Divorces by duration of marriage in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Divorces by duration of marriage was 118,505 Number in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
118,505 Number
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
8th
of 59 countries
All-time high
171,729 Number
in 1996
All-time low
112,389 Number
in 2015
Years of data
27
1990–2016

Divorces by duration of marriage in United Kingdom, 1990–2016

050.0k100.0k150.0k1990200320161990: 153.4k Number1991: 158.7k Number1992: 160.4k Number1993: 165.0k Number1994: 158.2k Number1995: 170.1k Number1996: 171.7k Number1997: 161.1k Number1998: 160.1k Number1999: 158.7k Number2000: 154.6k Number2001: 156.8k Number2002: 160.7k Number2003: 166.7k Number2004: 167.1k Number2005: 154.6k Number2006: 147.7k Number2007: 143.8k Number2008: 135.9k Number2009: 126.5k Number2010: 132.4k Number2011: 129.8k Number2012: 130.5k Number2013: 126.7k Number2014: 122.6k Number2015: 112.4k Number2016: 118.5k Number

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for divorces by duration of marriage in United Kingdom is 118,505 Number, measured in 2016.

That represents a change of up 5.4% on the previous year and down 19.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, divorces by duration of marriage in United Kingdom peaked at 171,729 Number in 1996 and was at its lowest, 112,389 Number, in 2015.

That places United Kingdom 8th out of 59 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 27 years of available data.

Divorces by duration of marriage in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Divorces by duration of marriage (reached during the year) in United Kingdom, 1990 to 2016.
Year Number Change
1990 153,386 Number
1991 158,745 Number +3.5%
1992 160,385 Number +1.0%
1993 165,018 Number +2.9%
1994 158,175 Number -4.1%
1995 170,050 Number +7.5%
1996 171,729 Number +1.0%
1997 161,087 Number -6.2%
1998 160,057 Number -0.6%
1999 158,700 Number -0.8%
2000 154,628 Number -2.6%
2001 156,810 Number +1.4%
2002 160,726 Number +2.5%
2003 166,737 Number +3.7%
2004 167,138 Number +0.2%
2005 154,559 Number -7.5%
2006 147,717 Number -4.4%
2007 143,825 Number -2.6%
2008 135,943 Number -5.5%
2009 126,520 Number -6.9%
2010 132,358 Number +4.6%
2011 129,764 Number -2.0%
2012 130,469 Number +0.5%
2013 126,716 Number -2.9%
2014 122,556 Number -3.3%
2015 112,389 Number -8.3%
2016 118,505 Number +5.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 161,733 Number 153,386 Number 171,729 Number 10
2000s 151,460 Number 126,520 Number 167,138 Number 10
2010s 124,680 Number 112,389 Number 132,358 Number 7

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 5 Metropolitan France 129,802 Number compare
  2. 6 France 128,043 Number compare
  3. 7 Ukraine 121,381 Number compare
  4. 8 United Kingdom 118,505 Number compare
  5. 10 Spain 82,991 Number compare
  6. 11 Italy 77,364 Number compare

See the full ranking of 66 places →

More reference data data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is divorces by duration of marriage in United Kingdom?
Divorces by duration of marriage in United Kingdom was 118,505 Number in 2016, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest divorces by duration of marriage recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 171,729 Number in 1996.
What is the lowest divorces by duration of marriage recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 112,389 Number in 2015.
How does United Kingdom rank for divorces by duration of marriage?
United Kingdom ranks 8th out of 59 countries with data for 2016.
Is divorces by duration of marriage rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is down 19.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Divorces by duration of marriage (reached during the year). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Divorces by duration of marriage in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/divorces-by-duration-of-marriage-reached-during-the-year/united-kingdom-2/

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About this data

Indicator
Divorces by duration of marriage (reached during the year)
Unit
Number
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
66 places, 1,750 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed