Following the introduction of the Divorce Reform Act in 1969, the number of remarriages rose peaking at 141, 000 in 1988(1). In 2007 there were 89,151 remarriages following the divorce or widowhood of one or both parties, accounting for 38% of the total number of marriages(2). Remarriages result in the formation of new households and second (or ‘reconstituted’) families - more than 10% of all families with dependent children in Great Britain are stepfamilies(1).

More statistics and research can be found on the following pages.

1. National Statistics (2007) Social Trends 37 (London: The Stationery Office)
2. National Statistics (2010) Marriage, divorce and adoption statistics Series FM2 no. 35 (London: The Stationery Office)

Trying again repartnering after dissolution of a union More+

The second time 'round: gender construction in remarried couples' wedding planning More+

Marital quality in remarriage: a review of methods and results More+

Assessing beliefs about remarriages and stepfamilies: the remarriage belief inventory More+

More research

Number of remarriages More+

Previous marital statuses of persons remarrying More+

Average age of people remarrying More+

Remarriages numbers and rates by sex and age More+

Remarriages of widowed persons 1961 - 2007 More+

More statistics