Source: Office for National Statistics: Vital statistics in the UK: births, deaths and marriages

Notes:

• The chart shows the number of divorces in England and Wales of opposite-sex couples between 1930 and 2014, and the combined number of divorces for both opposite- and same-sex couples between 2015 and 2019.
• Divorce statistics do not include married couples who separate, but do not divorce.
• The first divorces of same-sex couples were recorded in 2015.
• Divorce statistics are derived from information recorded by the courts, during the divorce process. Figures represent both divorces and annulments that took place in each country; A marriage is dissolved, following a petition for divorce and the granting of a decree absolute, or annulled, following a petition for nullity and the awarding of a decree of nullity. Figures represent the date the decree absolute or the decree of nullity was awarded.

For further detail on methodology access the ONS User Guide to Divorce Statistics