Divorce Statistics
(What is Your Risk of Divorce?)
Divorce statistics are interesting, no matter where you are in your relationship. If you’re getting married, it’s good to know your risk. And if you’re considering a divorce, it can help put your situation into perspective.
From divorce statistics, you learn that many factors impact your risk of divorce. Some of these factors include your location, age group, education, and support system. Keep reading to learn about divorce statistics and the factors that impact divorce.
How Many Marriages End In Divorce
Perhaps you have heard that half of all marriages end in divorce. That statement is not far off.
Update for 2025: Recent data shows that the divorce rate has continued to decline, now hovering around 40%. This decline is attributed to factors such as delayed marriages, increased cohabitation before marriage, and better premarital counseling. The marriage rate has also dropped further, with fewer people choosing to marry overall.
In the 80s, the divorce rate was closer to 50 percent. So, the divorce rate has declined over the past 40 years, but only by about five percent.
What may be contributing to the declining divorce rate is falling marriage rates. Fewer people are getting married, so fewer people are getting divorced.
Another contributing factor could be the fact that people have begun getting married at an older age. So, people are waiting longer to get married and being more careful about who they choose as their life partners.
Plus, statistics show that people who marry in their mid-20s to early-30s are at the lowest risk of divorce.
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Reasons People Get Divorced
There are many reasons people decide their marriage is not working. Poor communication and a lack of commitment are two of the top contributing factors for divorce.
People also report constant arguing, infidelity, inequality, immaturity, abuse, and financial hardship as their reasons for divorce.
Update for 2025: Recent surveys show that financial stress has become a leading cause of divorce, especially in the wake of economic instability post-COVID-19. Other emerging factors include differences in lifestyle goals and mental health challenges. Infidelity remains a significant factor, but its percentage has slightly decreased due to changing societal norms around relationships.
Shockingly, 73 percent of people said lack of commitment, 56 percent blamed constant arguing, and 55 percent cited infidelity as the reason for their marriage failing.
Many people also express regret for not trying harder to make their union work.
Divorce Rates and Age
The divorce rates are higher for certain age groups. Very young couples face the biggest challenges in marriage. They have to overcome immaturity, financial problems, jealousy, and family pressure. Plus, people change a lot from 18 to 25, and many couples just grow apart.
Update for 2025: Recent studies indicate that teenage marriages now have an even higher divorce rate, closer to 40% within five years, as younger couples face increased financial and emotional challenges. Meanwhile, the divorce rate for couples marrying in their late 20s to early 30s has dropped further, with only 10-12% divorcing within the first five years. The rise in divorce rates after age 35 has stabilized, likely due to better communication and financial stability among older couples.
Of couples who enter into a teenage marriage, 32 percent will divorce before they reach their fifth wedding anniversary. Twenty percent of individuals age 20 to 24 divorce within five years and 15 percent of 25 to 29-year-olds will call it quits before the five-year mark. But statistics from recent years show that your chances for getting a divorce rise to 19 percent after age 35.
It seems that at 18, you are still growing, in your late-20s, you are more stable, and by your mid-30s you are more set in your ways.
This rise in inflexibility in your 30s may make you unwilling to make compromises that are conducive to a happy married life.
Divorce in the United States
In comparison to the rest of the world, Americans have considerably high divorce rates. Worldwide, only the Maldives and Belarus have higher divorce rates.
In countries with no-fault divorces, the divorce process is relatively straightforward, and the divorce rates are higher. Still, in other parts of the world, it is much harder legally to get divorced, and many societies frown upon it.
Update for 2025: Recent data shows that Nevada still has one of the highest divorce rates, but Arkansas has surpassed other states to become the state with the highest divorce rate (around 16 divorces per 1,000 marriages). States like California and Massachusetts have seen further declines in divorce rates, now ranking among the lowest (around 8-9 divorces per 1,000 marriages).
Within the United States, the rate of divorces differs from state to state. However, nearly every state has seen a decrease in divorces over the past decade.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, couples are more likely to get a divorce if they live in Texas, Oklahoma, Nevada, Utah, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, and Mississippi.
Couples living in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Hawaii, and Illinois have the lowest divorce rates in the country.
