Divorces by duration of marriage in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Divorces by duration of marriage was 118,505 in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
118,505
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
6th
of 47 countries
All-time high
171,729
in 1996
All-time low
112,389
in 2015
Years of data
27
1990–2016

Divorces by duration of marriage in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1990–2016

050.0k100.0k150.0k1990200320161990: 153.4k1991: 158.7k1992: 160.4k1993: 165.0k1994: 158.2k1995: 170.1k1996: 171.7k1997: 161.1k1998: 160.1k1999: 158.7k2000: 154.6k2001: 156.8k2002: 160.7k2003: 166.7k2004: 167.1k2005: 154.6k2006: 147.7k2007: 143.8k2008: 135.9k2009: 126.5k2010: 132.4k2011: 129.8k2012: 130.5k2013: 126.7k2014: 122.6k2015: 112.4k2016: 118.5k

Source: Eurostat.

Analysis

The most recent figure for divorces by duration of marriage in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 118,505, measured in 2016.

Compared with earlier readings it is 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 171,729 in 1996 and was at its lowest, 112,389, in 2015.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 6th of 47 countries on this measure, 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

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

Averages by decade

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

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 3 Metropolitan France 129,802 compare
  2. 4 France 128,043 compare
  3. 5 Ukraine 121,381 compare
  4. 7 Spain 82,991 compare
  5. 8 Italy 77,364 compare
  6. 9 Poland 57,463 compare

See the full ranking of 55 places →

More reference data data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is divorces by duration of marriage in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Divorces by duration of marriage in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 118,505 in 2016, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest divorces by duration of marriage recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 171,729 in 1996.
What is the lowest divorces by duration of marriage recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 112,389 in 2015.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for divorces by duration of marriage?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 6th out of 47 countries with data for 2016.
Is divorces by duration of marriage rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/divorces-by-duration-of-marriage-reached-during-the-year/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Divorces by duration of marriage (reached during the year)
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
55 places, 1,416 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed