People planning to retire this year who have previously been divorced will be taking a hit of £2,100 a year on average in their expected retirement income, according to new research.

For divorcees, the average expected retirement income is £15,700 compared with £17,800 for those who have never been through a marriage break-up.

This was the conclusion of Prudential's research, which showed more than one in three of this year's retirees have experienced a divorce.

One in five of the divorcees will retire with outstanding debts, averaging £22,100, the firm estimated, while those who have never divorced will carry a slightly smaller debt burden into retirement (£21,700).

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One in five retirees who have been divorced expect to live in retirement with an income below the Joseph Rowntree Foundation minimum income standard for a single pensioner of £9,500 – compared with 14 per cent for those who have never divorced.

Clare Moffat, pensions specialist at Prudential, said: "Although the emotional impact of divorce may have long passed, it could come as a shock for people to find that it continues to impact them financially into their retirement.

A pension fund is likely to be one of the largest and most complicated assets a couple will have to split in the event of a divorce.

"During a divorce the costs can quickly mount up, with legal fees, the cost of setting up a new home and the effect of splitting any existing retirement savings all potentially impacting the ability of those involved to continue saving into a pension.

"Unfortunately divorce is most likely among those aged 40-44, the period in many people's lives when earning potential peaks and the most valuable pension contributions can be made."