What Are the Divorce Rate Statistics in the U.S.?
The current divorce rate in the U.S. is at an all-time low with an average of 14.1 people per capita.
Written by Background Check Repair
Background Checks | January 20, 2023
Table of Contents
When comparing divorce rate by state, there are some interesting facts in the latest stats. Although many people think that the rate is 50 percent in the U.S., according to the Center for Disease Control data, that number is grossly exaggerated.
The divorce rate by state is actually much, much less.
Although divorce rates can be difficult to calculate, most studies indicate that the latest yearly statistics for the national divorce rate in the United States achieved peak percentage in the 1980’s.
By examining the highest to lowest rankings can shed some light on what factors commonly lead to divorce in the U.S.
Although it has been said for years that the divorce rate among married couples is 50% this actually hasn’t been true for some time.3
The most recent statistics on the matter indicate that people are getting divorced less and less every year. The reason for the falling divorce rate is fairly complex and is likely due to dozens of competing factors. A good way to start to get a grasp on the socioeconomic reasons for divorce is to look at divorce statistics by state.1
When looking at the divorce rate by state, most people assume that California has the highest rate, however, Arkansas actually leads the way with California falling below the national average. For many years it was reported that many of the counties in Southern California had the highest divorce rate in the entire country.
However, studies actually show that the divorce rate tends to be higher in more rural states, rather than those with high urban populations. The reasons for this may be because of the percentage of people who actually marry, versus the percentage of the population who co-habitate.
Looking at urban versus rural populations is not the best way to estimate the divorce rates in the U.S. Both the state with the highest divorce rate and the state with the lowest divorce rate are both traditionally rural states: Arkansas with the highest, and North Dakota with the lowest.
The list below outlines the current divorce rate in each state, based on the number of marriages in that state.
Divorce Rate in by State | Divorce Rate |
Divorce Rate in Alabama (AL) | 19.9% |
Divorce Rate in Alaska (AK) | 14.4% |
Divorce Rate in Arizona (AZ) | 16.3% |
Divorce Rate in Arkansas (AR) | 25.9 % |
Divorce Rate in California (CA) | 13.8% |
Divorce Rate in Colorado (CO) | 16.6% |
Divorce Rate in Connecticut (CT) | 14.3% |
Divorce Rate in Delaware (DE) | 15.7% |
Divorce Rate in Florida (FL) | 16.9% |
Divorce Rate in Georgia (GA) | 17.0% |
Divorce Rate in Hawaii (HI) | 13.0% |
Divorce Rate in Idaho (ID) | 14.6% |
Divorce Rate in Illinois (IL) | 13.7% |
Divorce Rate in Indiana (IN) | 19.7% |
Divorce Rate in Iowa (IA) | 13.6% |
Divorce Rate in Kansas (KS) | 16.0% |
Divorce Rate in Kentucky (KY) | 20.3% |
Divorce Rate in Louisiana (LA) | 16.9% |
Divorce Rate in Maine (ME) | 16.3% |
Divorce Rate in Massachusetts (MA) | 15.9% |
Divorce Rate in Maryland (MD) | 15.3% |
Divorce Rate in Michigan (MI) | 14.2% |
Divorce Rate in Minnesota (MN) | 13.5% |
Divorce Rate in Mississippi (MS) | 19.0% |
Divorce Rate in Missouri (MO) | 17.9% |
Divorce Rate in Montana (MT) | 17.0% |
Divorce Rate in Nebraska (NE) | 13.1% |
Divorce Rate in Nevada (NV) | 20.0% |
Divorce Rate in New Hampshire (NH) | 16.1% |
Divorce Rate in New Jersey (NJ) | 11.3% |
Divorce Rate in New Mexico (NM) | 14.3% |
Divorce Rate in New York (NY) | 12.4% |
Divorce Rate in North Carolina (NC) | 17.3% |
Divorce Rate in North Dakota (ND) | 8.7% |
Divorce Rate in Ohio (OH) | 15.0% |
Divorce Rate in Oklahoma (OK) | 21.0% |
Divorce Rate in Oregon (OR) | 19.6% |
Divorce Rate in Pennsylvania (PA) | 13.0% |
Divorce Rate in Rhode Island (RI) | 11.4% |
Divorce Rate in South Carolina (SC) | 15.6% |
Divorce Rate in South Dakota (SD) | 23.0 % |
Divorce Rate in Tennessee (TN) | 18.0% |
Divorce Rate in Texas (TX) | 16.8% |
Divorce Rate in Utah (UT) | 16.1% |
Divorce Rate in Vermont (VT) | 12.6% |
Divorce Rate in Virginia (VA) | 15.9% |
Divorce Rate in Washington (WA) | 18.0% |
Divorce Rate in West Virginia (WV) | 19.5% |
Divorce Rate in Wisconsin (WI) | 12.0% |
Divorce Rate in Wyoming (WY) | 17.0% |
Another useful statistic to examine is the demographics of divorced individuals. This should create an understanding of what factors are more likely to lead to divorce.2 One of the best things to look at to understand this phenomenon is to examine how long the average divorced couple was married before the divorce.
