According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of couples filing for divorce within their first decade of marriage has declined since the turn of the 21st century.
For those married in 1995, one in four marriages ended in divorce by 2005. That figure has since declined by around 30%. For those married in 2012, only 17% of marriages ended in divorce by 2022.
This brings the level to its lowest since the 1960s. Of those married in 1965, just 10% of marriages were divorced by 1975. However, the rates began to rise as legal reforms made separation simpler and considerably less stigmatised.
In 2022, which is the newest data at the ONS’ disposal, some 78,759 divorces were granted to married couples living in England and Wales. This was also the lowest annual divorce rate since 1971.
All of which prompts an intriguing question: why are fewer marriages ending in divorce despite the myriad of challenges that 21st-century couples face?
Shifting social attitudes and cohabitation trends
A change in societal norms is one of the main reasons why divorce rates are falling. One factor is that fewer people are getting married. According to relationship counsellor, Mark Widdowson, he has noted a shift towards cohabitation rather than marriage. Widdowson said that he had experienced more couples living together under the same roof but not taking the next step towards marriage. Naturally, if the pool of couples formalising their union in marriage is diminishing, so too will the pool of potential divorcees.
It’s also worth mentioning the impact of the new ‘no fault divorce’ framework, which came into law in 2022. Essentially, couples no longer need to assign blame when filing for divorce, easing the hostility surrounding the proceedings. Although it’s still early days to ascertain the full impact of the law, it may already be enabling more amicable separations and potentially influencing couples’ decisions to remain married.
The economic impact of divorce
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Another potential reason for declining divorce rates is the economic climate. According to Legal & General Retail, almost a fifth of divorces in the last five years have been put on hold for financial reasons. These reasons include the costs associated with divorce proceedings and simply the rising cost of living. This trend underscores the vital role that financial stability plays in marital decisions.
The rise of ‘grey’ divorces
While trends for younger married couples appear to be leading to greater stability, at the other end of the spectrum, older married couples appear to be divorcing in their numbers. According to the latest ONS data, the divorce rate for couples aged 60 and above has risen considerably over the last half-century.
One of the potential reasons for so-called ‘grey divorces’ is the shift in social attitudes towards separation. Furthermore, accumulated wealth between older couples can make it easier to separate and allow partners to stand on their own two feet more easily. That’s so long as a divorce financial settlement can be reached. This sets out how assets are split upon divorce. It’s a legally binding agreement that can be enforced by the courts if necessary. The settlement can include anything from savings and pensions to cryptocurrency investments.
While fewer marriages are ending in divorce, especially within the first ten years, the rise in divorces among older couples indicates that marital stability is still by no means stable across different age groups.
For further information on this subject, check out
- A guide to the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act (2020).
- What is marriage and what does it represent?
