Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to conduct analysis of the potential impact of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 on divorce rates.

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 was implemented in April 2022. Published divorce statistics provide an indication of trends in divorce rates since the reforms were introduced.

In 2025, there were 105,002 divorces, with a divorce rate of 8.5 per 1000 of the married population. This is broadly consistent with the figures for 2024 and 2023, when there were 104,762 and 102,678 (and divorce rates of 8.5 and 8.4) respectively. Divorce rates have also remained broadly in line with those recorded before the implementation of reform. In 2021, there were 113,505 divorces, with a rate of 9.5. In 2020, there were 103,592 divorces, with a rate of 8.5. In 2019 there were 108,421 divorces, with a rate of 9. Current figures are lower than peak levels in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, when there were around 150,000 divorces per year.

Marriage is one of our most important social institutions, providing stability for families, strengthening communities and contributing to higher levels of satisfaction in life. The Government recognises the important role marriage can play in supporting stable family relationships, including for children. That is why the Government wants to support more couples to get married. In its consultation ‘Tying the Knot: Reforming weddings law in England and Wales’, which closed last month, the Government proposed a new system that will make it easier for couples to get married in way that is right for them.

The Department values the research and evidence provided by organisations such as the Marriage Foundation, including its work on family stability. The Department engages with the Marriage Foundation, and will continue to do so.