Just like looking at the divorce rate by state, this can help researchers examine the environmental factors that make divorce more likely.
Average Marriage Length by State | Divorce Rate by Years of Marriage |
Average Marriage Length in Alabama (AL) | 20.2 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Alaska (AK) | 16.0 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Arizona (AZ) | 19.9 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Arkansas (AR) | 19.0 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in California (CA) | 18.8 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Colorado (CO) | 17.6 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Connecticut (CT) | 21.8 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Delaware (DE) | 21.2 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Florida (FL) | 20.3 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Georgia (GA) | 18.2 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Hawaii (HI) | 18.8 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Idaho (ID) | 18.7 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Illinois (IL) | 20.7 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Indiana (IN) | 19.8 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Iowa (IA) | 21.8 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Kansas (KS) | 19.7 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Kentucky (KY) | 19.8 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Louisiana (LA) | 19.4 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Maine (ME) | 22.6 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Massachusetts (MA) | 18.9 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Maryland (MD) | 20.4 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Michigan (MI) | 21.6 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Minnesota (MN) | 21.0 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Mississippi (MS) | 19.6 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Missouri (MO) | 20.3 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Montana (MT) | 21.5 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Nebraska (NE) | 20.4 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Nevada (NV) | 17.2 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in New Hampshire (NH) | 22.1 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in New Jersey (NJ) | 20.5 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in New Mexico (NM) | 20.5 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in New York (NY) | 20.0 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in North Carolina (NC) | 19.5 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in North Dakota (ND) | 19.9 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Ohio (OH) | 21.2 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Oklahoma (OK) | 18.0 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Oregon (OR) | 19.4 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Pennsylvania (PA) | 22.1 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Rhode Island (RI) | 20.7 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in South Carolina (SC) | 21.2 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in South Dakota (SD) | 21.3 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Average Marriage Length in Tennessee (TN) | 19.3 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Texas (TX) | 17.6 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Utah (UT) | 17.3 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Vermont (VT) | 22.0 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Virginia (VA) | 18.9 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Washington (WA) | 18.2 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in West Virginia (WV) | 22.6 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Wisconsin (WI) | 22.3 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
Average Marriage Length in Wyoming (WY) | 19.1 Years of Marriage Before Divorce |
The age at which the average couple gets divorced is also an important factor. Just as many people may have suspected, the older the couple, the less likely they are to get divorced. This also means that younger couples have a much higher chance of getting divorced.
This also supports the idea that even for young couples that have been together for several years, the longer that the couple waits to get married, the lower the chance of divorce becomes.
Some point out that a premarital background check can do more harm than good, in contributing to the divorce rate.
U.S. Divorce Rate by Age Group | Divorce Rate per Capita |
15-24 | 2.7% of the population |
25-34 | 2.3% of the population |
35-44 | 2.1% of the population |
35-54 | 1.8% of the population |
55-64 | 1.2% of the population |
65+ | 0.5% of the population |
As mentioned, the divorce rate in the United States has been dropping steadily since the 1960s. There are hundreds of possible reasons for this such as economic reasons, changes in educational standards, and religious reasons.
It’s well documented that the average age of married couples has been rising steadily for many years as well. While it was fairly common for teenagers to get married 50 years ago, these days the practice is relatively rare, despite it still being completely legal.
Many people looking up divorce rates also want to know how to find divorce records online for free, or how to find my divorce date online for free, or are divorce records public? The answer to these questions largely depends on the state where the divorce occured.
But, when considering this data, it becomes clear that the age of the married couple at the time of the marriage is one of the biggest factors when it comes to the odds of a divorce occurring.
Divorce Statistics in America by Year | Divorce Rate Amongst Married Couples (# of Divorces per 1,000 Married Couples) |
Divorce Rate in America 1960 | 9.2 |
Divorce Rate in America 1965 | 12.3 |
Divorce Rate in America 1970 | 15.0 |
Divorce Rate in America 1975 | 19.1 |
Divorce Rate in America 1980 | 22.6 |
Divorce Rate in America 1985 | 21.2 |
Divorce Rate in America 1990 | 20.8 |
Divorce Rate in America 1995 | 20.4 |
Divorce Rate in America 2000 | 20.2 |
Divorce Rate in America 2001 | 20.2 |
Divorce Rate in America 2002 | 20.0 |
Divorce Rate in America 2003 | 20.0 |
Divorce Rate in America 2004 | 19.9 |
Divorce Rate in America 2005 | 19.9 |
Divorce Rate in America 2006 | 19.8 |
Divorce Rate in America 2007 | 19.8 |
Divorce Rate in America 2008 | 19.8 |
Divorce Rate in America 2009 | 19.8 |
Divorce Rate in America 2010 | 19.3 |
Divorce Rate in America 2011 | 19.0 |
Divorce Rate in America 2012 | 18.7 |
Divorce Rate in America 2013 | 18.0 |
Divorce Rate in America 2014 | 17.6 |
Divorce Rate in America 2015 | 16.6 |
Divorce Rate in America 2016 | 15.7 |
Divorce Rate in America 2017 | 15.3 |
Divorce Rate in America 2018 | 15.1 |
Divorce Rate in America 2019 | 14.1 |
Divorce Rate in America 2020 | 14.0 |
Although looking at divorce rates amongst various demographics or looking at the divorce rate by state is useful in learning certain information, it still does not tell the reasons between the couple that led to a divorce.
