According to the latest official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of divorces in the UK rose dramatically as a result of the recession.
In 2012, there were 118,140 divorces, a 0.5 per cent rise in the figure recorded for 2011 and representative of 13 divorces every hour.
Almost 50 per cent of the divorces recorded happened to couples who had been married for 10 years or less. However, older people are now seeing higher divorce levels than before, with the number of women aged 60 plus who are divorcing rising by three per cent since 2011, to 6,026. The number of men over 60 divorcing also rose, by 2.8 per cent to 9.703.
On the flip-side, the number of divorces among couples in their early twenties has fallen to its lowest rate since 1963. Just two men and 25 women in this age bracket were given a divorce in 2012.
The ONS attributed some of the rising divorce rates during 2012 to the recession and its financial hangover: “One theory suggests that recession could contribute to a rise in partnership break-ups because of increased financial strain, changes in employment and related lifestyle changes…
“In addition some individuals may believe they will get a more favourable divorce settlement if their income is currently low”, the body concluded.