Paris might be the city of love, but plenty of romances have blossomed in London. That’s hardly surprising, given the cosmopolitan vibe that flows through the city. There are world-class restaurants, laidback bars, and quirky places to take for a date, such as the F1 driving experience at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium [1].
However, for all of the love that lights up London, there are some partnerships that just don’t last. This, of course, isn’t a problem that’s unique to London. According to Office of National Statistics (ONS) data, English and Welsh courts granted 80,057 divorces in 2022. That’s down from 113,505 the previous year, but it’s still a lot of partnerships coming to an end.
London’s Divorce Hotspots
London often leads the way when it comes to statistics because of its population. Based on this, you might think that London is the nation’s UK hotspot. Well, as it transpires, it’s not. According to ONS data, Norwich has the highest divorce rate in England and Wales, with 12.8% of partnerships ending.
How do London’s suburbs compare to Norwich? Moreover, how do London divorce rates compare to the national average of 6.7% (male divorce rate) and 6.6% (female divorce rate)? Census data shows that London’s divorce capital is Southwark. According to the data, there’s a 10.3% divorce rate in the district. Other areas where divorce rates are higher than the national average are:
Going from the top of the table to the bottom, Harrow has the lowest divorce rate in London. As per the most recent ONS report, just 6% of marriages and civil partnerships in Harrow end in divorce.
How Does London Compared to Other Parts of England and Wales?
Taking the available data, we can say that, on average, the divorce rate in London is just under 10%. Based on a population of 8.9 million and a marriage rate of 49.4% [2], that’s around 445,000 divorces in London every year.
In fact, it’s more divorces than anywhere else in the country. However, as we’ve said, it’s not as many, per capita, as Norwich or, as it transpires, these cities and towns:
It would be easy to assume that the stress of living in a major city like London takes its toll on a relationship. The statistics, however, paint a different picture. Various parts of London do have a higher-than-average divorce rate, but some are below the national average. What’s more, London’s divorce hotspots struggle to break into the top 10 places in England and Wales. That should be a comforting thought for any budding relationships in the city.