Numerous studies have been done on the subject with similar findings. Commonly among the top reasons is infidelity which is no surprise when considering that non-marriage relationships often end for the same reason.
More than half of the individuals involved in the study also mention age being a factor in the decision to divorce, further supporting the theory that age is one of the most important factors when it comes to a marriage ending in divorce.
Top Reasons for Divorce | Percentage of Couples Who Mention as Reason for Divorce |
Lack of Commitment | 94.4% |
Infidelity | 88.8% |
Excessive Conflict | 72.2% |
Married Too Young | 61.1% |
Financial Problems | 55.6% |
Substance Abuse | 50.0% |
Domestic Violence | 27.8% |
Health Problems | 27.8% |
Lack of Support From Family | 27.8% |
Religious Differences | 33.3% |
Lack of Premarital Education | 22.2% |
Examining what industry divorced couples are in also gives insight into what makes divorce a relatively common occurrence in the United States. Unsurprisingly, financial stress is a major factor in divorce and couples that hold jobs that have below-average income are more likely to get divorced.
Divorce Rate by Occupation | Divorce Rate |
Dancers | 43.00% |
Bartenders | 38.40% |
Massage Therapists | 38.20% |
Gaming Cage Workers | 34.60% |
Gaming Service Workers | 31.30% |
Nurse | 28.90% |
Entertainers | 28.40% |
Telemarketers | 28.10% |
Roofers | 26.80% |
Maids | 26.30% |
Law Enforcement | 14.47% |
Doctors and Surgeons | 9.23% |
Dentist | 7.75% |
Farmers | 7.63% |
Many of those curious about the divorce rate by state in the U.S. may be wondering where the U.S. ranks in the world when it comes to divorce rates. Although it may seem like the U.S has an extremely high divorce rate, when compared to the rest of the world the U.S is not quite the highest but is still near the top.
Keep in mind that international divorce rates are difficult to calculate accurately due to every country reporting their divorce and marriage statistics differently.
With the available statistics for international divorces, Russia currently leads the way with 4.8 individuals per capita having been involved in a divorce at one point.
Divorce Rate by Country | National Divorce Rate per Capita |
Russia | 4.8 |
Belarus | 4.1 |
Gibraltar | 3.2 |
United States | 3.2 |
Moldova | 3.1 |
Lithuania | 3.0 |
Belgium | 3.0 |
Cuba | 2.9 |
Czech Republic | 2.9 |
Besides age, another well-documented factor that leads to a higher divorce rate is education level. This also ties into income level as there is a clear correlation between education levels and income levels in the United States.
Statistics have shown that the less educated individuals have the more likely the marriage will end in a divorce. What many people may be surprised by is the difference between education levels being so massive. Individuals that did not complete high school tend to get divorced at nearly twice the national average and twice as often as those who have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Divorce Rate by Education | Divorce Rate |
Less than High School Diploma | 47.8% |
High School Diploma | 42.8% |
Associates Degree/ Some College | 42.3% |
Bachelor’s Degree or higher | 26.5% |
Divorce statistics can help individuals learn about the common causes of divorce and environmental factors that can put a strain on a marriage. Understanding the divorce rate by state can allow researchers to better understand why divorce rates that used to be much higher are falling all over the country.
The current divorce rate in the U.S. is at an all-time low with an average of 14.1 people per capita.
The divorce rate varies substantially from state to state. Currently, Arkansas has the highest divorce rate at 25.9% and North Dakota has the lowest with 8.7% of married couples, but there could be a number of reasons for it.
North Dakota has the current lowest divorce rate with a rate of 8.7% amongst married couples.
Russia likely has the highest divorce rate in the world amongst countries that gather this kind of data.
Arkansas currently has the highest divorce rate with a rate of 25.9% of marriages ending in divorce.
Arkansas currently has a divorce rate of 25.9%.
No, the California divorce rate is currently around 13.8% which is below the national average.
1Allred, C. (2019). Divorce Rate in the U.S.: Geographic Variation, 2018. BGSU. Retrieved August 18, 2022, from <https://www.bgsu.edu/ncfmr/resources/data/family-profiles/allred-divorce-rate-geo-var-2018-fp-19-23.html>
2United States Census Bureau. (2020, October 27). U.S. Marriage and Divorce Rates by State: 2009 & 2019. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2022, from <https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/marriage-divorce-rates-by-state-2009-2019.html>
3U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2022, February 18). Divorce Rates by State: 2019-2020. CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 18, 2022, from <https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/divorce_states/divorce_rates.htm>
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