Statistics of Divorce in United Kingdom

Before 1910

Note: for an oveview of the history of divorce, click here.

The statistics of divorce in England have for some years been regularly published in the volumes of judicial statistics published annually by the Home Office.

The number of petitions for divorce (including in the term both divorce a mensa et thoro and divorce a vinculo) for the years from 1858 to 1905 inclusive are as follows:

• Year 1858 : petitions for divorce were: 326
• Year 1859 : petitions for divorce were: 291
• Year 1860 : petitions for divorce were: 272
• Year 1861 : petitions for divorce were: 236
• Year 1862 : petitions for divorce were: 248
• Year 1863 : petitions for divorce were: 298
• Year 1864 : petitions for divorce were: 297
• Year 1865 : petitions for divorce were: 284
• Year 1866 : petitions for divorce were: 279
• Year 1867 : petitions for divorce were: 294
• Year 1868 : petitions for divorce were: 303
• Year 1869 : petitions for divorce were: 351
• Year 1870 : petitions for divorce were: 351
• Year 1871 : petitions for divorce were: 384
• Year 1872 : petitions for divorce were: 374
• Year 1873 : petitions for divorce were: 416
• Year 1874 : petitions for divorce were: 469
• Year 1875 : petitions for divorce were: 451
• Year 1876 : petitions for divorce were: 536
• Year 1877 : petitions for divorce were: 551
• Year 1878 : petitions for divorce were: 632
• Year 1879 : petitions for divorce were: 555
• Year 1880 : petitions for divorce were: 615
• Year 1881 : petitions for divorce were: 589
• Year 1882 : petitions for divorce were: 481
• Year 1883 : petitions for divorce were: 561
• Year 1884 : petitions for divorce were: 647
• Year 1885 : petitions for divorce were: 541
• Year 1886 : petitions for divorce were: 708
• Year 1887 : petitions for divorce were: 662
• Year 1888 : petitions for divorce were: 680
• Year 1889 : petitions for divorce were: 654
• Year 1890 : petitions for divorce were: 644
• Year 1891 : petitions for divorce were: 632
• Year 1892 : petitions for divorce were: 629
• Year 1893 : petitions for divorce were: 645
• Year 1894 : petitions for divorce were: 652
• Year 1895 : petitions for divorce were: 683
• Year 1896 : petitions for divorce were: 772
• Year 1897 : petitions for divorce were: 781
• Year 1898 : petitions for divorce were: 750
• Year 1899 : petitions for divorce were: 727
• Year 1900 : petitions for divorce were: 698
• Year 1901 : petitions for divorce were: 848
• Year 1902 : petitions for divorce were: 987
• Year 1903 : petitions for divorce were: 914
• Year 1904 : petitions for divorce were: 822
• Year 1905 : petitions for divorce were: 844

It is probably impossible to account for the variations which the above table discloses. It was no doubt natural that the year immediately succeeding the passing of the act which originated facilities for divorces a vinculo should exhibit a larger number of divorces than its successors for a considerable period. But there does not appear to be any adequate cause for the comparative increase which seems to have prevailed in the decade between 1878 and 1888, unless it be found in the increase of marriages which culminated in 1873 and 1883, falling after each of those years. The number of marriages again rose high in 1891 and 1892, and this may account for the increased number of divorces in 1896 and the following years. But it may certainly be said with confidence that as compared with the growth of population the number of divorces in England has shown no alarming increase.

The total number of petitions in matrimonial causes presented by husbands exceed those presented by wives, but in no marked degree. This excess would seem to be due to the fact that the larger number of petitions for dissolution presented by husbands, owing no doubt to the difference in the law affecting the two sexes, is not entirely counterbalanced by the much larger number of petitions for judicial separation presented by wives. The following figures for various years may be taken as typical:

• Petitions for Dissolution Presented by husbands 353 (in 1895); 393 (in 1896); 414 (in 1897); 401 (in 1898); 383 (in 1899); 429 (in 1905)
• Petitions for Dissolution Presented by wives 220 (in 1895); 280 (in 1896); 269 (in 1897); 243 (in 1898); 262 (in 1899); 23 (in 1905)
• Petitions for Judicial Separation Presented by husbands 4 (in 1895); 3 (in 1896); 2 (in 1897); 4 (in 1898); 4 (in 1899); 5 (in 1905)
• Petitions for Judicial Separation Presented by wives 106 (in 1895); 96 (in 1896); 96 (in 1897); 102 (in 1898); 78 (in 1899); 87 (in 1905)
• Totals Presented by husbands 357 (in 1895); 396 (in 1896); 416 (in 1897); 405 (in 1898); 387 (in 1899); 434 (in 1905)
• Totals Presented by wives 326 (in 1895); 376 (in 1896); 365 (in 1897); 345 (in 1898); 340 (in 1899); 410 (in 1905)

Speaking generally, it may be said that about 70% of the petitions presented are successful and result in decrees. This percentage has a tendency, however, to rise.

Attempts have been made to ascertain the classes which supply the petitioners for divorce, but this cannot be done with such certainty as to warrant any but the most general conclusions. It may, however, safely be said that while all classes, professions and occupations are represented, it is certainly not those highest in the scale that are the largest contributors. The principles of the act of 1857 have beyond question been justified by the relief required by and afforded to the general community.