A recent comparison of 10 major international cities including Sydney found that the average length of a marriage varies wildly around the world, with the longest marriages being found in Rome, where marriages last on average for 18 years, while the shortest marriages were found in Doha, with an average of 5.5 years before dissolution.
In Sydney, the average marriage duration is 12 years–comparatively long–despite Australia’s national divorce rate sitting at 43%. The study noted:
“The Australian Institute of Family Studies reports that people are separating quicker. In 2011, they reported that the time that ‘couples go from being married to being separated now stands at 8.7 years, up from 7.5 in 1980.’
“Still, they are also finding that more and more marriages will stay together for the kids. According to a 2013 report by the AIFS, ‘more Australians are divorcing after twenty years or more of marriage,’ waiting for their children to leave the nest before they do as well.”
