting marriage by offering interest-free loans to prospective couples.
