The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported on Wednesday that the average duration of marriages that ended in divorce in England and Wales reached 13 years in 2025, the longest figure since records began in 1963. Lawyers working in family law said the cost of living crisis is a key factor behind the trend, with many couples opting to remain together longer rather than immediately separate.
Rising average duration
The ONS figures mark a significant shift from previous decades: the average marriage length at divorce fell to a low of 8.9 years in 1985, and has now climbed to a record high. The statistics cover divorces registered in England and Wales and provide a broad measure of how long partnerships last before dissolving legally.
Lawyers point to financial pressures
Family law practitioners told reporters that financial considerations are influencing couples’ decisions about when to seek a divorce. They cited the wider cost of living squeeze, including the expense of maintaining separate households and the costs involved in legal proceedings, as reasons some couples are postponing formal separation even when relationships are strained.
Broader context and implications
Experts say the ONS finding is likely driven by multiple factors and that economic pressures are only one element. Demographic shifts, changing patterns in marriage and cohabitation, and evolving social attitudes toward separation may also influence the length of marriages at the point of divorce. The data are expected to inform discussions among policymakers and service providers about family support and access to legal advice as families respond to economic uncertainty.
The ONS release underlines how economic conditions can intersect with personal and legal decisions, and it highlights areas where further analysis may be needed to understand the full range of causes behind changes in divorce patterns across England and Wales.