The most visited countries in the world. Moving to the USA

Today, in all developed countries of the world, the family as a social institution is going through hard times. Every year, fewer couples formalize their marital relations "as expected", and the number of divorces in registered families literally rolls over. Nobody likes this situation, but no matter how hard the authorities try to influence it, there are fewer and fewer principled supporters of a strong, traditional marriage.

There are a lot of reasons for this state of affairs: economic, moral, religious, but they all lead to the same result - the number of divorces is growing at an alarming pace. To numerically evaluate this process, the so-called divorce rate is commonly used, which is defined as the number of divorces per year for every thousand people. There is also an estimation method in which the number of divorces is divided by the number of marriages. Of course, both of these methods make it possible to obtain a very approximate picture, if only because they do not take into account the number of disintegrating families of those people who live in a civil marriage and, therefore, do not register their relationship. But, unfortunately, both methods show that the rapid growth of divorces is a completely reliable result.

Let's take a look at the top ten countries with the highest divorce rates.

(Total 10 photos)

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10. Hungary

In 2010, Eurostat data showed that Hungary ranks third in the world in terms of the percentage of divorces and marriages. Statistics show that 67% of marriages in the country end in divorce, and for every thousand citizens there are 2.5 divorces per year, with a marriage rate of 3.6. Every tenth adult male in Hungary is divorced, and 12.4% of women have experienced unsuccessful marriages.

These numbers are by no means optimistic. Experts from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development opined that the ease with which the courts handle this procedure contributes to the increase in the number of divorces in Hungary, and that therefore young couples get divorced literally because of every trifle.

The Scandinavian countries have always been "famous" for high divorce rates, but recently the situation here can only be called threatening. A "record" number of divorces - 25,100 - was registered in Sweden in 2013. And more than 100 of these broken marriages lasted less than a year.

The Swedish Divorce Act made the procedure much easier in 1974, and since then the number of divorces has increased by several thousand every year.

Today's statistics state that about 47% of marriages in this country end in divorce. Researcher Glenn Sandström sees one reason as a powerful welfare system that makes it easy for women to cope financially without a husband, even when they are at their most vulnerable or helpless. As evidence, the researcher cites almost coinciding curves for the growth of the level of social security and the growth of divorces.

In 1960, the divorce rate in the Czech Republic was 16%. In 2005, it was already 50%, which brought the Czech Republic into the ranks of countries with the highest values ​​of this coefficient. Today, the sad coefficient reaches 66%. Jitya Rychtarikova, a professor of demography at Charles University, attributes this rapid increase in divorce rates to the fact that after World War II, Czech women began to massively abandon the career of housewives and go to work on an equal basis with men. The higher the financial independence of the spouses from each other, the less strong the bonds of marriage become. Richtarikova also cites data showing that the percentage of divorces in families with a low level of education exceeds that of intelligent families.

7. Portugal

The National Institute of Statistics reports that in Portugal, the increase in divorces is strongly associated with a decrease in the birth rate. Today, the divorce rate for this country reaches 68%, which puts it in second place in the European Union. More than 70 families break up every day in Portugal.

6. Ukraine

In Ukraine, 42% of all marriages end in divorce. Statistics show that people get married here more often than in other European countries, but they also get divorced with incredible speed. At the same time, almost a quarter of marriages break up due to the banal alcoholism of one or both spouses. Another factor that massively destroys families is financial hardship and low living standards.

The presence of children does not deter parents from divorce, so today the number of incomplete families is about 20%. The divorce procedure itself in Ukraine is incredibly simple, and the amount of alimony that must be paid for the maintenance of a child is very small (less than $ 50 per month), which also does not create practically any significant obstacles to divorce.

The divorce rate in the United States is 53% and has been rising over the years. Especially many divorces were registered in the 40s and 70s of the last century. The beginning of the new millennium was also marked by the rapid growth of this sad statistics. Moreover, in the United States, an interesting phenomenon is observed: those people who were once already married are especially often divorced. The ratio is as follows: about 41% of first marriages break up, 60% of second marriages, and for third marriages this figure reaches 73%. Surprisingly, it seems that people do not learn from their mistakes at all.

The main reasons for divorce in the United States, experts include: financial difficulties, physical and mental violence in the family, loss of interest of spouses to each other, betrayal.

Unfortunately, Russia is also one of the countries with the highest divorce rate. For our country, the coefficient is 51%. And the growth dynamics of this indicator is simply depressing. If ten years ago every third married couple got divorced in Russia, today every second. In 2012, Russia generally took the place of the world leader, but, fortunately, not for long.

