Coupled with the impact of COVID-19, divorce rates in Australia have reached their lowest rate in half a century. This dramatic shift is a product of multiple socio-economic factors and changing societal views on marriage. The latest data indicates that there are now 2.1 divorces for every 1,000 Australians aged 16 and over as of 2024. This decline is indicative of the changing nature of relationships in Australia. It trails the 1975 no-fault divorce reform, which did away with the need for showing any grounds for divorce.
The 1975 reform was landmark, not just within Australia but around the world. It eliminated the need to demonstrate fault, such as cheating or drunkenness, which were standard grounds for divorce in the 1950s. This reform greatly expanded access to divorce. It also initiated a long, slow change in attitudes about marriage and separation.
As financial anxiety continues to be a huge concern, Australians are choosing to get married – and divorced – less often. Since 1971, the marriage rate has been cut by over 50 percent. Today it has declined from 13 marriages per 1,000 eligible people aged 16 and older down to just 5.5 in 2024. This drop is an indication that people are finally putting a higher premium on fiscal responsibility. In turn, millions are putting on hold or reconsidering their plans to tie the knot.
With rising marriage rates, today’s couples are getting married later in life. When couples do choose to separate, they are older than prior generations. Men are an average of 47 years, and women are an average of 44 years old when they divorce. Couples are increasingly delaying divorce or separation, with marriages now staying intact longer than in the past. On average, separations are taking more than eight months longer, and divorces almost 11 months longer compared with 2019.
A second contributing factor is the increasing acceptance of divorce in Australia. The role of government depending on whom you ask, most Americans today do not think that marriage has to mean a lifelong union. This change in attitude is indicative of a growing willingness among Americans to accept separation. That’s why they no longer experienced the stigma that used to accompany this choice.
Fascinatingly, nearly 72 percent of separations and divorces with children are now negotiated privately and amicably between both parents. This trend is an encouraging sign that we are taking a more adult/co-parenting approach. Today both parents place their children’s well-being first, even if they separate.
The economic impact of divorce is no less serious. The financial burdens of formally ending a marriage are significant, with the price for a “low-cost” divorce starting right around $10,000. This added financial burden likely dissuades some couples from getting a divorce, thus leading to lower divorce rates.
Additionally, a significant trend has developed with an increase in Living Apart Together (LAT) relationships. The distance works wonders. Some famous couples avoid breakdowns by leading separate lives. This structure provides a nice balance that addresses affordability issues while continuing to develop their joint venture. This arrangement reflects a growing desire for flexibility in personal relationships and offers an alternative for those wary of traditional marriage structures.
