In this guide(10 sections)
Statistics about divorce can feel cold on the page. But behind every one of these numbers is a family — a couple who once stood at the front of a room and meant it, children working out two homes, parents in their forties quietly starting again. I've sat across from a lot of those people. So before the data: if you're reading this because one of these numbers is about to be you, please know there's nothing unusual or shameful about being here. You're in very ordinary, very human company.
With that said, here is a clean, honest look at what the latest official figures actually tell us about divorce in Australia in 2026 — every number drawn from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, with nothing invented. (This is general information, not legal advice. If you'd like advice on your own situation, the first chat is free and confidential.)
At a glance — Australian divorce statistics (latest ABS data)
| Measure | Latest figure |
|---|---|
| Divorces granted (2024) | 47,216 |
| Change on prior year | down 3.0% on 2023 |
| Crude divorce rate | 2.1 per 1,000 population aged 16+ |
| Median duration: marriage → separation | 9.3 years |
| Median duration: marriage → divorce | 13.2 years |
| Median age at divorce — men | 47.1 years |
| Median age at divorce — women | 44.1 years |
| Adults recorded as divorced (2021 Census) | ~8.8% |
| Adults recorded as separated (2021 Census) | ~3.2% |
Source: ABS, Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2024 (released 23 July 2025), with marital-status proportions from the ABS 2021 Census.
The headline number: In 2024, Australian courts granted 47,216 divorces — a fall of 3.0% on the previous year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. That's roughly 129 divorce orders made on an average day, each one a marriage formally ending and, very often, a family quietly rearranging itself around it.
How many divorces are there in Australia each year?
There were 47,216 divorces granted in Australia in 2024 — a decrease of 3.0% on 2023. That works out to an average of about 129 divorces a day across the country. The figure counts divorce orders actually made by the courts, not separations, so the true number of relationships ending each year is higher again.
Source: ABS, Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2024 (abs.gov.au).
It's worth holding both halves of that number at once: 47,216 is a large figure, large enough to make any one divorce feel ordinary — and it absolutely is ordinary. But it's also 47,216 individual stories, no two the same. The statistics describe the country; they don't describe your marriage.
What is the divorce rate in Australia?
Australia's crude divorce rate is 2.1 divorces per 1,000 people aged 16 and over. The "crude" rate simply divides the number of divorces by the adult population — it's the standard headline measure the ABS publishes, and it lets you compare year to year on a like-for-like basis.
Source: ABS, Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2024 (abs.gov.au).
A rate of 2.1 per 1,000 is, in the long historical view, relatively low and broadly stable. Divorce in Australia is neither rare nor runaway — it sits at a steady, modest level, which is part of why nobody walking into my office should ever feel like an outlier.
How long do marriages last in Australia before divorce?
The median Australian marriage lasts 13.2 years from the wedding to the divorce order, and 9.3 years from the wedding to separation. The gap between those two figures — roughly four years — reflects the legal reality that you must be separated for 12 months before you can apply for divorce, and that many couples take time after separating before they formalise the end.
Source: ABS, Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2024 (abs.gov.au).
I find the 9.3-year separation figure the more human of the two. It says that, on average, couples who divorce shared the better part of a decade together first. These are rarely impulsive endings. They're long stories, and the paperwork is only the final page. (If you've recently separated, our separation checklist walks through the practical first steps.)
What is the average age at divorce in Australia?
The median age at divorce in Australia is 47.1 years for men and 44.1 years for women. "Median" means half of all people divorcing are older than this and half are younger — so a substantial share of people divorcing are in their late forties and fifties, not only their thirties.
Source: ABS, Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2024 (abs.gov.au).
Those mid-forties figures matter, because they often coincide with the most financially complex chapter of life — a family home with a mortgage, superannuation that has had time to grow, sometimes a business or teenagers still at school. It's a reminder that divorce later in a marriage is common, normal, and well worth getting calm, careful advice on.
Is the divorce rate in Australia rising or falling?
Australia's divorce numbers are falling, not rising — divorces fell 3.0% in 2024, to 47,216. Despite the common assumption that divorce is forever increasing, the most recent ABS data shows a decrease on the prior year, with the crude rate holding at a modest 2.1 per 1,000 adults.
Source: ABS, Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2024 (abs.gov.au).
Single-year movements should be read gently — one year's 3.0% dip is a data point, not a trend in itself, and patterns can shift. But the broad picture is one of stability rather than surge. If you're divorcing in 2026, you are not part of some rising wave; you're part of a steady, long-standing reality of Australian life.
How many Australians are divorced or separated?
At the 2021 Census, around 8.8% of Australian adults recorded their marital status as divorced, and around 3.2% as separated. Together that's roughly one in eight adults — a quiet reminder of how many people around you have walked this path, even if they don't talk about it.
Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing (abs.gov.au). These are point-in-time, self-reported marital-status proportions and are a useful proxy rather than an annual flow figure — treat them as indicative.
A note on family violence, where it's relevant
For some people, separation is bound up with safety rather than simply a relationship running its course. The ABS Personal Safety Survey (2021–22) found that around 1 in 5 (21%) of Australian adults have experienced violence from a partner at some point. If that's part of your story, please know your safety comes first, and that legal options — including intervention orders and urgent applications — exist to protect you.
Source: ABS, Personal Safety Survey, 2021–22 (abs.gov.au). If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
If one of these numbers is you
If you've found this page because you're somewhere inside these statistics — newly separated, weighing it up, or already at the divorce-order stage — you don't have to make sense of it alone. The first conversation with us is free, confidential, and completely without obligation. We'll listen first, explain your options in plain English, and there's no pressure to do anything beyond that call.
Speak to us any time on 03 4328 5084 or book a free, confidential chat →.
Frequently asked questions
How many divorces were there in Australia in 2024?
There were 47,216 divorces granted in Australia in 2024, a decrease of 3.0% on 2023. That is an average of roughly 129 divorces per day. Source: ABS, Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2024.
What is the divorce rate in Australia?
Australia's crude divorce rate is 2.1 divorces per 1,000 population aged 16 and over. This is the standard headline measure published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and reflects a relatively low, stable rate. Source: ABS, Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2024.
How long does the average Australian marriage last before divorce?
The median Australian marriage lasts 13.2 years from wedding to divorce order, and 9.3 years from wedding to separation. The gap reflects the required 12-month separation period before applying for divorce, plus the time many couples take to formalise the end. Source: ABS, Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2024.
What is the average age at divorce in Australia?
The median age at divorce in Australia is 47.1 years for men and 44.1 years for women. Half of all people divorcing are older than this and half are younger, so divorce in the late forties and fifties is common. Source: ABS, Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2024.
Is divorce increasing in Australia?
No — the most recent ABS data shows divorces fell 3.0% in 2024, to 47,216, with the crude rate holding steady at 2.1 per 1,000 adults. A single year's movement is not a long-term trend, but the broad picture is stability rather than a rising rate. Source: ABS, Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2024.
How many Australians are divorced?
At the 2021 Census, around 8.8% of Australian adults recorded their marital status as divorced and around 3.2% as separated — together roughly one in eight adults. These are self-reported, point-in-time proportions and a useful proxy rather than an annual figure. Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing.
Prepared by the Fogarty Oliver Rothschild family law team as general information about Australian family law. Family and property law in Melbourne since 2012. Published 27 June 2026.
This guide is general information about Australian family law, not legal advice for your specific situation. For advice on your matter, book a free initial consultation.