Divorce

Divorces including same- and opposite-sex marriages, sex and age of people divorcing, children of divorced couples and previous marital status.

Spotlight

In 2021, there were 113,505 divorces granted in England and Wales, a 9.6% increase compared with 2020 when there were 103,592 divorces.
The number and timelines of divorces granted during 2020 may have been affected by disruption to family court activities during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; the increase in divorces granted in 2021 may partially reflect these delays as well as the impact of the pandemic on divorce applications.
The majority (111,934) of divorces in 2021 were among opposite-sex couples, with 1,571 (1.4%) among same-sex couples; female couples made up 67.2% of same-sex divorces.

Divorces in England and Wales

Annual divorce numbers and rates, by duration of marriage, sex and to whom granted and reason.
Divorces in England and Wales, children of divorced couples: historical data

Number and age of children in families where the parents divorce.
Divorces in England and Wales by age, marital status before marriage and reason: historical data

Number of couples divorcing, divorce numbers and rates by age of husband and wife, and marital status before marriage.
Divorces in England and Wales by age at and duration of marriage and cohort analyses: historical data

Ages of husband and wife at marriage, and analyses of the percentage of marriages ending in divorce by year of marriage and anniversary, and proportions of men and women who had ever divorced by year of birth and age.

Divorces in England and Wales: 2021

Annual divorce numbers and rates, by duration of marriage, sex and to whom granted and reason.

Marriage and divorce on the rise at 65 and over
How Have Living Arrangements and Marital Status in England and Wales Changed Since 2001?

Using 2011 Census data, we look at the population’s marital status (including both marriage and civil partnerships), and how these have changed since 2001. Living arrangements are also analysed as an alternative to legal partnership status, for example, cohabiting couples who are not in a legal partnership. Comparisons are made with Scotland, Northern Ireland and other developed countries.