The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted nearly every part of daily life in the UK, from work and schooling to relationships and family life. Among the subtler but telling ripple effects has been how divorce patterns have shifted in the years since 2020. Official data shows not only short-term turbulence in divorce numbers during the pandemic, but also signs of longer-term change in how and when couples separate.
A Dip, a Surge, and a Slowdown
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), England and Wales saw 103,592 divorces in 2020, around 4.5% less than in 2019. That initial drop was less about fewer marital breakdowns and more about delays and disruptions: courts were operating at limited capacity, administrative processes slowed, and couples were often physically unable to separate during lockdowns.
The following year, however, saw a rebound. In 2021, the number of divorces climbed to 113,500, a 9.6% increase on the previous year. Legal experts have described this as a “catch-up effect,” with many 2020 cases finally being processed once restrictions eased. Yet, family lawyers also reported a genuine surge in couples reaching breaking point after months of confinement, financial pressure, and emotional strain.
By 2022, divorce numbers fell sharply again. There were over 78,700 opposite-sex divorces, representing a 29.6% decline from 2021. This drop coincided with the introduction of no-fault divorce in April 2022, which simplified the process but also introduced a mandatory reflection period, temporarily lowering the number of completed cases that year.
Beyond the Numbers: Changing Relationships
While the statistical peaks and troughs partly reflect court logistics and new legislation, they also highlight how the pandemic changed the dynamics of relationships. Lockdowns forced couples to spend unprecedented time together, often in cramped spaces, with blurred boundaries between work and home life. For some, this deepened connections; for others, it exposed deep-seated incompatibilities.
Research from family solicitors and relationship counsellors suggests that communication breakdowns, stress from remote working, and financial insecurity were major triggers for separations during and after the pandemic. At the same time, many couples who managed to navigate the crisis reported feeling more resilient, choosing to delay divorce or recommit to their relationships.
Long-Term Shifts on the Horizon
The impact of the pandemic on divorce rates may not yet be fully visible. Analysts predict a possible second wave of divorces around 2027–2029, when couples who married or stayed together during lockdowns reach the typical “high-risk” window of four to seven years of marriage.
However, the broader picture shows that divorce is part of a longer-term social evolution. Britons are marrying later, fewer couples are marrying at all, and those who do are often entering marriage with greater stability and mutual agreement. The ONS notes that among couples who married in 2012, fewer than one in five had divorced within ten years, a lower rate than in previous decades.
What the Pandemic Left Behind
The pandemic didn’t just disrupt divorce statistics; it accelerated deeper changes in how relationships are formed, maintained, and ended. Administrative backlogs and legislative reforms may explain the short-term fluctuations, but the emotional and social aftershocks are likely to play out over the rest of the decade.
In essence, the pandemic didn’t just cause a spike or a slump in divorces; it reset the rhythm of marriage and separation in the UK. Whether that means more resilient partnerships or delayed break-ups remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the story of divorce in the post-pandemic era is still being written.