The main obstacles to a long family life in Russia are the lack of housing, financial difficulties and alcoholism. Poor living conditions can really quickly destroy even the strongest feelings. After all, if the number of rooms in an apartment is less than the number of people living in it (and in such conditions there are most Russian families), then the spouses simply have nowhere to retire, and in this case there can be no question of any normal family life.

3. Belgium

In Belgium, whose citizens are considered among the richest in the European Union, the severity of the housing problem is much lower than in Russia, but there are significantly more divorces. Here the value of the coefficient rises to a record 71%. In this case, experts complain about too high a standard of living and too powerful social protection, in which people simply do not need each other and immediately disperse at the slightest cooling of feelings. In the 1970s, when there were no such numerous and generous social programs in the country, the divorce rate was only 9.2%. Today, there are so many divorces that at the philistine level they are already perceived as a completely natural and by no means a dramatic event.

2. Belarus

Many statistics put Belarus in second place in the world in terms of divorce rates. The coefficient here reaches a value of 68%. The abortion rate here is also one of the highest in the world. In Belarus, many explain this situation by the mass loss of faith in God and the departure from traditional religious values. Indeed, more than 40% of the country's citizens consider themselves atheists, so the church's urgent calls to keep the family at all costs and completely abandon abortion do not arouse much enthusiasm in them.

1. Maldives

In terms of population, this island state occupies 175th place in the world, but in terms of divorce rate it is one of the first, bypassing both huge Russia and Belarus. Currently, the number of divorces in this country is greater than ever. And this is especially surprising, since the dominant religion in the country is Islam, whose followers, as you know, are more committed to preserving the family. Despite the fact that the dissolution of a Muslim marriage has always been surprisingly simple (it is enough to say “talaq” three times, and the marriage is considered annulled), Islam has an extremely negative attitude towards divorce, and Muslim countries are far behind all others in this indicator. But the Maldives for some reason take a kind of revenge.

August 30 is International Day for the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. We decided to pay attention to the problem of kidnapping and disappearance of people by compiling a list of countries in which this happens most often.

Mexico

In this country, in general, the criminal situation is not the most favorable, and in addition to kidnapping, there are enough smaller problems here. Due to the fact that drugs are transited through Mexico to the United States, this naturally affected the infrastructure and the level of corruption of local officials. We can say that only the drug mafia has real power in the country. Hence the problem with kidnapping arises, which most often arises on the basis of criminal showdowns. But no one is surprised by simple kidnappings for ransom. So, during the time, be extremely careful and vigilant. By the way, about three thousand people are kidnapped in Mexico every year and the probability of becoming part of this statistic is quite high.

Iraq

People go missing every day in Iraq. For the local population, this has become the norm of life and almost no one pays attention to it. The Anti-Kidnapping Department is trying to rectify the situation somehow, but it's hard to say whether it is in cahoots with groups of kidnappers. Indeed, in a country where the standard of living is below the plinth and people have no money for food, it is difficult to talk about some kind of serious fight against organized crime. If you ever go to, then in no case do not walk along the streets of local cities after sunset, since most often people are kidnapped on the streets.

India

Increasingly, there are reports of kidnappings in India in the media. Very often young children and women are kidnapped for ransom or for sexual abuse. The most annoying thing about all this is that often the police are well aware of the abductions and kidnappers and simply take money from the perpetrators. Very often, kidnapping crimes happen because of the prevailing disproportion between men and women.

Philippines

In the Philippines, the problem of kidnapping is on the rise. On some islands, in order not to be kidnapped, you need to try hard and go to them either by those who have not read anything about the place where they went or those who want to be kidnapped. The reasons for such a disaster are still the same: the low standard of living, the poverty of the majority of the population, which has no other way to earn money, except to kidnap a person and sell him to relatives ... sometimes in parts.

Venezuela

In order to prevent visitors from being kidnapped in Venezuela, special reservations have been built for them, in which they live and work. Professionals or tourists coming to Venezuela can only go outside if accompanied by guards, as they will either be kidnapped or killed or, at best, robbed. There are many gangs in the country that specialize in kidnapping people for ransom.

Also, Russian migrants are always happy to see in Scandinavian countries,.

Almost every person has the opportunity to study, since the programs and courses are now very differentiated, versatile, designed for advanced training, obtaining one or another scientific degree. For children and young people, studying at schools, colleges, universities is perfect. For students, graduate students, young scientists, older people - research or master's programs. On this basis, it becomes possible to obtain a residence permit.

Finding an employer is not easy, but with an integrated approach, choosing the most suitable options is quite realistic. The most in demand are IT specialists, web designers and web developers, economists and doctors. In countries such as, there are special programs aimed at attracting labor migrants, including from Russia.

