The crude divorce rate (divorces per 1,000 Australian residents) was 2.2 divorces per 1,000 residents in 2021, up from 1.9 in 2020. The total number of divorces granted in 2021 was 56,244, the highest number of divorces recorded since 1976.
Almost 50 percent of all marriages in the United States will end in divorce or separation.
Divorce Rates in Australia
The most recent divorce rates stand at 2.2 divorces per 1,000 Australian residents. 56,244 divorces were granted in 2021, with 48,432 involving children. New South Wales had the highest proportion of weddings administered by a minister of religion (25%), rather than a civil celebrant.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2019, the median duration of an Australian marriage that ended in divorce was 12.2 years [5]. This figure has increased steadily since 1999 when the average marriage length was 11.3 years.
Sixteen per cent of marriages in 1975 were preceded by cohabitation. The proportion was 81% in 2017, and the rate appears to have been stable at around 80% in the last few years.
Age-Specific Divorce Rates
Men aged 40 to 44 and 45 to 49 had the most effective divorce rate, with 10.3 divorces per 1,000 men in both age categories. For women, the highest divorce rate was among those aged 40 to 44, with 10.4 divorces per 1,000 women.
In 2016, families made up 71% of Australia's households; in 1986 it was 77%. Over this same period, the number of single-person households increased from 19% to 24%.
The average age for a couple entering their first divorce is 30 years old. And 60% of divorces involve spouses between the ages of 25 and 39.
While there are countless divorce studies with conflicting statistics, the data points to two periods during a marriage when divorces are most common: years 1 – 2 and years 5 – 8. Of those two high-risk periods, there are two years in particular that stand out as the most common years for divorce — years 7 and 8.
Domestic violence is one of the most leading reasons for divorce in Australia. It is a serious issue that can have a significant impact on the lives of those affected. Moreover, the Family Law Act recognises the importance of protecting victims of domestic violence.
Women are the Main Initiators of Divorce
39% of divorces were initiated by the wife. 28% of divorces were initiated by the husband.
Bartenders still top the list for each gender, with divorce rates of 4.58% for women and 3.92% for men. Meanwhile, heating and cooling mechanics and installers slide up to second for women with a divorce rate of 4.41%, and receptionists and clerks land in second for men with a divorce rate of 3.12%.
A study led by the American Sociological Association determined that nearly 70% of divorces are initiated by women. And the percentage of college-educated American women who initiated divorce is even higher.
The Four Horsemen are four communication habits that increase the likelihood of divorce, according to research by psychologist and renowned marriage researcher John Gottman, Ph. D. Those four behaviors are criticism, defensiveness, stonewalling, and contempt.
While many couples see remarriage as a second chance at happiness, the statistics tell a different story. According to available Census data, the divorce rate for second marriages in the United States is over 60% compared to around 50% for first marriages.
A survey has revealed one in ten US adults rarely or never have a good night's sleep, and around 25 percent of American couples choose to sleep in separate beds from their partner, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
According to relationship therapist Aimee Hartstein, LCSW, as it turns out, the first year really is the hardest—even if you've already lived together. In fact, it often doesn't matter if you've been together for multiple years, the start of married life is still tricky.
10. The average length of a marriage in the US is 19.9 years. While the national average marriage length is just under 20 years, couples in Maine and West Virginia typically have the longest-lasting unions. The typical marriage in these lasts for 22.3 years.
Grey Divorce is the term referring to the rising rate in older adults, typically from long-lasting marriages, getting divorced. The term was coined as research showed the phenomenon of the overall divorce rate going down while the “grey-haired” demographic's rate of late-in-life divorce was on the rise.
What is grey divorce? This is a term coined for persons divorcing in their later years. However, some couples may not have married, but when separating in their later years, may fall under the de facto provisions of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth).
Divorce with school-aged kids (5 to 13 years old)
The school-aged years are probably the worst age for divorce for children; the potential for emotional trauma from divorce is highest at age 11.
Scholars have long known that youthful marriage is a strong predictor of divorce. For instance, someone who marries at 25 is over 50 percent less likely to get divorced than is someone who weds at age 20.
How many Australians are married? Overall over half (56%) Australian adults are married or partnered, followed by 29% who have never been married and 9% who are divorced. Finder's data shows men (59%) are more likely than women (53%) to be married or partnered.
The average yearly salary in Australia is 90,800 AUD (USD 60,355). Let's go through a few key indicators of the average earnings in Australia so you can fully understand salary statistics and trends in the country.
The average Australian household has been classically understood as a nuclear family with their extended family living separately.