Derby ranks high as one of Britain’s divorce hotspots, according to ONS data

Divorce rates in the UK have shifted dramatically over the past 20 years. According to ONS data, divorces rose sharply from the late 1990s into the early 2000s, driven in part by social change, rising cohabitation before marriage, and evolving attitudes toward separation. The introduction of simpler divorce processes has also influenced how and when couples formally end marriages.

Over the last decade, overall divorce numbers have stabilised rather than continued to climb. However, this does not necessarily reflect stronger marital stability. Fewer people are marrying in the first place, meaning divorce rates among those who do marry remain relatively high even as total divorces fall slightly.

Recent reforms, including the introduction of no-fault divorce in England and Wales in 2022, have further reshaped the landscape. Early ONS analysis suggests these changes have altered the timing and process of divorce rather than causing a sudden surge, reinforcing the idea that long-term social trends, rather than legal shifts alone, underpin marital breakdown.

A new study by Tarotoo has ranked UK areas by divorce rate using the latest available data from the Office for National Statistics and Scotland’s Census. The analysis examined 49 UK areas to identify where marital breakdown is most common and those where marriages are more likely to endure.

Derby ranks 21st nationally for divorce rates, recording 9.61, placing it in the middle tier of the UK’s divorce hotspots, according to the study.

The national ranking is led by Norwich in 1st place with a divorce rate of 12.76, followed by Lincoln (11.93) in 2nd and Portsmouth (11.61) in 3rd. Plymouth (11.40) and Southampton (11.20) complete the top five, with all five cities recording divorce rates well above the national midpoint.

The remainder of the top 10 includes Peterborough in 6th (10.99), Kingston upon Hull in 7th (10.88), Southend-on-Sea in 8th (10.84), Exeter in 9th (10.73) and Doncaster in 10th (10.56).

At the lower end of the ranking, several historic and affluent cities stand out for their comparatively low divorce rates. Bath ranks last overall with a rate of 6.7, followed by Edinburgh, St Albans, Glasgow and Leicester, all recording divorce rates below eight.

Full list of the UK’s areas with the highest divorce rates: