Divorce rate falls to a 33-year low

Experts say the decline is due to couples marrying later in life
Rosemary Bennett, Social Affairs Correspondent


The number of marriages ending in divorce has dropped for the fifth year in a row to a 33-year low.

There were 121,779 divorces in 2008, down 5 per cent from 128,232 the year before. The number of divorces peaked in 2003 at 153,176.

Experts said that the fall was a result of people delaying getting married until they were older and perhaps more realistic.

Since 1961 the average age of marriage has increased by more than five years to 30 for men and 28 for women.

There are fewer marriages taking place. The number of weddings is lower than in 1895 when records began.

However the divorce rate for some groups did increase, including men over 60 and women aged 50-59, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed.


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(Signs of the Marriage Strike is showing)

From One Commenter:
Azi Pharel wrote:
Went to the lawyer and asked how much it would cost me to walk away from the completely crazed woman into which my wife has turned. A year later, I am still here, saving money.