You can go to the chosen country if a person has a passive income that can ensure his existence abroad for a certain period of time. This is usually used by freelancers. In Asia, South America, and some European countries, separate directions in migration policy have been developed, designed to invite the so-called category of financially independent people to live. It is customary to refer to them those who can provide themselves with accommodation and food without an official job.

Buying a property is a chance to stay abroad for a long time, but without a residence permit. However, this becomes the first step towards formalizing it after some time. People who buy an apartment, apartment or house are holders of long-term visas. In addition, it is worth carefully studying the foreign real estate market, since many countries, when buying expensive real estate worth several hundred thousand euros, can automatically issue a residence permit. There are such opportunities for Russians in some Asian countries, as well as on, in,.

Another common way to get the opportunity to stay in a foreign country for a long time is. This is very beneficial for countries, since two problems with a migrant are solved at once. First, he will officially be employed. Secondly, it will make constant investments in the country's budget. But to obtain a residence permit, you need to conduct entrepreneurial activities, and not just be registered with government agencies, as an individual entrepreneur.

The other official way to move is by descent immigration. This is enshrined in law, you only need to prove the degree of relationship with a particular person. Most often, Russians under such programs go to Israel, Greece, Canada, the USA, Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria. A less common but effective option is to marry a person from another country. After the Second World War, the issue of family reunification in various countries of the world became actual. Now many people use this method to obtain a residence permit, using it as a support for finding work abroad, buying real estate, and studying.

Asian countries

They evaluate according to different criteria, but it is worth paying attention to those that are preferred by the majority of residents of Eastern Europe, and where diasporas exist. A new direction for people leaving Russia is, in particular, becoming. Despite their exoticism and dissimilarity of mentalities, immigrants willingly move there for permanent residence.

It is considered one of the easiest, since you can live here for two years without opening special visas. It is only necessary to have initially. After the expiration of a two-year period, you need to leave, and then after six months you can return again. Another way to settle firmly in the Philippines is to participate in a financially independent retirement plan. But there are some nuances associated with such a pension. The applicant must be at least 35 years old, and also deposit about 20 thousand dollars in a bank account - for single migrants, or 50 thousand if there is a family. So a person receives a residence permit, and after 10 years - citizenship.

In general, it is unrealistic, but on the basis of long-term multiple visas, you can live for a very long time. For moving, especially since there are not enough specialists here. Skilled workers will very quickly be able to get a job in a particular area. Similar to the Philippine pension program is "Malaysia - my second home", which is constantly used by Europeans and Chinese. In order to take advantage of this program, you will need to open a bank account and transfer about 100 thousand dollars there. For pensioners, this amount is halved. At the same time, each month you need to show the level of income. Based on this, the migration services readily issue a visa for 10 years. The money deposited in the account can be withdrawn only after a year, and only in order to get medical insurance, pay for treatment or education, or buy real estate.

The disadvantages include an expensive standard of living, but it is lower than in Russian cities. To move, you need to know English, which is used in public authorities, shops, and everyday life.

Mainly for the winter. But convenience, comfort, and a high standard of living began to attract tourists, so they buy houses here, open travel companies, and establish other types of entrepreneurial activities. In order to stay for a long time, you can enter one of the schools in order to learn the language. This is the basis for. People over 50 use the pension program. Wealthier people have the opportunity to participate in the Thai Elite program, which allows them to obtain visas for 5 years. For this, it is worth paying 2 million baht, for which a person receives many bonuses that provide for VIP service. There is also a lighter version of the program, where bonuses are not provided, but a visa for 5 years is issued for 500,000 baht.

Many people continue their lives here, as if on an endless vacation. You can get a well-paid job only in the capital of the state, everything else is a service sector where people are recruited without special qualifications and work experience.

Moving to the USA

Through employment, it attracts foreigners with the possibility of moving with the whole family: spouses and children have the right to obtain a visa and go to America together.

To immigrate to America for the purpose of work, you will first have to find a company that is ready to hire a foreigner and draw up the necessary documents for him. The employer must fill out a petition for his future employee - without this paper, you will not be able to apply for a visa. Since the petition costs $700, the employer can deduct this amount from the first salary.

The US government also requires a medical examination, regardless of the age of the applicant. For examination, the physical condition of the person is checked, an x-ray is taken and a blood test is taken. It is worth going through a medical examination before submitting documents to the embassy and an interview. Recording for the passage of the test falls entirely on the shoulders of the applicant.

