Divorce at lowest rate since 1970s

DIVORCE rates have plunged to their lowest level in modern times, fuelled by a rise in cohabitation.

Just 101,055 marriages were ended in England and Wales in 2015, the least since the early 1970s, when legal reforms made it easier to split up.

The Office for National Statistics said changes in ‘attitudes to cohabitation as an alternative to marriage or prior to marriage, particularly at younger ages, are likely to have been a factor’.

The 101,055 total was 39 per cent down on 1993, when a record 165,018 marriages were finished by the courts. The figures showed that the average age for divorce was 45.9 for men and 43.5 for women. A marriage that ended in divorce in 2015 had on average lasted for 11.9 years.

Andrew Newbury, a divorce expert at Hall Brown Family Law, said: ‘There appear to be two camps – those who believe marriage to be preferable and an increasing number who favour cohabitation. These latest figures show that marriages are lasting longer, something which suggests that proponents are more committed to them and trying harder to make them work despite whatever difficulties can arise.’

Relate counselling group said the figures were encouraging, adding: ‘Commitment is clearly important to us and marriage can be a good way of demonstrating that commitment if that is what both people want.’