Forget the seven-year itch: opposite-sex marriages more likely to end after two decades
Summary
Data from England and Wales shows that opposite-sex couples are now more likely to divorce after 20 years of marriage than at the previous commonly noted "seven-year itch." The average length of marriage ending in divorce has also increased, partly due to couples staying together longer for financial reasons or for their children.Key Facts
- Over 25% of divorces in England and Wales happen after couples have been married for 20 years or more.
- Between five and nine years of marriage still accounts for about 23% of divorces but is now the second most common period.
- Some celebrities, like Tess Daly and Hugh Bonneville, have divorced after around 20 years of marriage.
- Divorce lawyers say many couples stay married longer for the sake of their children.
- The cost of living crisis makes some couples delay divorce because it is expensive to live separately.
- The average length of a marriage ending in divorce in England and Wales recently reached 13 years, the longest since 1963.
- A similar trend is seen in the U.S., where divorces after 20 years have doubled since the 1990s.
- Researchers warn that divorcing later in life can lead to financial and social difficulties, especially for women.
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