To put the differences into perspective, in the states with the lowest divorce rates, there are only around ten divorces per thousand marriages each year. In contrast, in the states with the highest rates, there are as many as 17 divorces per 1,000 marriages each year.
Religion and Divorce
Having a religious affiliation decreases your risk of divorce. However, if you and your partner do not share the same religion or beliefs, your marriage is more likely to fail.
Update for 2025: Recent studies show that the influence of religion on divorce rates has weakened, particularly among younger generations. While religious couples still have slightly lower divorce rates, the gap has narrowed. Interfaith marriages are becoming more common and are no longer as strongly correlated with higher divorce rates, as societal acceptance of diverse beliefs has grown.
Statistics for Second and Third Marriages
Research suggests that after your first marriage, the more times you get married, the more likely you are to get divorced. People who enter into second marriages divorce at a rate of 67 percent, and it goes up to 73 percent with a third marriage.
Update for 2025: Recent data suggests that divorce rates for second and third marriages have slightly decreased, now at 65% and 70%, respectively. This decline may be due to better premarital counseling and a focus on personal growth after a first divorce.
Remarriage Statistics
There is good news for divorcees in respect to finding another partner. Nearly 80 percent of divorced people get remarried. Six percent of people even remarry the same spouse.
Update for 2025: Recent data shows that the remarriage rate has dropped to 75%, as more divorced individuals choose to remain single or cohabitate without remarrying. However, the percentage of people remarrying their former spouse has increased slightly to 8%, possibly due to the rise of “conscious uncoupling” and reconciliation efforts.
Sexual Partners and Divorce
The number of marriages you’ve had is not the only thing that increases your chances of divorce. Studies show that having an increased number of sexual partners and cohabitating with your spouse before you wed can affect your marital status later in life.
Men vs. Women Statistics
Statistically, women get married younger than men, and they are more susceptible to post-divorce financial struggles.
In the United States, the average age of women entering their first marriage is 26. For men, the average age is 29.
According to the U.S. Census office, after divorcing, 31.2 percent of single mothers end up below the poverty threshold, whereas only 17.4 percent of single fathers suffer the same fate.
The child support received by custodial parents living below the poverty line often makes up more than two-thirds of their household income.
Divorce and Children
Children are often profoundly affected when their parents separate. Sadly, only 45.8 percent of children will reach adulthood with both of their parents in their home. Most of the children whose parents divorce end up living with their mother in a single-parent home.
Update for 2025: Recent studies show that this percentage has improved slightly, with 48% of children now reaching adulthood in two-parent households. This improvement is attributed to declining divorce rates and increased efforts to preserve marriages for the sake of children.
Divorce Health Statistics
The end of your marriage can affect many areas of your life, including your health.
According to a study on the impact of divorce on health, study participants were 23 percent more likely to suffer poor health or death following their divorce.
Update for 2025: Recent research shows that the health risks associated with divorce have decreased slightly, with divorced individuals now 20% more likely to experience health issues. This improvement is linked to better access to mental health resources and support systems for divorced individuals.
Interpreting Divorce Statistics
The number of divorces is down, but there are still plenty of people leaving their marriages each year.
While these statistics can be frightening, especially for married people with children, they can also be enlightening. With these statistics, it’s easy to see that millions of others have divorced, and you can too.
If you decide to call it quits, it is essential to have friends and family to support you. If you do not have a reliable support system, you should look into divorce and marriage counseling or attend a divorce support group.
With the right support system and a positive attitude, you can live an incredible post-divorce life.
You should also have legal support throughout your divorce case. It is essential to protect yourself, your children, and your financial situation, and a knowledgeable divorce lawyer can do just that.
While every divorce is different, the outcome of your divorce has the potential to have a massive impact on your financial situation and your future happiness.
As divorce lawyers, we suggest that you speak to a qualified Scottsdale family law attorney about your case, especially regarding matters of child custody, child support, parenting time, division of property and assets, and alimony.
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Take Control and Protect Your Future
The lawyers at BTL Family Law know that choosing the right Scottsdale divorce attorney is a personal matter. This is why you will never feel any pressure during your consultation. We are here to answer your questions, discuss your options, help you understand your rights, and, if we represent you in your divorce, our lawyers will guide you through every step of the process as efficiently as possible. We work to keep costs low so that you can start this new chapter of your life in the best position possible.