Forget the 7-year itch, this is how long a marriage lasts before divorce now

| Lifestyle Reporter Published September 23, 2026 3:10pm Updated September 23, 2026 3:10pm Marriages are lasting an average of 13 years for opposite-sex couples (Picture: Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images) Seven years has long been the infamous milestone where marriages hit a wall. But would-be divorcees are now holding out a little longer before they get that decree absolute. According to new ONS data, released today, partnerships ending in divorce last, on average, for 13 years. This is true for the 105,002 divorces and 959 civil partnership dissolutions that took place inEngland and Wales in 2025. To be precise, opposite-sex marriages lasted 13.0 years, while same-sex male civil partnerships made it to 13.7 years, and same-sex female civil partnerships ended after 13.6 years. The new statistics reveal how shifting priorities have changed how we look at long-term commitment. Finances can play a key role in divorces (Picture: Getty Images/Westend61) Experts say finances play a role, while the 2022 introduction of no-fault divorce has had implications for how divorce is handled. Why do couples divorce after 13 years? Join Metro's LGBTQ+ community on WhatsApp With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! While the statistics might read as thought couples are just choosing to stay unhappy for longer, that’s not quite true. Kate Mansfield, relationship coach and expert tells Metro the reality is much more ‘complex’. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. She explains: ‘People are generally marrying later, often after becoming more financially independent, more established in their careers and more selective about who they commit to. ‘That can mean fewer couples divorce in the very early years of marriage, which naturally pushes the median duration upwards.’ But, there is also the more human element to consider. Sometimes, it takes time to consider whether a relationship is going through a bad patch, or there are issues that can’t be resolved. Kate continues: ‘Divorce is rarely a decision someone makes at the first sign of unhappiness. Same-sex divorce is a record high (Picture: Rani Nurlaela Desandi/ Getty Images) ‘Couples may spend years hoping things will improve, particularly where there are children, a shared home, intertwined finances or a long history together.’ There are also more options to turn to in 2026 when times get tough for couples. Kate continues: ‘Many people try counselling, compromise and repeated fresh starts before they reach the point where they accept that the relationship is no longer working. ‘People do not usually stay because they are weak or naïve. They stay because they have loved, invested, hoped and often built an entire life around the relationship. ‘It’s often a sunk cost rabbit hole that they fall into and find it hard to get out of.’ Ultimately though, Kate reminds us that divorce isn’t a ‘failure’. She says: ‘The question should not be: “Have we been together too long to leave?” ‘It is: “Are we both willing and able to create a relationship that feels safe, respectful and emotionally connected?” ‘If the answer has been no for a sustained period, despite honest conversations and genuine effort, staying longer does not necessarily make the relationship healthier.’ The rise of the no fault divorce A total of 74.1% of all final divorce orders granted were from sole applications, which was first permitted in 2022 under the no-fault divorce laws. Among opposite-sex couples filing a sole application for divorce, women file far more often than men, with 61.2% submitted by female applicants compared to 35.6% by male applicants. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Deals of the Day Oodie’s cosy blanket sale has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping Save over £700 on Simba's top-rated mattresses in this limited-time sale Topman’s new-season collection has arrived and prices start at just £10 An Instagram mattress left me with back pain – this one completely changed my mind From £700 MacBooks to discounted iPhones, the best Apple tech for studentsb Arrow MORE: Queer line dancing is having a moment — I grapevined to find out why Arrow MORE: The three-word phrase women use during sex that makes men ‘feel like a failure’ Arrow MORE: Three men stabbed outside Liverpool LGBT+ nightclub with suspect on the run The Hook Up Metro's hottest newsletter, with juicy stories and tips for spicing things up in the bedroom. 18+