Australians divorcing in their 20s: why so many marry so young
Australians aged 16 to 24 are marrying and divorcing in significant numbers, often under pressure from family, religion, or culture.
Natalie Hancock married just after her 20th birthday to a Hungarian chef ten years older. She separated less than a year later.
She grew up in a Pentecostal church in Sydney's Hills District where marriage was seen as life's most important thing for young women. She felt unprepared for married life.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data for 2025 shows 11,868 women aged 20 to 24 married that year. That same year, 458 women aged 16 to 24 divorced, a rate of 0.3 per 1,000.
Only 170 men in that age group divorced. A woman named Brenda, now 35, faced family and cultural pressure to marry at 23.
Many young divorcees share stories of religious or cultural expectations pushing them into marriage too early.
- 11,868
- Women aged 20-24 who married in 2025
- 458
- Women aged 16-24 who divorced in 2025
- 10 years older
- Natalie's husband's age advantage
- Sydney's Hills District
- Natalie's church location
Why it mattersYoung people are still marrying early under family and cultural pressure, often with little preparation for serious relationships, leading to high divorce rates.
AustraliaAustralian divorce numbers rose 4.1 per cent in 2025, with teenagers and people in their early 20s forming a small but significant group struggling with early marriage failure.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 11 d ago
