113 Divorce Statistics On The Divorce Rate In America (For 2024)

Divorce-Rate-Divorce-Rate-In-America-US-Divorce-Rate-How-Many-Marriages-End-In-Divorce-Rate-In-US-Divorce-Statistics

What is the divorce rate in America?

We’re covering ALL the divorce statistics for the US divorce rates.

And the percentage of marriages that end in divorce.

Let’s dig right in.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

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US Divorce Statistics

  • The divorce rate in the US is around 44.6% of marriages.
  • There are roughly 2.9 divorces per 1,000 people.
  • The average length of a marriage that ends in divorce is 8 years.
  • Women file for 66% of divorces.
  • The most common age for divorce is between 25-39 years old.
  • The median age for divorce is 39.
  • The divorce rate among those over 50 (gray divorce) has doubled since the 1990s.
  • The most common reason cited for divorce is “lack of commitment.”
  • 60% of second marriages end in divorce.
  • The rate of divorce decreases with higher levels of education and income.
  • States that have no-fault divorce laws have higher divorce rates than states that require proof of fault.
  • Children of divorce are more likely to experience emotional and behavioral problems.
  • Children of divorce have a higher risk of divorce themselves when they grow up.
  • The average age for couples to divorce for the first time is 30 years old for men and 29 years old for women.
  • The divorce rate for first marriages within the first five years is around 20%.
  • The divorce rate for military couples is higher than the general population, with a rate of 3.7% compared to 3.2%.
  • The percentage of divorced adults in the US has more than doubled since 1960, from 9% to 22%.
  • In the US, the average cost of a divorce with attorneys is $15,000-$20,000.
  • The percentage of divorced adults who remarry is around 75%.
  • 40% of couples who cohabitate before marriage get divorced.
  • The divorce rate for couples who marry before age 25 is around twice as high as for those who marry after age 25.
  • The divorce rate for same-sex couples is around 39%.

Divorce Rate In America (2000 – 2020)

What is the divorce rate in the U.S.?

The divorce rate in America is 44.6%.

The marriage rate is 6.1 per 1,000 total population.

The divorce rate is 2.6 per 1,000 population.

This means that the divorce rate in America is 42.6%.

The divorce rate in America has dropped 35% in the past 20 years.

In 2000, the divorce rate was 4 per 1,000 total population.

In 2020, the divorce rate in America was 2.6 per 1,000 population.

America has the highest crude divorce rates in the world.

At least, according to the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention.

Divorce Rate In America - US Divorce Rate - Divorce Rate In US - Divorce Statistics - Divorce Percentage - Rate Of Divorces - Divorce Rate Statistics

Divorce Rate 1950-Present

The divorce rate from 1950 to the present only increased by 16%.

The divorce rates in the 1950s went from 2.5 per 1,000 to 2.2 in 1960.

The divorce rate increased 236% from 1960 to 1980.

The US’ involvement in the Vietnam War started in 1961 and ended in 1975.

The divorce rates more than doubled during this period.

Since the 1980s, the divorce rate in America has steadily declined.

In 1980, the divorce rate was 5.2 people per 1,000 people.

The divorce rate in 2020 is 2.9 persons per 1,000 people.

This is a 44.2% reduction in the divorce rate in America over a 40 year period.

Divorce Rate 1950 - Present - Divorce Rate In US - Divorce Rate In America
Year Divorce Rate
19502.5
19552.3
19602.2
19652.5
19703.5
19755
19805.2
19854.9
19904.7
19954.2
20004.0
20053.6
20103.6
20153.1
20202.6

This table presents the divorce rate per 1,000 people in the United States from 1950 to 2020.

Analyzing the data reveals several trends:

  • There was a general decline in the divorce rate between 1950 and 1960, indicating increased marital stability during this period.
  • The divorce rate began to rise again in the mid-1960s, and this trend continued through the 1970s, reaching its peak in 1980 at 5.2 divorces per 1,000 people. This period witnessed significant social, cultural, and legal changes, such as the introduction of no-fault divorce laws, which likely contributed to the increase in divorce rates.
  • Since the 1980s, the divorce rate has been on a steady decline. This downward trend continued through the 1990s and into the 21st century, with the divorce rate in 2020 dropping to 2.6 per 1,000 people. This decrease can be attributed to various factors, including a shift in societal attitudes toward marriage, the rise in cohabitation, and couples waiting longer to get married.

