Divorce

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

Spotlight

In 2023, there were 103,816 legal partnership dissolutions, comprising of both divorces (102,678) and civil partnership dissolutions (1,138); a similar number of annual cases granted to pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic levels.
In 2023, 74.2% of divorces (76,164) and 67.9% of dissolutions (773) were granted under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act; an increase from 2022, where 9.2% of divorces and 10.3% of dissolutions were granted under the new legislation.
In 2023, 73.1% of final orders granted under the new legislation were sole applications, including 73.3% of divorces and 53.8% of civil partnership dissolutions.

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Divorces in England and Wales

Annual divorce numbers and rates, by duration of marriage, sex, to whom granted and reason, that took place in England and Wales.
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 and dissolutions in England and Wales: 2023

Annual divorce and civil partnership dissolution numbers and rates, partnership type, to whom granted and duration of marriage.

View all related statistical bulletins

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.