What’s the divorce capital of Australia? Marriage & divorce rates by state

What’s the divorce rate in Australia? Which state or territory has the highest rate of divorce? And is there really such a thing as a divorce capital of Australia? 

Drawing on the 2025 ABS release on Marriages and Divorces and the AFL Australian Relationships Report: Love, Marriage, and Divorce in the Modern Nation, we’re putting Aussie divorce under the microscope.

We take a closer look at the varying divorce rates across states and territories, as well as the broader picture for the nation.

So how is marriage faring across the country? And where is divorce most prevalent? Keep reading to find out.

What is Australia’s divorce rate?

AFL’s Australian Relationships Report provides expert insight into divorce across Australia. It notes that around a third of all marriages in this country end in divorce.

In 2025, the crude divorce rate in Australia sat at 2.2 divorces per 1,000 people, up slightly from 2.1 in 2024. This figure reflects the number of divorces granted in Australia during that year, per 1,000 of the estimated resident population aged 16 and over as at 30 June. 

The Australian crude divorce rate hovered around 2.3 and 2.4 in the previous years to 2020, excluding a dramatic rise to 2.7 in 2021. This trend was also reflected in the absolute number of divorces granted. These sat at 49,158 divorces granted in 2025, a 4.1% rise on the 47,216 recorded in 2024 – bringing the total roughly back in line with 2022 levels (49,241). 

It’s important to note that there was a spike in total divorces in 2021 to 56,244. But this was likely a result of court administrative changes and more efficient processing times, rather than a genuine shift in the divorce landscape. The modest rise seen in 2025, by contrast, reflects a genuine (if small) uptick after several years of decline, with the long-term trend since 2005 (when the crude rate was 3.3) still firmly downward.

Which state is Australia’s divorce capital?

According to the Marriages and Divorces (Australia) 2025 Data Download, NSW registered the highest number of divorces in 2025, with 14,727 in the state – up from 14,036 in 2024. But keep in mind that the size of each state’s population matters when drawing comparisons. 

This is why we look to the crude divorce rate to gain a more accurate comparison figure.

The ABS’s most recent crude divorce rate comparison – still 2021, as the ABS hasn’t republished a state-by-state crude rate breakdown since – showed that Queensland had the highest crude divorce rate out of all states and territories across Australia. 

The Sunshine State had 2.6 divorces granted for every 1,000 residents in 2021. This is significantly higher than the 2021 national rate of 2.2. In comparison, the crude divorce rate in NSW sat at 2.1 that year. Again, the 2021 ABS published crude divorce rate is the most recent year for which a like-for-like state comparison is possible.

Why does this matter? Because without up-to-date state-by-state crude divorce rates, we can’t reliably say which state currently holds the ‘divorce capital’ title – Queensland is the most recent frontrunner on a per-population basis, while NSW simply records the highest number of divorces because of its larger population.

Marriage and divorce rates by state and territory

Let’s take a closer look at how divorce statistics vary across the states and territories of Australia. It’s important to remember that divorces are counted where they were registered, so that data isn’t always a true reflection of the residents currently living in the state.

NSW registered the highest number of divorces each year from 2020 to 2025, while the Northern Territory registered the lowest. Victoria and Queensland came in at second and third position historically, though Victoria overtook Queensland in 2025.

Yet when it comes to comparing the crude divorce rate in each state or territory, the NT and Victoria came neck and neck with the lowest rates in 2021.

Number of divorces granted across states and territories, 2020–2025

Source: Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2025, ABS

Crude divorce rates across states and territories, 2021 (most recent state-level breakdown available)

Source: Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2021, ABS

Why do the rates vary between states?

Just as there are many contributing factors to a couple’s divorce, there are also many different reasons why divorce rates vary.

Factors like the population’s age data, demographics, religion, industry mix and local factors all play a part. Even ex-spouses’ career choices can come into play, with divorce rates varying across professions.

For example, Australian data based on occupational breakdowns shows that gaming managers and bartenders have some of the highest divorce rates, with more than half of marriages in these professions ending in divorce. On the other hand, actuaries, physical scientists and clergy record much lower divorce rates (around 17 to 20%). 

In general, high-stress, late-night and socially intensive roles tend to be linked with higher rates of relationship breakdown, while more stable, structured careers are associated with lower rates.

How many Australian marriages end in divorce?

The Relationships Report dives into what percentage of Australian marriages end in divorce.

In Australia, around a third of all marriages end in divorce. While that may sound like some wild divorce statistics, this figure is actually a lot lower than in some parts of the world. Take America, for example, where around 45% of marriages end in divorce.

In more optimistic news, the median duration of marriage to both separation and divorce has been increasing. While the median length of marriage to separation was 8.4 years in 2020, it sat at 9.4 years in 2025. Similarly, in 2020 the median marriage lasted 12.1 years to divorce, climbing to 13.2 years in 2024 and 13.4 years in 2025.

Are Australians divorcing more or less?

When considering whether Australians are divorcing more or less, we need a broader lens to put the shift into perspective. 

First, we need to put the number of divorces in context with the number of marriages. And in that light, fewer Aussies are actually choosing to say ‘I do’ in recent times. 118,804 marriages were registered in 2025, 1.7% fewer than in 2024, with the crude marriage rate dipping to 5.3 per 1,000 people (down from 5.5). So as fewer couples get married, that means that there’s a smaller pool of relationships to end in divorce.

Another way to look at that is that the Australian marriage rate has fallen about 33.9% over the last two decades. Longer-term divorce rates in Australia have also broadly tracked that decline, even though 2025 saw a modest uptick in divorces.

But that doesn’t mean Australians aren’t falling in love and making a life together. De facto relationships have increased steadily, particularly since the Family Law Act began to acknowledge the union in separation matters.

Since 2011, the number of Australians in de facto relationships has increased by a massive 46.8%. And AIFS analysis of longitudinal survey data has found that couples who remain in de facto relationships (and do not go on to marry) have much higher separation rates than married couples. One synthesis notes that such couples are around six times more likely to separate than those who marry after cohabiting and 7.8 times more likely to separate than couples who marry without cohabiting. 

Where to find the full picture

To gain better insight and broader context into the relationship trends happening locally, grab your free copy of the Australian Relationships Report.

It takes a comprehensive look into the societal shifts and different types of relationships, all under a legal lens.

Thinking about separation or divorce? Talk to our team

Wherever you are in Australia, our family lawyers can help you understand your options. If you’re thinking about separation or divorce, contact our team today for a confidential, no-obligation chat.