The table shows that the divorce rate in the United States has experienced notable fluctuations over the past 70 years, with:

  • a decline in the 1950s
  • a significant increase in the 1960s and 1970s
  • a steady decrease from the 1980s onward
Coronavirus Divorce - COVID Divorce Rate - Divorce Rate Coronavirus - Stats of Divorce - Divorce Rate Statistics

Coronavirus Divorce Rate

The Coronavirus divorce rate in America is 44.8%.

The marriage rate is 33.2 per 1,000 total population.

The divorce rate is 14.9 per 1,000 population.

This means that the Coronavirus divorce rate in America is 44.8%.

Recall that the divorce rate in America was 44.6% according to the latest U.S Census Bureau data.

This means that the Coronavirus divorce rate was only 0.2% higher than the normal divorce rate.

Divorce Statistics

Average Marriage Length

The average marriage length in the US is 8.2 years.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The average length of marriage in the US is one of the lowest in the world.

Average Marriage Length - Average Length Of Marriage Before Divorce - US Marriage Statistics - Average Length Of Marriage
CountryAverage Marriage Length (Years)
Italy18
Canada13.8
France13
Australia12
Mexico12
Japan11
England11
US8.2

So, how many marriages end in divorce?

How Many Marriages End In Divorce

44.6% of marriages end in divorce.

This is how many marriages end in divorce.

According to the CDC’s National Marriage and Divorce Rates.

How many marriages end in divorce changes each year that data gets collected.

44.6% is the number of marriages that end in a divorce based on the latest data.

What Percentage Of Marriages That End In Divorce

Let’s calculate what percentage of marriages end in divorce.

The marriage rate for 1,000 people is 6.5 people per 1,000 total population.

And the divorce rate for 1,000 people is 2.9 people per 1,000 total population.

That means that for every 6.5 people that get married, 2.9 of those people are getting divorced.

This means that 44.6% of marriages end in divorce.

2.9 ÷ 6.5 = 44.6%

Sexless Marriage Divorce Rate

What percentage of sexless marriages end in divorce?

How many sexless marriages end in divorce?

The sexless marriage divorce rate is 37.8%.

The marriage rate is 6.1 per 1,000 total population.

The sexless marriage divorce rate is 2.3 per 1,000 population.

This means that the sexless marriage divorce rate is 37.8%.

88.8% of couples claim that a cheating spouse is the cause of divorce.

We assume that infidelity is due to a sexless marriage.

We know that the divorce rate in America is 2.6 per 1,000 total population.

88.8% of 2.6 is 2.31 per 1,000 total population.

This is how we calculated the sexless marriage divorce rate to be 37.8%.

There is no other data collected on the sexless marriage divorce rate.

Gay Divorce Rate

Studies show that the gay divorce rate is 1.1% per year.

44.8% of all same-sex couple’s marriages end in divorce.

In the study, 30% of lesbian couples divorced while 14.8% of gay male couples divorced.

This means that the lesbian divorce rate is twice as high as the gay male divorce rate.

This means that lesbians’ likelihood of divorce is twice as high.

Divorce Statistics After Infidelity

How many marriages end in divorce after cheating?

Divorce statistics after infidelity tells us that 88.8% of divorces involve infidelity.

The number of divorces in America is 2.6 per 1,000 total population.

But 2.31 per 1,000 are divorcing after infidelity.

Of that 88.8%, 24% of people said that infidelity was the ‘final straw.’

The divorce statistics after infidelity tells us that 0.55 per 1,000 total population claim infidelity as the final straw.

Military Divorce Rate

The average military divorce rate is 3.8%.

This means that for every 1,000 marriages, 38 of them are ending in divorce.

The military divorce rate is 1,210% than the average divorce rate in America.

The latest divorce rate in the US is 2.9 divorces for every 1,000 marriages.

