Am I Statistically Likely to Get Divorced?

Nearly one in two marriages will end in divorce. That’s a depressing statistic in itself, but there are other factors that may make you more likely to divorce than others. The average age at which people are divorcing is rising, partially because people are getting married later in life. For example, in 1997, the average age of a divorcing man was 40.2 years old, and a woman was 37.7 years old. Nowadays, the average age is 43.7 for a man and 41.2 for a woman. People aged between 25 and 29 years are the most likely to get divorced in the UK.

Living Together Before Marriage

Research has found that couples who live together before they marry are more likely to divorce than those who do not. This may sound surprising, as many people think that co-habiting is in effect a ‘trial marriage’. For example, a study in 1997 found that after eight years of marriage, 23% of men and women who had lived together before marriage had divorced, while only 16% of men and 18% of women had divorced who had not previously co-habited. This statistic may be explained by the fact that those who had not co-habited prior to marriage had a more traditional approach to the partnership. US studies show that people who co-habit have higher expectations in the subsequent marriage than those who do not.

Children

If you have children, you are less likely to divorce. Although some couples stay together for the children's sake, there may be other couples who put off having children because they are unsure of their marriage. People who have more than two children are also statistically more likely to divorce than those with two or fewer children.

Couples who had just had their first child are significantly less likely to divorce in the two years following the birth, although in 53% of divorce cases in England and Wales involve at least one child under the age of 16. Those who marry after they have had their first child are at a particularly high risk of divorce (one in five).

Women in Work

If the wife in a marriage works, this also increases the likelihood of divorce. A comparison of international studies showed that women in America (where the female workforce is large) are much more likely to divorce than women in Southern European countries, (where many fewer women work.) That said, women who are financially independent are more likely to consider divorcing, and those who are thinking about getting divorced are more likely to go and get a job. In 2008, 67% of divorces were granted to women as petitioners.

Home Ownership

Owning your own home decreases your risk of divorce, for two reasons: it increases marital stability because of financial reward (as opposed to renting), and couples who live in their own home are more likely to be attached to their homes and less likely to want to have to sell it.

Emotional Problems

Spouses who have experienced mental or emotional difficulties at the age of sixteen are more likely to divorce than those who don’t. People in this category often divorce a few years after the marriage, which may be explained by a poor choice of partner due to lack of emotional wellbeing.

Religious Beliefs

People who marry in a church are less likely to divorce than those who have civil ceremonies. This is partially due to the fact that those who are actively religious and go to church are more likely to have a traditional attitude towards their marriage.