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While divorce rates in other countries are rising, UK statistics have shown that divorce rates are dropping to their lowest point in 26 years - it's believed the credit crunch is forcing couples to stay together, but their may be a number of other factors involved.
Specific statistics are compiled by many different organisations and institutions, generally to meet the researchers' personal needs. It covers divorce related categories, such as age, religion, location, financial status, family history of relationships, number of children and length of marriage.
All the discussed figures below are taken from the Office of National Statistics. This can be viewed at www.statistics.gov.uk.
Number of Recorded Divorces in England and Wales
Year | Petitions and annulments filed for | Decree absolute and nullity granted | % of petitions completed | 2001 | 172,833 | 143,818 | 83 | 2002 | 177,666 | 147,735 | 83 | 2003 | 173,703 | 153,490 | 88 | 2004 | 167,685 | 153,399 | 91.4 | 2005 | 152,090 | 141,750 | 93.2 | 2006 | 149,065 | 132,562 | 88.9 | 2007 | 137,816 | 128,534 | 93.2 |
The media and government declare to the public that divorces granted in 2003 has risen by 3.8% from the previous year, it is also true that the number of petitions filed has fallen by 2.2%.
In 2002, only 83% of petitions filed in were granted/completed. The same percentage of petitions have been finalised in 2003 and the total number of divorces recorded have been closer to 144,000 - a decrease in the number for 2002.
Similarly, in 2003 and 2004, the number of divorces granted is virtually the same year on year, petitions filed has dropped and percentage of petitions finalised has increased.
In the last five years, 10% more petitions been completed. This is due to better establishment of the cause of marriage breakdown.
Also, the process of divorce has sped up in recent years. 'Quickie' divorces can be instigated through sources on the internet, and do not appear to hold the same onus as they did previously.
Number of Recorded Divorces Across the UK
Year | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | Total in UK | 2001 | 143,818 | 10,631 | 2,365 | 156,814 | 2002 | 147,735 | 10,826 | 2,165 | 160,726 | 2003 | 153,490 | 10,928 | 2,319 | 166,737 | 2004 | 153,399 | 11,227 | 2,512 | 167,138 | 2005 | 141,750 | 10,940 | 2,362 | 155,052 | 2006 | 132,562 | 13,014 | 2,565 | 148,141 | 2007 | 128,534 | 12,773 | 2,913 | 144,220 |
The Office of National Statistics has proudly announced that number of divorces across the UK is at an all time low since 1977, with a 2.6% drop on last year.
There is also a drop in Scotland's figures. However, they have not quite recovered from the introduction of 'The Family Act 2006', which made periods of separation as valid grounds for petition much shorter than England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
There is a huge increase of 14% in the number of divorces in Northern Ireland.
Number of Marriages and Divorces in England and Wales
Year | Marriages | Divorces granted | % of divorces against marriages | 1996 | 278,975 | 157,107 | 56.31 | 1997 | 272,536 | 146,689 | 53.82 | 2001 | 249,227 | 143,818 | 57.7 | 2002 | 255,596 | 147,735 | 57.80 | 2003 | 270,109 | 153,490 | 56.8 | 2004 | 273,069 | 153,399 | 56.17 | 2005 | 247,805 | 141,750 | 57.2 | 2006 | 236,980 | 132,562 | 55.94 | 2007 | N/A | 128,534 | N/A |
Number of Marriages and Divorces in Scotland
Year | Marriages | Divorces granted | % of divorces against marriages | 2001 | 29,621 | 10,631 | 35.89 | 2002 | 29,826 | 10,826 | 36.30 | 2003 | 30,757 | 10,928 | 35.53 | 2004 | 32,154 | 11,227 | 34.91 | 2005 | 30,881 | 10,940 | 35.42 | 2006 | 29,898 | 13,014 | 43.5 | 2007 | N/A | 12,773 | N/A |
Number of marriages and divorces in Northern Ireland
Year | Marriages | Divorces granted | % of divorces against marriages | 2001 | 7,281 | 2,365 | 32.48 | 2002 | 7,599 | 2,165 | 28.49 | 2003 | 7,757 | 2,319 | 29.89 | 2004 | 8,328 | 2,512 | 30.16 | 2005 | 8,140 | 2,362 | 29.01 | 2006 | 8,259 | 2,565 | 31.05 | 2007 | N/A | 2913 | N/A |
Between 2004 and 2006, recorded marriages fell by a huge 13.2%. This almost matched with divorces falling by 13.5%.
Scotland shows significant increases in divorce numbers but does not show comparable decreases in marriage rates. The percentage of divorces against marriages has jumped a massive 10% attributed to the introduction of The Family Act 2006.
Northern Ireland has its shocking increase in divorce numbers. In the UK, the figures show that marriage is more likely to succeed in Northern Ireland than in Scotland, and most definitely than in England and Wales.
Ultimately, the figures above show that marriage is almost twice as likely to fail in England and Wales compared with Northern Ireland. Also, that survival rates are reducing in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and slightly increasing in England and Wales.
UK Divorce Rates per 1,000 of Married Population and of General Population
Year | Mid year population | Divorce rate per 1000 of population (UK) | Divorce rate per 1000 of married population (England and Wales only) | 2001 | 59,113,000 | 2.65 | 13 | 2002 | 59,324,000 | 2.7 | 13.4 | 2003 | 59,557,600 | 2.8 | 13.9 | 2004 | 59,846,000 | 2.8 | 14 | 2005 | 60,238,000 | 2.57 | 13.1 | 2006 | 60,587,000 | 2.45 | 12.2 | 2007 | N/A | N/A | 11.9 |
Office of National Statistics: 29/08/2008 News Release - Divorce rate lowest for 26 years
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