  1. Army Divorce Rate
  2. Navy Seal Divorce Rate
  3. Marine Corps Divorce Rate
  4. Air Force Divorce Rate

Military Divorce Rate - Navy Seal Divorce Rate - Army Divorce Rate - Military Marriage Statistics - Divorce Rates In Military
Military Branch Divorce Rate
Army 3.7%
Navy Seals 3.6%
Marine Corps 3.8%
Air Force 3.9%

Army Divorce Rate

The Army divorce rate is 3.7%.

For every 1,000 Army marriages, 37 of them are ending in divorce.

Navy Seal Divorce Rate

The Navy Seal divorce rate is 3.6%.

For every 1,000 Navy Seal marriages, 36 of them are ending in divorce.

Marine Corps Divorce Rate

The Marine Corps divorce rate is 3.8%.

For every 1,000 Marine Corps marriages, 38 of them are ending in divorce.

Air Force Divorce Rate

The Air Force divorce rate is 3.9%.

For every 1,000 Air Force marriages, 39 of them are ending in divorce.

Divorce Rate By Religion - Catholic Divorce Rate - Mormon Divorce Rate - Jewish Divorce Rate - Christian Divorce Rate

Divorce Rate By Religion

Let’s talk about the divorce rate by religion.

The divorce rate by religion is broken into 4 categories:

  1. Catholic Divorce Rate
  2. Jewish Divorce Rate
  3. Mormon Divorce Rate
  4. Christian Divorce Rate

Divorce Rate By Religion - Catholic Divorce Rate - Jewish Divorce Rate - Mormon Divorce Rate - Christian Divorce Rate
ReligionDivorce Rate
Catholic25%
Jewish9%
Mormon8%
Christian38%

Catholic Divorce Rate

The Catholic divorce rate is 25%.

According to a Pew Research study, 1 in 4 Catholics have been divorced.

Jewish Divorce Rate

According to the Jerusalem Post, the Jewish divorce rate is 9%.

Mormon Divorce Rate

Research shows that the Mormon divorce rate is about 8%.

Christian Divorce Rate

Professor Bradley Wright studied Christians. He broke them up into two groups:

  • those who regularly attended church
  • those who did not

The Christian divorce rate for those who did not regularly attend church was 60%. The Christian divorce rate for regular church attendees was only 38%.

Divorce Rate By Profession - Truck Driver Divorce Rate - Doctor Divorce Rate - Lawyer Divorce Rate - Divorce Rate For Cops

Divorce Rate By Profession

Let’s look at the divorce rate by profession.

We can calculate the divorce rate by profession.

By dividing the divorce rate by the marriage rate for each year.

Let’s look at an example.

Gaming managers have a marriage rate of 6.9 people out of every 1,000 that get married every year.

They have a divorce rate of 3.65 people out of every 1,000 people each year.

3.65 ÷ 6.9 = 52.9%

So, let’s look at the divorce rate by profession.

These are the professions with the highest and lowest divorce rates.

Occupations With The Highest Divorce Rate

Divorce Rate By Profession - US Marriage Statistics - Stats On Divorce - Divorce Rate Statistics - Divorce Rate In US

Occupations With The Lowest Divorce Rate

Lowest Divorce Rate By Profession - US Marriage Statistics - Stats On Divorce - Divorce Rate Statistics - Divorce Rate In US

Now that we know the highest and lowest divorce rates by profession, let’s look at the popular ones.

  1. Lawyer Divorce Rate
  2. Firefighter Divorce Rate
  3. Divorce Rate For Cops
  4. Truck Driver Divorce Rate
  5. Pilot Divorce Rate
  6. Doctor Divorce Rate
  7. Nurse Divorce Rate

Divorce Rate By Profession - Truck Driver Divorce Rate - Lawyer Divorce Rate - Divorce Rate For Cops - Doctor Divorce Rate - Police Divorce Rate
Profession Divorce Rate
Lawyers 22.9%
Firefighters 13.9%
Cops15.0%
Truck Drivers 36.9%
Pilots30.5%
Doctors24.3%
Nurses33.0%

It looks like college-educated married couples have a lower likelihood of divorce.

Lawyer Divorce Rate

The lawyer divorce rate is 22.9%.

The percentage of lawyers that have been married is 80.5%.

For every 100 lawyers, 80.5% have been married.

Of those 80.5%, 24.3% have been divorced.

