The latest Census 2021 details for England and Wales have been published, revealing the latest information about marriage and divorce in the UK.

Although there was one notable change with the introduction of same-sex marriage in 2013 (although civil partnerships were around in 2011), a notable finding was that overall the number of people whose marital status was divorced had not changed a lot, up marginally from 9.0 per cent to 9.1 per cent.

However, this represents a growing proportion of marriages failing, as only 46.9 per cent of the adult population were married in 2021, continuing a long-term downward trend from 58.4 per cent in 1991. 

Since the number of widowed people has dropped 6.3 per cent since 2011, this is not a factor in falling proportions of married people. “‘Til death us do part” is becoming increasingly rare, with ‘never marrieds’ at a record high and the number of weddings at an unprecedented low.

This means divorce solicitors in Surrey may have plenty of client demand, although their colleagues in the east of England, Devon and on the south coast will have more to deal with; Norwich has the highest divorce rate at 12.8 per cent and Great Yarmouth is sixth worst, while Hastings, Eastbourne, Portsmouth and Gosport are joined on the divorce hotspot list by Torbay and Plymouth.

Blackpool was the place with the highest divorce rate in the north and Lincoln fared worst in the Midlands.

Some of the Surrey rates are among the lowest in England. This includes Epsom and Ewell at 7.4 per cent and Waverley at 7.9 per cent. Rates varied between eight and nine per cent in Surrey districts such as Woking, Elmbridge, Guildford, Surrey Heath, Reigate & Banstead and Mole Valley.

Harrow in London had the lowest divorce rate in the whole of England at only six per cent.