Also, for a visa to America, you will need to make or provide confirmation (if already made) about vaccines. The official website of the US government reports that an immigrant must confirm vaccines for the following diseases:

• Hepatitis A and B.
• Influenza and influenza type B.
• Measles.
• Whooping cough.
• Piggy.
• Rubella.
• Chicken pox.
• Polio.
• Pneumococcus.
• Tetanus.
• Deftria.

Since almost all of these vaccinations are given in childhood to everyone, you do not have to do them again.

If we talk about the cost of immigration to the United States, then it is worth noting the following points:

• The consular fee for a visa is $220.
• Medical examination and necessary vaccines. Passing the screening costs $210 for adults and $150 for children under 15.
• Translations, certifications and apostilles for documents. It all depends on the purpose of immigration and the number of documents. It is worth getting ready for a minimum cost of $ 200-300, but the amount can go up and more.
• Buying tickets and booking accommodation at least for the first time: about $ 400 for a ticket for one and about $ 1,000 for renting an apartment.

Summarizing this information, we can say that it will take about 1500-2000 dollars to move one person, and 2500-3000 dollars for a family of three with a child.

Regarding employment, you should also not forget that you can go to work in the USA temporarily (get a visa for a seasonal worker or au pair) or get a job in a subsidiary of a Russian (or other native country) company. But this is only suitable for those who want to come to the country for a certain time and do not plan to stay there forever.

Participation in relocation programs in Canada

Every year it receives immigrants from different countries, including citizens of the former USSR. For ease of paperwork, the Canadian government has developed an Express Entry points program.

In total, you can score 100 points, and the passing minimum is 67. Points are calculated according to the applicant's parameters:

• Language knowledge. To apply, you will have to pass a language exam in English or French. Points are awarded based on the results of this exam - each part (audio, reading, writing and speaking) gives the immigrant a certain number of points and here you can score a maximum of 28 points. It is worth noting that if a person knows a language below level B1 (in the IELTS exam, he must score at least 4 points for each part), then his application will not be accepted.
• Work experience. For work experience, a maximum of 15 points (6 or more years) and a minimum of 9 points (1 year of work) can be awarded. Only full time employment counts.
• Age. A maximum of 12 points can be awarded (from 18 to 35 years old) and 0 points if the applicant is under 18 or over 47.
• Education. A school certificate, a bachelor's or master's degree can give a maximum of 25 points to the piggy bank.
• The presence of an invitation from the employer. If a Canadian company is willing to enter into a contract with a foreigner for one year, then he will receive 10 points for the program. But this is not a mandatory item.

And if the move is carried out by the whole family, then the spouse or children can add a total of 10 points to the applicant: for their language skills, Canadian education and work experience in the country.

On the official website of the Canadian Migration Service, you can take a test and find out if you are suitable for participation in the program.

Moving to permanent residence in Australia

As in Canada, Australia has a system of moving and obtaining a points-based visa. As in the Canadian program, the number of points earned depends on age, education, language proficiency, work experience and the availability of an invitation from the employer. To successfully answer the application, you must score at least 60 points. There are also requirements for knowledge of the language - the certificate must confirm the level B2.

As well as in any other country, foreigners have the opportunity to immigrate to Australia through education in the country. However, not everyone can afford it - a year in an Australian university can cost from 10,000 to 40,000 Australian dollars.

Also, when moving to Australia, you can take your loved ones with you - children and spouse. They fall under the family reunification program and are eligible to receive a residence permit.

Australia is not so popular for immigration among Russians. Location and climate play a significant role in this. But if we talk about the standard of living, then in Australia it is high.

Have you ever wondered how many hours a year, on average, people spend at work in different parts of the world? The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) conducted an analysis of the number of working hours in different countries of the world according to 2013 data. See the countries where people work the most.