That means that, for every 80.5 marriages, 18.4 lawyers get divorced.

Firefighter Divorce Rate

The average firefighter divorce rate is 13.9%.

Firefighter divorce rates can be broken down by gender.

The study had 1,456 participants, of which:

  • 1,407 were males
  • 49 were females

Female firefighter divorce rates are 40%.

Male firefighter divorce rates are 19.6%.

Of the 1,456 total firefighters, 1,031 had been married.

Of the 1,031 firefighters that had been married, 143 had been divorced.

That tells us the firefighter divorce rate is 13.9%.

These numbers indicate how many firefighters have EVER been divorced.

The following tells us how many firefighters are CURRENTLY divorced.

Meaning they have not remarried after the marriage ends.

Female firefighters that are currently divorced were 32.1%.

Male firefighters that are currently divorced were 11.8%.

The national average of the general population that were currently divorced was:

  • 10.1% for married women
  • 9.4% for married men

The female firefighter’s likelihood of divorce is 3x higher than the general population.

Divorce Rate For Cops

According to the research on the divorce rate for cops, the divorce rate for cops is 15.01%.

The rate of divorce for law enforcement, in general, is 14.47%.

“Law enforcement” includes everything, such as:

  • Detectives
  • Animal Control
  • Game Wardens
  • Corrections Officers

Truck Driver Divorce Rate

There is no data on truck driver rates of divorce.

So, I found the demographics for the average truck driver.

After I found the demographics, I looked up Census Data for that demographic.

And calculated truck driver divorce rates.

The average demographic of the 3.5M truck drivers is:

  • ~90% were men
  • the average income was $43,252
  • the average age is 46 years old

The truck driver divorce rate is 36.9%.

For every 100 people, 87 truck drivers have been married.

For every 87 truck drivers that have been married, 32.1 of them have been divorced.

This tells us that the truck driver’s divorce rate is 36.9%.

American truck drivers have a high risk of divorce.

Pilot Divorce Rate

According to the Census’ American Community Survey, the pilot divorce rate is 30.5%.

Divorce Rate For Doctors

According to the British Medical Journal, the divorce rate for doctors is 24.3%.

The percentage of doctors that have been married is 83.8%.

For every 100 doctors, 83.8% have been married.

Of those 83.8%, 24.3% of doctors have been divorced.

That means that, for every 83.8 marriages, 20.3 doctors get divorced.

Nurse Divorce Rate

The nurse divorce rate is 33%.

The percentage of nurses that have been married is 75.7%.

Of every 100 nurses, 75.7% have been married.

Of those 75.7%, 33% have been divorced.

That means that, for every 75.7 marriages, 24.9 nurses get divorced.

Divorce Rates By Age - Marriage Statistics - Average Length Of Marriage - What Is The Divorce Rate In America - Highest Divorce Rate

Divorce Rates By Age

Divorce Rates By Age - Average Length Of Marriage Before Divorce - Rate Of Divorces - Divorce Rate Statistics - Divorce Rate In US
Age Divorces Per 1,000
18-24 27%
25-34 23%
35-44 21%
45-54 18%
55-64 12%
65+ 5%

Divorce Rate By Years Of Marriage

The divorce rate by years married decreases as the years of marriage increase.

Newlyweds have higher rates of divorce.

Married couples’ likelihood of divorce decreases as the years of marriage increase.

Divorce Rate By Years Married - Divorce Rate After 25 Years Of Marriage - Divorce After 20 Years Statistics - Percentage Of Divorce After 30 Years Of Marriage
Years Married Divorces Per 1,000
519
1017
1515
2013
2511.5
309
356.5
404
Marriage Statistics - Average Marriage Length - Marriage Success Rate - High School Sweetheart Divorce Rate - Average Length Of Marriage

Marriage Statistics

Marriage Success Rate

The marriage success rate is 55.4%.

Cohabitation prior to marriage increases the marriage success rate by 40%.

These cohabitation stats were pulled from the National Center For Health Statistics.

Even though 30% of people say cohabitation before marriage is unacceptable.

According to Pew Research Center, at least.

We found the marriage success rate by knowing the U.S. divorce rate.

The U.S. divorce rate is 44.6%.

