New data from the UK highlights a troubling trend: while more adults are reporting dissatisfaction in their marriages, the number of divorces has plummeted to its lowest level in over 50 years. This paradox reflects the harsh reality of the country’s ongoing cost-of-living crisis, which is preventing many couples from separating despite their unhappiness.
According to household survey data and divorce statistics from the Office for National Statistics, the share of adults who describe themselves as fairly or extremely unhappy in their relationships is at its highest since 2014. Yet, the financial burden of divorce—exacerbated by inflation and soaring housing costs—has become a significant barrier to breakups. The rising cost of buying or renting a home makes it difficult for unhappy couples to afford separate living arrangements, effectively trapping them in marriages they might otherwise choose to leave.
This data offers a modern twist on Leo Tolstoy’s famous observation about families, suggesting that in today’s economic climate, unhappy families may be alike in their inability to afford the high cost of divorce.
