Why does Norwich have a high population of divorced people?

Newly-released data from the 2021 census revealed that 12.8pc of people aged 16 or over in the fine city are divorced or were formerly in a civil partnership - the highest proportionally across the two nations.

Norwich is also in the national bottom 10 for people being married or currently in a civil partnership with 35.4pc.

Views from Mousehold Heath - Picture: Danielle Booden (Image: Danielle Booden)

The figures follow earlier data released from the census that showed 38.9pc of people in Norwich are living on their own.

Juliet Harvey, legal director in the family department at law firm Birketts, said that nationally the number of marriages is going down.

"Over the 30 years I've been in the business, the average length of marriage has come down quite significantly too.

Juliet Harvey, legal director Birketts LLP - Picture: Birketts LLP (Image: Birketts LLP)

"I think the traditional concepts of marriage and monogamy are not as prevalent now as they were back then.

"People approach relationships in a very different way.

"I wonder if Covid has made everybody think about their lives - we've all spent a lot of time at home with partners.

"We do see a spike in retired couples - we call silver splitters - separating. They're spending a lot of time together which can put stress on a relationship.

A stock image of wedding rings - Picture: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

"They may stay together for the kids, or their dynamic may change when they retire and spend more time at home"

Census data from 2021 also showed that Norwich has the second-highest proportion of people outside London with a trans or non-binary gender identity, with areas of NR3 toward the city centre seeing some of the highest concentrations of LGBTQ+ people nationally.

"The society and demographic within Norwich may play into why the stats are so high," she added.