If we subtract that from 100%, we get a marriage success rate of 55.4%.

High School Sweetheart Divorce Rate

The high school sweetheart divorce rate is 54%.

This is 21% higher than the average American rate of divorce.

Next, let’s talk about how many first marriages end in divorce.

How Many First Marriages End In Divorce

30.1% of first marriages end in divorce.

The Census Bureau found that 68.8% of all people get married.

Of that 68.8%, 20.7% of first marriages end in divorce.

This means that 30.1% of first marriages end in divorce.

Divorce Rate Second Marriages

The divorce rate of second marriages is 22.03%.

The Census Bureau found that 11.8% of married people have a second marriage.

Of that 11.8%, 77.96% of second marriages last.

This means that 22.03% of second marriages end in divorce.

The rate of divorce decreases with the number of marriages.

Average Length Of Second Marriage

The average length of second marriages is 9.2 years for men.

And 8.1 years for married women.

Second marriages have the lowest divorce rates.

Third Marriage Divorce Rate

The divorce rate of third marriages is 25.8%.

The Census Bureau found that 3.1% of married people have a third marriage.

Of that 3.1%, 74.19% of third marriages last.

This means that 25.8% of third marriages end in divorce.

If you look at the rankings of these, first marriages have the highest number of divorces.

Interracial Marriage Statistics

Interracial Marriage Divorce Rate - Interracial Marriage Statistics - Divorce Rate Statistics - US Divorce Rate - Divorce Percentage
RaceMaleFemale
Whites12% 10%
Hispanics 26% 28%
Blacks24% 12%
Asians21% 36%

Interracial marriage statistics show there has been a 191% increase in interracial marriages between 1980 and 2015.

In 2015, 11 million people have interracial marriages.

This means 10% of all marriages are interracial marriages now.

Interracial Marriage Divorce Rate

The interracial marriage divorce rate is 15.1% higher compared to same-race marriages.

After 10 years of marriage, interracial divorce statistics show a 40.2% divorce rate.

Compared with a 34.9% divorce rate among couples who married within their race.

Read More: What Percentage Of Interracial Marriages End In Divorce?

Average Length Of Marriage Before Divorce

Marriage statistics from the Census tell us that the average length of the marriage before divorce is 8.2 years.

This is the average length of marriage for a first marriage in the US.

Average Length Of Marriage - Average Marriage Length - Marriage Statistics - Average Length Of Marriage Before Divorce
Race Average Length of Marriage (Years)
Whites 8.2
Hispanics7.8
Blacks8.9
Asians8.3
Causes of Divorce Statistics - Top Reasons For Divorce Statistics - US Divorce Rate - Divorce Statistics - Divorce Rate In America

Causes of Divorce Statistics

According to NCBI, the major causes of divorce statistics are as follows.

Causes of Divorce Statistics - Top Reasons For Divorce Statistics - Stats On Divorce - Divorce Statistics - Marriage Statistics
Top Reasons For Divorce Statistics # of Couples Using This Reason For Divorce
Lack of Commitment 94.4%
Infidelity88.8%
Excessive Conflict 72.2%
Married Too Young 61.1%
Financial Issues 55.6%
Substance Abuse 50.0%
Domestic Violence 27.8%
Health Problems 27.8%
Lack of Family Support 27.8%
Religious Differences 33.3%
No Premarital Education 22.2%

Participants in the study were asked to select all the reasons for divorce that applied to them.

They were able to select more than one cause of divorce.

Top Reasons For Divorce Statistics

The top reasons for divorce statistics show that the top causes of American divorce are:

  1. lack of commitment
  2. infidelity
  3. excessive conflict
  4. getting married too young
  5. financial problems

When participants were asking “What was the final straw?” the top reasons for divorce were:

  • infidelity
  • substance abuse
  • domestic violence
  • financial issues
Highest Divorce Rate - What Is The Divorce Rate In America - States With Highest Divorce Rate - Lowest Divorce Rate By State

Highest Divorce Rate By Location

What Is The Divorce Rate In America

The divorce rate in America is 44.6%.

The marriage rate is 6.5 per 1,000 total population.

The rate of divorce is 2.9 per 1,000 population.

This means that the U.S. divorce rate is 44.6%.