35 PHOTOS

1. Least of all among the countries that took part in the OECD study, the inhabitants of the Netherlands work the least - on average, only 1381 hours per year. (Photo: Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg).
2. In Germany, on average, a resident of the country spends 1,397 hours a year at the workplace. (Photo: Getty Images).
3. In Norway, the average annual number of hours worked per worker is 1420. (Photo: Kristian Helgesen/Bloomberg).
4. French people work an average of 1,497 hours a year. (Photo: Getty Images).
5. Ireland has an average of 1,529 hours of work per year. (Photo: Bloomberg).
6. 1546 hours a year, residents of Denmark work. (Photo: SCANPIX/Newscom/Reuters).
7. Belgians work an average of 1,574 hours a year. (Photo: Jock Fistick/Bloomberg).
8. Residents of Luxembourg spend an average of 1,609 hours per year at work. (Photo: RESO/Rex Features).
9. 1621 hours - how much time a year a resident of Sweden spends at the workplace. (Photo: Casper Hedberg/Bloomberg).
10. The Swiss spend an average of 1,636 hours a year at their desks. (Photo: ARND WIEGMANN/Newscom/Reuters).
11. England has an average of 1,654 hours of work per year. (Photo: AP Images).
12. In Slovenia, residents work 1,640 hours a year. (Photo: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg).
13. In Finland, they work 1672 hours a year. (Photo: Ville Mannikko/Bloomberg).
14. Spaniards work an average of 1686 hours a year. (Photo: Image Broker/Rex Features).
15. Residents of Portugal work an average of 1691 hours per year. (Photo: Mario Proenca/Bloomberg).
16. In Austria, the average worker works 1699 hours a year. (Photo: Image Broker/Rex Features).
17. Icelanders work an average of 1,706 hours a year. (Photo: AP Images).
18. The average Canadian works 1,710 hours a year. (Photo: Ben Nelms/Bloomberg).
19. Australians work 1728 hours a year. (Photo: TIM WIMBORNE/Newscom/Reuters).
20. New Zealanders work 1,739 hours a year. (Photo: Brendon O'Hagan/Bloomberg).
21. Considered the world over as a nation of workaholics, the Japanese are not, according to the OECD, as they only work an average of 1,745 hours per year, 492 hours less than in the top country. (Photo: AP Images).
22. Italians work an average of 1,752 hours a year. (Photo: Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg).
23. Residents of Slovakia work 1785 hours a year. (Photo: Getty Images).
24. The United States averages 1,790 hours of work per year. (Photo: Getty Images).
25. Residents of the Czech Republic spend at the workplace 1800 hours a year. (Photo: Martin Divisek/Bloomberg).
26. In Turkey, they work 1855 hours a year. (Photo: Kerem Uzel/Bloomberg).
27. Residents of Hungary work an average of 1888 hours a year. (Photo: imageBROKER/REX).
28. Residents of Estonia work 1889 hours a year. (Photo: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg).
29. 1910 hours a year, on average, residents of Israel work. (Photo: AMIR COHEN/Newscom/Reuters).
30. In Poland, they work an average of 1929 hours a year. (Photo: Bartek Sadowski/Bloomberg).
31. Residents of Russia spend an average of 1,982 hours a year at work. (Photo: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg).
32. In Chile, they work 2029 hours a year. (Photo: CARLOS BARRIA/Newscom/Reuters).
33. Residents of Greece work 2034 hours a year. (Photo: AP Images).
34. Residents of South Korea spend 2163 hours a year at work (data for 2012). (Photo: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg)
35. The people of Mexico work the most. In this country, the average worker works 2226 hours a year. This is the highest figure among the countries that took part in this rating. Spending so much time at work, it is worth taking care of a comfortable workplace, especially a chair on which you have to sit for so long. (Photo: AP Images).

Cashless payments and bank cards are common tools for residents of any more or less developed country. But it would be interesting to know where a bank card is used, if not at every turn, then at least most often? Well, it turns out that the World Pay Report boasts just such studies.

A joint report by the Royal Bank of Scotland and consultancy Capgemini notes a notable increase in the number of cashless payments involving credit, contactless and debit cards in general by 9% (compared to last year, 2014), with a total transaction volume of 390 billion.

Whether it is a lot or not, and how important such a direction of banking activity is - judge for yourself: the total amount of direct income from payment services today is already a quarter of all banking revenue. And in 9-10 years, banks will receive about $2.1 trillion. only through the development and support of payment services.

Finland

The report also indicates the countries leading in the promotion and development of cashless payment systems. So the Finns over the past year more often than others made payments using plastic cards. On average, each resident of Finland made at least 450 such payments. And this despite the fact that their state almost does not get into the headlines of FinTech news. But thanks to the active introduction of various innovations in the field of non-cash payments and Internet banking, its citizens are well aware of the intricacies and benefits of non-cash payments.

In addition, the development of payment systems and the active support of non-cash instruments by the Finns, according to analysts, is facilitated by the high level of private spending and the harsh climate of the country. Frequent snowfalls and low temperatures, especially during the dark and cold winter months, force Finns to take advantage of e-commerce more often: they prefer to avoid shopping in extreme conditions, buying goods and products they like through online stores. Accordingly, the Finns pay for their purchases with bank cards in the same place - on the sites.

USA

But residents of the United States were only in second position in the TOP list of leaders in terms of the frequency of non-cash payments. On average, each American made only 392 card payments for the entire year.

Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, South Korea

Residents of the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Australia and South Korea also actively refuse cash. There, in addition to the usual card payments, the population is actively using mobile banking, contactless cards and other banking innovations, which can significantly expand the market for non-cash payments and reduce the physical circulation of paper money.