The median duration of marriages ending in divorce in England and Wales has increased, with couples now waiting longer to officially separate, reflecting changing societal attitudes and economic factors.
According to recent data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the median length of marriages ending in divorce reached 13 years in England and Wales as of 2025, marking the longest duration since record-keeping began. This statistic represents a notable increase from 12.7 years in 2023 and a significant rise from a low of 8.9 years recorded in 1985. The data also highlights a declining trend in the proportion of couples divorcing within the first decade of marriage, with only 16.3% of couples who married in 2015 having divorced by their 10th anniversary, compared to 24.7% of those who married in 1995.
Celia, a former AI analyst, reflected on her experience of divorce, stating that it took her two years to initiate proceedings after realizing her 12-year marriage was unfulfilling. She emphasized the importance of financial preparedness, particularly for women, who often face economic disadvantages post-divorce, especially when children are involved. Celia noted, “I knew that women almost always end up financially worse off after divorce… so I took the time I needed to turbocharge my career before pressing ‘eject’.”
Factors Influencing Delayed Divorces
The ONS report does not provide explicit reasons for marriages lasting longer before divorce, but it proposes several potential explanations. One hypothesis is that couples may delay divorce until they feel financially secure enough to manage the subsequent changes in their lives. Professor Emma Hitchings from the University of Bristol noted that, while the introduction of no-fault divorce may have simplified the legal process, financial entanglements often become more complicated the longer a couple remains together. She stated, “Every financial aspect of divorce is harder,” citing increased costs related to housing, childcare, and living expenses, compounded by cuts to legal aid in family law cases.
Furthermore, Celia mentioned a trend among her friends, noting that several couples in their social circles also experienced divorces after long-term marriages. “It was the oddest thing. But we have three groups of friends, across Europe and in the US, who went through divorces after marriages of a decade or more,” she remarked.
International Context
This trend of prolonged marriages before divorce is not confined to the UK. Data from the Pew Research Center indicated that the median length of marriages ending in divorce in the United States increased from 10 years in 2008 to 12 years in 2023. In Germany, the average duration was recorded at 14.6 years in 2025, while the Netherlands reported a figure of 14.7 years. Belgium’s statistics office noted a median duration of 12.03 years in 2024. Although these statistics are not directly comparable due to different data collection methodologies, they suggest a broader international pattern of marriages lasting longer before divorce.
The Impact of No-Fault Divorce
Professor Anne Barlow from the University of Exeter highlighted an intriguing aspect of the British divorce statistics. Despite the introduction of no-fault divorce laws in 2022, which streamlined the legal process for couples seeking to separate, there has not been a corresponding surge in divorce rates. She noted, “Knowing you could leave made it easier to wait,” suggesting that the reduced pressure to assign blame may enable couples to navigate separation more amicably.
Dr. Alexander Maine, a senior lecturer at the City Law School, also emphasized the potential for no-fault divorce to facilitate a more thoughtful approach to separation, allowing couples to work through their issues without the stress of proving fault. “If there is no need to prove fault, there may be less pressure to bring the marriage to an immediate legal end,” he explained.
Socioeconomic Influences on Divorce Trends
Greg Ceely, head of population life events at the ONS, cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions about the reasons behind these trends, as numerous social and economic factors are at play. Julia Carter, a senior lecturer in sociology at the University of the West of England, Bristol, pointed to broader global uncertainties impacting family dynamics. She suggested that couples may choose to remain together despite dissatisfaction in their marriages to avoid adding further instability, particularly if children are involved.
Carter also noted that women continue to be the primary initiators of divorce, raising the question of what changes might be influencing their decisions to delay separation. She observed that societal shifts since the empowerment movements of the 1990s and 2000s have created a different landscape for women, with various crises leading to a renewed emphasis on stability within marriages.
Same-Sex Marriage Trends
The ONS data also revealed differing trends for same-sex marriages, with the median duration of divorces for male couples at 7.5 years and 6.6 years for female couples in 2025. Given that same-sex marriage was legalized in England and Wales in 2014, these figures reflect a relatively young pool of marriages. However, the 6.6-year figure for female couples is the highest recorded since the first same-sex divorces in 2015.
Professor Maine suggested that same-sex couples may have unique motivations for valuing marriage, stemming from the long struggle for marriage equality, which could add a layer of significance to their relationships and decisions regarding divorce. Professor Brienna Perelli-Harris from the University of Southampton noted that the rise of cohabitation has also influenced divorce trends, with more than 90% of individuals in Britain cohabiting before marriage. This may indicate a shift toward marriage being perceived as a more selective institution, where couples who choose to marry are likely those who have a stronger commitment to their partnership.
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