The UK has one of the highest divorce rates in Europe

1. There's been a steady rise in the divorce rate in most modern industrial societies.


2. The divorce rate is defined as the number of people per 1000 of the population who are divorced. In 2000, Britain's divorce rate was 2.6 compared to the European average of 1.9.


3. Actual divorces in the UK rose from 25,000 in 1961 to 146,000 in 1997.


4. For every two marriages in Britain in 1991, there was one divorce.


5. The proportion of population who were divorced at any one time was 1% in 1971 and 9% in 2000.


6. The average length of a marriage before it ends in divorce has remained about the same - 12 years in 1963, 11 years in 2000.


7. Although the divorce rare is increasing, divorced people are marrying again. In 2001, 40% of all marriages were re marriages.

There are several social, cultural and political factors.

1. Divorce has become easier to obtain.


2. Divorce is more socially acceptable.


3. Women may have higher expectations of marriage, and better employment opportunities may make them less financially dependent on theor husbands.


4. Marriages are increasingly focused on individual emotional fulfilment.


5. The New right believe that marriage is less supported by the state these days.

Just because divorce rates were lower in the past in doesn't mean they were happier. A marriage can break down but the couple stil stays married and living together. This is called empty shell marriage.