Divorce Statistics 2007

Last week the Office of National Statistics released the divorce figures for 2007;

• between 2006 and 2007, the provisional number of divorces granted in the UK fell by 2.6 per cent to 144,220, from 148,141

• the provisional number of divorces in England & Wales fell by 3.0 per cent to 128,534 in 2007

• for all divorces granted to an individual (rather than jointly to both), behaviour was the most common fact proven in England & Wales

• one in five men and women divorcing in England & Wales during 2007 had a previous marriage ending in divorce


The General Register Office for Scotland Annual Review of Demographic Trends was released earlier on 15th August. Changes brought about by the implementation of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 in May 2006 mean the ground of separation with consent is now one year (previously 2 years) and separation without consent is two years (previously 5 years) Desertion as grounds for divorce was was abolished in 2006.

• the number of divorces in Scotland during 2007 was 12,773, a drop of 241 from 13,014 in 2006

• 92% were on one of the two separation grounds, one year with consent or two years without

• 7% were on the the grounds of unreasonable behaviour

• 1% adultery

• 17% of both men and women had divorced previously

• 15% of all divorces involved couples were at least one partner was aged 20 or under when they married

• 15 years was the median duration of the marriage