Was 1994 the Worst Year to Marry? What the Data Tells Us and What We See Now
A recent article in the Daily Mail posed a fascinating question: was 1994 the unluckiest year for married couples in the United Kingdom? Statistically, it might just have been. According to Harbour Family Law, 1994 holds the record for the highest number of divorces per 1,000 marriages in the United Kingdom, with a rate of 12.4.¹
It sparked our curiosity because many of the men and women we now support in their search for long-term relationships were married around that time.
National Picture: The Mid-1990s Marriage Dip
Data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that:
44 percent of couples married in 1992 have since divorced.²
By contrast, only 19 percent of those married in 2010 have divorced so far.
It paints a clear picture: couples who married in the early to mid 1990s are far more likely to have divorced than those who married a generation later.
One explanation points to societal change. These were the years when attitudes toward marriage were shifting. Cohabitation was rising, divorce was no longer taboo, and fewer people were marrying out of social expectation. As The Times recently noted, many of these marriages may have formed more from “sliding into commitment” than deliberate decision-making.³
And now, three decades later, we are meeting many of those same individuals - wiser, hopeful, and ready for something more intentional.
Bowes-Lyon Data: The Re-entry Decades in Percentages
Divorce is common among our members. Just under four in ten of the people we currently represent are divorced (approximately 37 percent).
Age spread of divorced members:
Early sixties dominate. A little over 56 percent of our divorced clients are in their sixties.
Second-largest group: those in their fifties, at around 20 percent.
The younger group. Divorcees in their forties account for roughly 6 percent, and those in their thirties about 2 percent.
Seasoned daters. Clients in their seventies make up just over 15 percent of the divorced group.
(Internal Bowes-Lyon Partnership data, July 2025.)
Why these percentages matter
The 1994 link. Couples who married in 1994, based on the average marriage age at the time, are now approximately 58 years old. They fall right in the centre of our largest segment, supporting the national finding that mid 1990s marriages were more vulnerable to divorce.
A clear second-chance wave. With nearly six in ten divorced members in their sixties, we are witnessing a generation eager to write a more intentional second chapter.
Not just mid-life. Although smaller in absolute terms, the presence of thirty and forty somethings underscores changing attitudes: people today feel freer to leave mis-matched marriages earlier rather than later.
Rebuilding After Divorce: A New Chapter
Our work with divorced clients often begins in a place of quiet optimism. For many, it has been decades since they were last single. Some were married for 20 or 30 years. They have navigated the end of a chapter, raised families, built careers, and are now ready to invest in themselves.
While dating apps can feel daunting or impersonal, high-quality matchmaking offers an alternative that is guided, discreet, and tailored to the emotional maturity that only comes with experience.
“It is not just about finding someone again. It is about finding the right person, in a way that feels natural, private, and dignified.” – Bowes-Lyon Partnership
What We Have Learned
Looking at the national data and our internal insights side by side, a few patterns are clear:
1994 couples are the core of today’s second-time seekers.
Most of our divorced members are now in their sixties, a generation looking to re-enter dating with purpose.
Experience brings confidence. Our clients know what matters and what no longer does.
While 1994 may have marked a statistical peak for divorce, we prefer to see it as the beginning of a second chapter. One that, with the right support, may just lead to the most rewarding partnership yet.
Ready to Begin Again?
If you were married in the 1990s and now find yourself single again, you are far from alone. Many of our members come to us in their fifties and sixties, ready to meet someone with shared values, emotional maturity, and a genuine desire for lasting companionship.
We would be delighted to explore whether we might be the right support for you. To learn more about how we work or to arrange a confidential consultation, please get in touch here.
Sources:
Harbour Family Law: How many marriages end in divorce?
The Times: Happy ever after? Divorce rates are not doing what you might expect
Daily Mail: Was 1994 the worst year for married couples?