Divorces are taking longer to happen, new data shows

Marriages that end in divorce are lasting longer than at any point since records began, according to figures highlighting a shift in how and when couples choose to separate.

The trend is illustrated by accounts such as that of Celia, who took two years to initiate a divorce after concluding her 12-year marriage was not going anywhere. She has said she did not know anyone whose marriage broke down after only a few years, describing a pattern in which couples tend to hold on to relationships for as long as they can before separating.

Observers point to a combination of factors behind the shift, including financial pressures that can make separating more difficult or costly, changes to divorce law, and evolving social attitudes towards marriage and separation. Together, these factors appear to be encouraging couples to delay divorce even when a relationship is no longer working.

The rise in the average length of marriages ending in divorce marks a departure from earlier patterns and has prompted renewed interest in the practical and emotional reasons couples give for staying together longer before formally separating. Individual accounts, like Celia's, point to a slow realisation process rather than a single triggering event.

The data adds to a broader picture of changing relationship patterns, as financial circumstances and legal frameworks continue to shape decisions around marriage and divorce.