States With Highest Divorce Rate

States With Highest Divorce Rate - Divorce Rate In America - Divorce Rate In US - Divorce Statistics - Divorce Percentage
StateDivorces Per 1,000 People
Nevada 4.2
Arkansas 4
Oklahoma 3.9
Idaho3.9
Wyoming3.8
Alabama3.6
Alaska3.6
West Virginia 3.6
Utah3.5
Florida3.5

Divorce Rate In California

The divorce rate in California is 41.9%.

The marriage rate is 15.5 per 1,000 total population.

The divorce rate is 6.5 per 1,000 population.

This means that the divorce rate in California is 41.9%.

Divorce Rate In New York

The divorce rate in New York is 42.6%.

The marriage rate is 14.3 per 1,000 total population.

The divorce rate is 6.1 per 1,000 population.

This means that the divorce rate in New York is 42.6%.

Lowest Divorce Rate By State

Below are the lowest divorce rates by state.

Lowest Divorce Rate By State - Divorce Rate In America - Divorce Statistics - Divorce Rate In US - Divorce Rate Statistics - Rate Of Divorces
StateDivorces Per 1,000 People
Illinois1.3
Massachusetts1.5
Texas2.1
Rhode Island 2.1
Kansas2.3
Georgia2.3
Wisconsin2.3
Iowa2.3
Michigan2.3
Louisiana2.4

List Of American Rates Of Divorce By State (according to the CDC)

  • Texas – 28% (5.3 marriages and 1.5 divorces per 1,000 people in Texas)
  • Wyoming – 56% (6.8 marriages and 3.8 divorces per 1,000 people in Wyoming)
  • Pennsylvania – 50% (4.6 marriages and 2.3 divorces per 1,000 people in Pennsylvania)
  • New Mexico – N/A (3.4 marriages per 1,000 people in New Mexico)
  • Nevada – 14% (21 marriages and 3 divorces per 1,000 people in Nevada)
  • Massachusetts – 25% (4 marriages and 1 divorce per 1,000 people in Massachusetts)
  • Iowa – 43% (4.9 marriages and 2.1 divorces per 1,000 people in Iowa)
  • Hawaii – N/A (7.4 marriages per 1,000 people in Hawaii)
  • Alabama – 50% (7.2 marriages and 3.7 divorces per 1,000 people in Alabama)
  • Illinois – 41% (3.9 marriages and 1.6 divorces per 1,000 people in Illinois)
  • District Of Columbia – 32% (6.5 marriages and 2.1 divorces per 1,000 people in the District Of Columbia)
  • Maryland – 40% (4.3 marriages and 1.7 divorces per 1,000 people in Maryland)
  • Maine – 41% (5.8 marriages and 2.4 divorces per 1,000 people in Maine)
  • Indiana – N/A (5.8 marriages per 1,000 people in Indiana)
  • Arkansas – 46% (7.8 marriages and 3.6 divorces per 1,000 people in Arkansas)
  • Oklahoma – 59% (5.9 marriages and 3.5 divorces per 1,000 people in Oklahoma)

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) didn’t have data on:

  • New Mexico
  • Hawaii
  • Indiana

How The Divorce Rates In America Have Changed

Divorce rates in America have changed a lot over the past decades.

To understand these changes, we can look at how society, laws, and cultural beliefs have affected marriage and divorce over time.

After World War II, fewer people were getting divorced.

This was because families and marriage were very important during that time.

However, starting in the 1960s, divorce rates began to rise.

New laws made it easier for people to get divorced.

And many women wanted more freedom and independence than traditional marriages allowed.

Divorce rates were highest in 1980 but have been decreasing since then.

In 2020, the divorce rate was similar to what it was in the early 1950s.

There are a few reasons why fewer people are getting divorced now.

One reason is that people think about marriage differently.

They see it as a partnership where both people help each other in many ways.

Another reason is that more couples live together before getting married or instead of getting married.

This means that the couples who do get married might be more committed to staying together.

Lastly, people are getting married later in life.

They usually have finished their education and have a stable job before getting married.

This can make their marriages stronger.

Over To You

If you are using this information for your own research, feel free to link back to this article as your source.

Thank you in advance.

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