Divorce statistics can give a useful picture of how relationship patterns are changing in England and Wales. They show how often divorces happen, how long marriages typically last before divorce, and where trends have shifted as people marry later, cohabit for longer and approach separation differently than previous generations.

For many people, these figures are more than a matter of general interest. They may provide context at a point when you are thinking carefully about your own marriage, financial position, children and what the next stage of your life may look like.

In this guide, we explain the latest divorce statistics from the Office for National Statistics from 2023, including how many marriages end in divorce, how the divorce rate has changed, and what the figures suggest about modern relationship patterns.

What Percentages of Marriages End in Divorce?

There is no single percentage of marriages that end in divorce that applies across the board. The likelihood of a marriage ending in divorce has changed across generations, and the latest figures show a clear pattern: marriages that began in the late 1990s have seen higher levels of divorce than those formed either decades earlier or more recently.

• For couples who married in 1963, divorce was relatively uncommon in the first decade of marriage. By their 10th wedding anniversary, 7.8 per cent had divorced. Even after 25 years of marriage, the figure had reached 22.8 per cent, rising to 27.1 per cent by their 60th anniversary.
• The picture looked very different for couples who married in 1998. By their 10th wedding anniversary, 23.6 per cent had divorced - around three times the proportion seen among couples who married in 1963. By their 25th anniversary, 40.7 per cent of these marriages had ended in divorce.
• More recent marriages appear to be following a different pattern again. Among couples who married in 2013, 16.8 per cent had divorced by their 10th anniversary. That is still substantially higher than the equivalent figure for couples married in 1963, but lower than the figure for those married in 1998.

In practical terms, the data suggests that divorce became more common among couples who married in the later decades of the 20th century, but that early divorce has become less common among more recent marriages. This may reflect wider changes in how people form relationships, including later marriage ages and more couples living together before marriage.

The key point is that divorce remains common in England and Wales, but the trend is not simply moving in one direction. The figures show changing relationship patterns across different generations, rather than a single national average that can predict the future of any individual marriage.

What Is the Current Divorce Rate in England and Wales?

The divorce rate gives a different view from the long-term figures on how many marriages end in divorce. Instead of looking at what happens to couples who married in a particular year, it looks at divorces granted during a single year compared with the married population.

In 2023, the divorce rate in England and Wales was:

• 8.6 divorces per 1,000 married men
• 8.5 divorces per 1,000 married women

This was higher than in 2022, when divorce rates fell to their lowest level since 1971. However, that does not necessarily mean divorce is becoming more common again in the long term. The 2022 figures were affected by the introduction of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, which changed the divorce process and introduced new waiting periods.

The broader trend is still one of gradual decline. Divorce rates have fallen since their peak in the early 1990s, which suggests that fewer married couples are divorcing each year than at the height of the divorce rate several decades ago.

Why Has the Divorce Rate Changed?

Divorce statistics are shaped by more than the number of couples deciding to separate in any given year. They also reflect wider changes in how people form relationships, when they marry and what marriage looks like at different stages of life.

One of the clearest changes is that couples are marrying later. In 1994, the median age at marriage for opposite-sex couples was 29.6 years for men and 27.6 years for women. By 2022, this had risen to 34.8 years for men and 32.9 years for women.

Cohabitation before marriage has also become much more common. In 1994, 59.6 per cent of opposite-sex couples lived together before getting married. By 2022, this had increased to 90.0 per cent.

These changes help to explain why the divorce rate has not continued to rise. Many couples now marry after spending longer together, after establishing careers or finances, or after making decisions about children and property. That does not remove the possibility of divorce, but it does mean many marriages begin in different circumstances than they did in previous generations.

At the same time, divorce has become a more recognised part of modern family life. The introduction of no-fault divorce means couples no longer need to rely on allegations such as unreasonable behaviour or adultery to bring the marriage to an end. For some couples, this can make the legal process less adversarial, even where financial settlement, child arrangements or other practical issues still need careful advice.

How Long Do Marriages Last Before Divorce?

The latest divorce statistics also show how long marriages tend to last before divorce proceedings are completed.

For opposite-sex couples who divorced in 2023, the median marriage duration was 12.7 years. The Office for National Statistics notes that this remains among the longest median marriage durations recorded.

The figures for same-sex marriages are different, partly because same-sex marriage has only been available in England and Wales since 2014. In 2023, the median duration was:

• 7.2 years for male same-sex couples
• 6.3 years for female same-sex couples

These figures should be read in context. Median duration does not show when a marriage is most likely to end, and it does not say anything about the stability of any individual relationship. It simply gives a snapshot of the marriages that legally ended in 2023.

What it does show is that divorce often follows a long period of shared life. By the time many couples begin the divorce process, they may have built up significant joint responsibilities, including a family home, pensions, savings, business interests, child arrangements or wider financial commitments. This is why the legal process is rarely only about ending the marriage itself. It is also about creating a clear and workable structure for the future.

What Do the Statistics Say About Same-Sex Divorces and Civil Partnerships?

The latest national statistics also show how divorce and civil partnership dissolution are affecting same-sex couples in England and Wales.

In 2023, there were 1,891 same-sex divorces, the highest annual number recorded so far. This does not necessarily mean that same-sex marriages are less stable. Same-sex marriage has only been available in England and Wales since 2014, so the number of same-sex couples who are married, and therefore able to divorce, has increased over time.

For civil partnerships, the dissolution rate was 7.4 per 1,000 civil partnered men and 11.2 per 1,000 civil partnered women in 2023. The Office for National Statistics has also noted that dissolution rates have historically been higher among female same-sex couples than male same-sex couples.

How Has No-Fault Divorce Affected the Figures?

The legal process for divorce changed significantly in April 2022, when the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 came into force. This introduced no-fault divorce in England and Wales, meaning couples no longer need to prove fault or rely on reasons such as unreasonable behaviour, adultery or a period of separation.

Under the current system, the application is based on a statement that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. Couples can also apply jointly, which allows both people to take a more balanced approach from the outset where that is appropriate.

The change in law has affected recent divorce numbers because the no-fault divorce process includes mandatory waiting periods. This means some divorces that began after the new legislation came into force could not be completed until later, affecting the timing of final divorce orders granted in 2022 and 2023.

In 2023, most divorces were already being completed under the new legislation. The Office for National Statistics recorded that 74.2 per cent of divorces and 67.9 per cent of civil partnership dissolutions granted that year were under the new law.

What Is the Divorce Process?

The legal process itself follows a set sequence. In most cases, this includes:

• Applying for divorce: this can be done by one person as a sole application, or by both spouses together as a joint application.
• Waiting 20 weeks: once the application has been issued by the court, there is a minimum 20-week period before you can apply for the conditional order.
• Applying for the conditional order: this confirms that the court sees no legal reason why the divorce cannot proceed.
• Waiting six weeks and one day: after the conditional order is made, there is a further waiting period before the final order can be requested.
• Applying for the final order: this legally ends the marriage.

The minimum timeframe is therefore around six months, although the wider process can take longer where there are unresolved financial matters, child arrangements, pensions, property, business interests, trusts or international assets to consider.

The key point is that divorce does not deal with everything on its own. The final order ends the legal marriage, but it does not automatically divide assets, resolve pensions, deal with the family home or dismiss future financial claims. Those issues usually need to be addressed separately through a financial settlement, and any agreed terms should normally be recorded in a financial consent order.