Australia's divorce rates plummet to the lowest level in 40 YEARS - as it's revealed couples are marrying later than ever before

  • Australia's divorce rate hits 40-year low as a result of living together, experts say
  • The divorce rate is still at 1.9 per 1,000 people, close to 1.8 in 1975
  • More couples are staying together despite removal of old divorce laws in 1975
  • In 2016, 80% of couples lived together before marriage compared to 16% in 1975 
  • There are 326 marriages on average every day across Australia, research shows

By Bianca Bongato For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 19:18 EDT, 19 October 2018 | Updated: 19:19 EDT, 19 October 2018

Australia's divorce rate has hit its lowest level in 40 years, as it's revealed that more couples are living together first and marrying later than ever before.   

In 1996, the divorce rate was at 2.9 per 1,000 people, dropping to 1.9 in 2016 despite population increases, the total of 52,466 divorces in 1996 falling to 46,604.

In 1975, the rate was at 1.8 per 1,000 people, which comes close to the 1.9 rate today, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.  

Australia's divorce rate has hit its lowest level in 40 years, as it's revealed that more couples are living together first and marrying later than ever before (stock image) 

Australia's divorce rate has hit its lowest level in 40 years, as it's revealed that more couples are living together first and marrying later than ever before (stock image) 

'It's a significant drop,' social researcher Mark McCrindle told The Daily Telegraph. 

'That truism that half of all marriages led to divorce is not the case. If you compare the numbers of marriages to divorces it's closer to one in three.'

Data also showed that in 2016, 80 per cent of couples lived together before getting married, compared to just 16 per cent in 1975.

The marriage rate has also continued to increase despite the introduction of no-fault divorce laws after 1975.

Back when the old divorce laws existed, it was more difficult to justify a martial separation to the court, given that couples had to 'prove' adultery or some form of marital misconduct. 

Despite the fact that divorce laws have relaxed since the 70s, Mr McCrindle said marriage is still on the rise today - and is still 'in vogue' and a 'key part' of society.

'In the last couple of years we have seen the marriage rate rise from 4.8 per thousand in 2015 to 4.9,' Mr McCrindle added.

According to Mr McCrindle, there are an average of 326 marriages across Australia every day, with October and November being the most popular months.

'That truism that half of all marriages led to divorce is not the case. If you compare the numbers of marriages to divorces it¿s closer to one in three,' Social researcher Mark McCrindle said

'That truism that half of all marriages led to divorce is not the case. If you compare the numbers of marriages to divorces it's closer to one in three,' Social researcher Mark McCrindle said

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Australia’s divorce rates plummet to the lowest level in 40 YEARS

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