- Neath Port Talbot and Blaenau Gwent share the highest percentage of divorced individuals at 16.97% of those who have ever been married.
- New data from the Office for National Statistics has determined the Welsh areas with the highest rates of divorce.
- Denbighshire has the second highest percentage of divorced individuals at 16.66% of those who have ever been married.
A new study, conducted by family law firm Reiss Edwards Family Law, has identified Neath Port Talbot and Blaenau Gwent as the areas with the highest divorce rate in Wales, where more than one in six people who have ever been married are now divorced or have had their civil partnerships dissolved. The data was sourced from the Office for National Statistics’ most recently available legal partnership status report.
The data shows that 16.97% of ever-married residents in Neath Port Talbot and Blaenau Gwent are now divorced, placing these southern areas at the top of Wales’ divorce rankings. Ever-married residents are considered those who answered ‘married,’ ‘widowed,’ or ‘divorced’ on the Census survey. The national average divorce rate across Wales is 15.76%, meaning Neath Port Talbot and Blaenau Gwent’s rate is 7.7% higher than the countrywide figure.
Denbighshire comes second in the rankings with a divorce rate of 16.66%, just slightly lower than Neath Port Talbot and Blaenau Gwent. Denbighshire has a total population of 51,808 people who have ever been married and 8,631 people who have been divorced.
In third place is Conwy, where 16.49% of ever-married people are divorced. This area has a total population of 65,087 people who have ever been married and 10,732 people who have been divorced.
Torfaen ranks fourth with a divorce rate of 16.47%. The southern area has 48,304 people who have ever been married and 7,957 people who have been divorced.
Wrexham completes the top five with 16.41% of its ever-married population now divorced or with dissolved civil partnerships. This Welsh city has 11,418 people who have been divorced and 69,588 who have ever been married.
The 15 areas in Wales with the highest divorce rates
Rank
Area
Total Population Ever Married
Number of People Who Are Divorced
Percentage Divorced
=1
Neath Port Talbot
74,247
12,603
16.97%
=1
Blaenau Gwent
33,818
5,738
16.97%
2
Denbighshire
51,808
8,631
16.66%
3
Conwy
65,087
10,732
16.49%
4
Torfaen
48,304
7,957
16.47%
5
Wrexham
69,588
11,418
16.41%
6
Swansea
118,821
19,206
16.16%
7
Bridgend
77,554
12,431
16.03%
8
Rhondda Cynon Taf
118,578
18,815
15.87%
9
Caerphilly
90,890
14,419
15.86%
10
Merthyr Tydfil
28,949
4,533
15.66%
11
Pembrokeshire
69,985
10,912
15.59%
12
Isle of Anglesey
38,298
5,957
15.55%
13
Carmarthenshire
105,104
16,309
15.52%
14
Flintshire
84,746
13,095
15.45%
15
Gwynedd
58,721
9,040
15.40%
The popular tourist destination, Swansea, ranks sixth with 16.16% of ever-married residents now divorced. The southern area, Bridgend, is seventh, with a rate of 16.03%.
Rhondda Cynon Taf has a divorce rate of 15.87%, with a population of 118,578 people who have ever been married and 18,815 people who have been divorced.
Caerphilly follows in ninth place with 15.86% of its ever-married population now divorced. This Welsh area has a total population of 90,890 who have ever been married and 14,419 people who have been divorced.
Merthyr Tydfil rounds out the top ten with a divorce rate of 15.66%. These Welsh areas follow closely in the rankings, with Pembrokeshire (15.59%), Isle of Anglesey (15.55%), and Carmarthenshire (15.52%) taking positions 11, 12, and 13 respectively.
Flintshire ranks 14th with a divorce rate of 15.45%. Gwynedd ranks 15th with 15.40% of ever-married residents now divorced.
Amar Ali, Managing Director of Reiss Edwards Family Law, commented:
“The data highlights a strong pattern of divorce rates in parts of South Wales, with Neath Port Talbot and Blaenau Gwent topping the list. These areas, along with others like Torfaen and Merthyr Tydfil, suggest a regional trend that may reflect deeper socioeconomic factors at play.
“Communities facing long-term economic hardship or limited access to local services may experience additional strain on personal relationships. While every divorce has personal causes, these broader patterns point to a deeper link between where people live and relationship stability.”
