The following table shows annual divorce rates and number of divorces for Army and RAF personnel for each year since 1997. Royal Naval data groups ‘Separated’, ‘Divorced’ and ‘Widowed’ together. Separation numbers and percentages cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 20061 Army2 Number 1,130 1,310 1,210 1,200 1,040 930 Rate (percentage) 2.2 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.1 1.9 RAF Number 620 590 520 580 570 n/a Rate (percentage) 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.9 1.9 n/a n/a = Not available. 1 Figures for 2006 are for the 12 month period up to 1 December 2006. 2 For 2001, annulments are excluded from the calculations for divorce rates, as the information was not available, however the remaining years do include annulments in their calculation. Notes: 1, Figures are for UK Regular Forces, and exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service personnel, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. Figures are for Trained and Untrained personnel excluding Officer Designates. 2. Rates are calculated as a percentage of the average married strength during the calendar years.
Figures in the form requested are unavailable after 1 December 2006 following the implementation of the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system.
Personal marital status is now recorded in a different way in order to determine entitlement to allowances and service families’ accommodation. These categories are:
PStat 1—A member of the armed forces who is married or in a registered civil partnership.
PStat 2—A member of the armed forces who has main parental responsibility for dependant children.
PStat 3—A member of the armed forces, not in PStat 1 or 2 who provides financial support to former spouse/partner by voluntary agreement.
PStat 4—A member of the armed forces, not in PStat 1 or 2 who provides financial support to former spouse/partner by way of a court order.
PStat 5—All other members of the armed forces.