Couples in England and Wales are reportedly putting off divorce due to the cost of living crisis, according to lawyers, following new figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
The ONS reported on Wednesday that the average marriage ending in divorce in 2025 lasted for 13 years. This represents the longest duration since records began in 1963 and is an increase from a record low of 8.9 years in 1985.
Rebecca Aston-Jones, a senior associate specialising in divorce at Clarke Willmott, stated that rising inflation, influenced by conflict in the Middle East, has increased the cost of rent, mortgages, and childcare. She noted that the financial pressure of maintaining two separate households is a significant factor discouraging people from pursuing divorce.
The ONS figures also show that there were 105,002 divorces in England and Wales in 2025. This total included 102,879 opposite-sex couples and 2,123 same-sex couples, with the latter being the highest number since same-sex marriage became legal in 2014.
Greg Ceely, head of population life events at the ONS, commented that divorce rates have remained stable in recent years but are lower than peak levels seen between the 1980s and early 2000s. He added that individuals who divorce or dissolve a partnership are staying in their relationships for longer before they end.
Lisa Pepper, a partner and specialist divorce lawyer at Osbornes Law, suggested that a less romantic reason for longer marriages is likely the inability of couples to afford divorce. Aston-Jones also highlighted that some separated couples continue to live under the same roof to retain shared assets and split household expenses, which can exacerbate tensions.