Love may be in the air for some, but for others, February brings thoughts of breakups and divorce. With a surge in online searches for separation and legal splits, data suggests that not all relationships are built to last, especially in certain parts of the UK.
As couples celebrate Valentine’s Week, fresh data suggests not everyone is feeling the love, More than a third (36%) of people admit to breaking up with a partner in the week leading up to the most romantic day of the year.
Meanwhile, online searches for “divorce application” and “divorce process” have surged by 21 per cent and 46 per cent, respectively, over the past three months, highlighting a growing interest in separations.
January is already known as ‘Divorce Month’ in legal circles, as it marks the busiest period for filings. Now, a study by odds experts at Slotozilla has analysed search volumes to pinpoint which UK cities are most eager to untie the knot.
In Scotland, Dundee ranks as the top divorce hotspot, with 94 searches per 100,000 residents for terms like “how to divorce”, “divorce application”, and “divorce”, placing it sixth in the UK overall. The Tayside city was well out in front compared to other places across Scotland.
There was a huge drop off to second-placed Edinburgh, with 61 searches per 100,000, before a further gap to Dunfermline in third, where there are 40 searches per 100,000.
At the other end of the scale, Stirling appears to be Scotland’s most committed city, recording the fewest divorce-related searches, with just 21 per 100,000 residents.
In terms of the UK as a whole, Wrexham in Wales topped the charts with 224 searches per 100,000. This was followed by Newry in Northern Ireland (143) and the Welsh city of Bangor (133). And despite Wales holding two of the top three spots, it also had the city with the least interest in divorce-related information.
Newport had just six searches per 100,000 residents, followed by Armagh in Northern Ireland and Southampton on England’s south coast, both at 10 per 100,000.
Commenting on the findings, Marie Toland, Senior Editor from Slotozilla said: “The data highlights a trend in the UK’s shifting attitudes toward divorce. Increased search interest in divorce-related terms suggests that more people are actively seeking information on separation, with an uplift in searches over the last three months.
“While these findings don’t necessarily indicate rising divorce rates, they do reflect a growing openness to exploring options. It’s interesting to see that certain UK cities are seeking divorce information at a much higher rate than others.”