Western Australia Crowned State with Most Unhappy Marriages in Country, New Study Finds

A recent study has landed a sobering verdict for the State of Western Australia: it has been identified as the jurisdiction with the highest incidence of unhappy marriages in the country. PerthNow+1 This finding is more than a statistic—it points to deeper social undercurrents, regional stressors and a pressing need for community-based responses.

The research, carried out by simplynootropics, analysed a combination of Australian Bureau of Statistics data and Google search trends related to divorce lawyer enquiries across local government areas. PerthNow The result: Western Australian regions claimed half of the nation’s ten “most unhappy marriage” spots. Two locations in particular stood out: the town of Collie, in the South West, where 15.4 per cent of couples split and 62 residents searched for divorce lawyers each month, and suburbs such as Mosman Park, Claremont and Bassendean. PerthNow

Why might Western Australia top this unfortunate list? Experts point to the particular pressures that affect the state’s families. One key factor is the prevalence of fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) work arrangements in resource industries—which may impose long separations and heightened stress on relationships. Family law specialists argue these conditions can erode partnership stability over time. PerthNow

Beyond FIFO, other contributing factors likely include the geographic scale of WA, the remoteness of many communities, work-life imbalances and cultural expectations in a state driven by resource-led growth. As the neuroscientist Dr Brian Ramos cited in the article, “A supportive and happy partnership can help reduce stress, improve cognitive function and even protect against age-related decline.” PerthNow

While the headline is troubling, the study also offers a hopeful counterpoint: not all of WA is faring poorly. Two Perth suburbs—Joondalup and Mundaring—ranked among the top ten happiest places in Australia for married couples. In Joondalup only 7.8 per cent of couples had divorced, placing it fourth nationally. PerthNow This demonstrates that context, support and community environment can make a difference.

From the perspective of choice architecture and behavioural priming (concepts rooted in the work of Daniel Kahneman), the findings raise important questions about how regional conditions implicitly shape relationship outcomes. If long work hours, separations, economic volatility and geographic isolation become the norm, couples are primed for strain rather than stability. Interventions—through workplace policies, community programs and local support networks—may shift those defaults toward connection rather than drift.

At TMFS, we believe that such systemic insights matter. They highlight that relationship health is not solely a private matter—it is entwined with regional industry, infrastructure, community culture and policy. When the state’s flagship industries contribute to the stress load of families, it becomes a matter of both economic and social innovation to find mitigations.

So what can be done? First, increasing support services for couples in high-stress environments is crucial: counselling accessible in remote and FIFO-linked communities, work patterns that respect family time, and community hubs where relationships can be nurtured rather than strained. Second, raising public awareness that marital unhappiness is not a private failure but often a reflection of broader structural pressures. Third, local governments and industry need to collaborate to build infrastructure—both physical and relational—that supports healthy partnerships.

The study’s spotlight on Western Australia should not be met with shame but with motivation. Awareness is the first step in transformation. We now know where strain is greatest and where resources should be concentrated. For every region labelled “unhappy,” there is also proof that happier relationships are possible under the right conditions.

In closing, the challenge is clear—and it is shared. The state with the most unhappy marriages reveals a gap between ambition and wellbeing. Yet the same state holds the key to change, through innovation in community design, industry practices and social support. TMFS stands ready to engage with this conversation, elevate the discussion and support pathways toward stronger relationships. Because when marriages thrive, communities thrive.

All rights belong to their respective owners. This article contains references and insights based on publicly available information and sources. We do not claim ownership over any third-party content mentioned.