Portsmouth named in top 3 Britain’s divorce hotspots, according to ONS data

While fewer people now marry than in previous generations, separation and divorce remain a reality for many couples, with outcomes varying sharply depending on where they live.

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.

Portsmouth ranks 3rd in the UK for divorce rates, recording 11.61, according to the study.

The rest of the national top 10 includes Norwich (12.76) in 1st, Lincoln (11.93) in 2nd, Plymouth (11.40) in 4th, Southampton (11.20) in 5th, Peterborough (10.99) in 6th, Kingston upon Hull (10.88) in 7th, Southend-on-Sea (10.84) in 8th, Exeter (10.73) in 9th and Doncaster (10.56) in 10th.

Beyond the top 10, divorce rates gradually taper off but remain elevated across much of the country. Cities such as Worcester, Wakefield and Colchester all record rates above 10, while larger urban centres including Manchester, Bristol and Leeds cluster around the mid-table with figures close to nine.

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: