Divorce rates in England and Wales fell in 2018 to 90,871, 10.6% fewer than in 2017 and are at the lowest number since 1971. On average marriages are ending after 12 ½ years and unreasonable behaviour remains the most common reason for divorce cited in 51.9% of wives and 36.8% of husbands.
The likely reason for the reduction is people waiting for the new no-fault law to be enacted as this avoids blaming one party.
Statistics from the ONS also showed that the number of divorces amongst same-sex couples has however increased by 26.6% from 338 in 2017 to 428 in 2018. Statistics for same-sex couples has been recorded since 2015 and has increased year on year but this is merely likely to be a reflection of the growth in same-sex marriages in England and Wales.
The statistics do not include civil partnership dissolutions