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Why Reports on the UK's Falling Divorce Rate are Misleading

Recent reports may have indicated that the divorce rate in the UK is at its lowest since the 1970s, but these reports, whilst factually correct, do not paint a full picture. As it stands, nearly half of all marriages within the UK still end in divorce and, with other reports having indicated that a large percentage of couples are merely putting of their divorce because of financial concerns, it is logical to conclude that whilst the UK's divorce rate has fallen, the number of married individuals that want to divorce their spouse has not.

Not only do these figures suggest that the divorce rate will soar following the return of economic stability and consumer confidence, the fact that as many as two thirds of couples in certain parts of the country are delaying their divorce for financial reasons actually suggests that the divorce rate will reach a level that was previously unprecedented following the UK having achieved economic recovery. You can almost hear divorce solicitors nationwide rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of all that extra revenue - provided they survive the next recession, that is.

The UK is a developed, democratic, secular and liberal nation and when a country embodies such qualities, a high divorce rate is inevitable. You see, whilst no couple really enters into a marriage thinking that divorce will follow, their opinions will change after five, ten, twenty or even fifty years (an increasingly large number of couples are now filing for divorce in their 'twilight years) and this isn't surprising.

Very few marriages are actually built to last; not in accordance with people's expectations, anyway. In the majority of instances, those couples that do stay together do not live in married bliss. Rather, they're constantly patching up problems. Neither party is necessarily distraught, but neither is truly happy either. The problem with this is that one party is probably going to give up eventually.
We've been taught throughout our lives that marriage should be 'happily ever after. All too rarely are we presented with more realistic images of marriage; the hard work that is required to maintain, and repair long-term relationships. We expect a fairy tale and panic when we get real, everyday life. When this happens; some spouse bolt almost immediately, some work at their marriages for a few years, possibly longer, before giving in and a few others stay together, remaining unhappily married simply because they think it's the right thing to do. A clear minority maintain happy - though not ecstatic - marriages because they notice the direct correlation between hard work and marital success but, make no mistake, remove people's inclinations towards responsibility and honour and the divorce rate would be as high as 75 to 80%, possibly even higher.

So, the divorce rate will soon return to normal, you can rest assured of that, and it's all down to the unreasonable, almost juvenile images of the perfect marriage - what a shame!

The Divorce Blogger writes for Quickie Divorce The UK's leading divorce provider

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