BEIJING -- Chinese courts heard nearly 1.4 million divorce cases last year, according to the Supreme People's Court (SPC).

"Apart from those applied for in court, 3.46 million Chinese couples divorced in civil affairs offices in 2016," said Du Wanhua, a senior SPC official, at a conference Sunday.

Du said court officials needed to study sociology and psychology to better mediate family disputes, as nearly 10 million people were directly involved, and over 50 million people, including children and close relatives, were affected.

A total of 3.15 million couples divorced in civil affairs offices in 2015, and 2.96 million couples in 2014, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.