The decision to pull the plug on your marriage likely took many years of trying again through therapy with a professional or a second chance for a cheating spouse. Declaring a marriage “dead” is not something to take lightly.
The Centers for Disease Control reported the national divorce rate in 2020 at 2.3 per 1,000 residents, approximately two-thirds lower than the average of 3.6 per 1,000 in 2010.
First marriages and beyond
First divorces happen early in adulthood, with couples ending their marriages. The average age of initial dissolution occurs when spouses are around 30 years old. Even more alarming, couples 20 to 25 are 60 percent likely to pursue marital dissolution.
The U.S. has remained in the 40 to 50 percent range and ranked sixth in divorce rates throughout the world. The Census Bureau cited a drop in marital dissolutions from 2009 to 2019. Fueling that decline are military divorces at three percent.
Conversely, when looking at generational numbers, Baby Boomers lead the pack with approximately one-third of divorces.
When looking at second and third time unions, divorces in this category are at 60 percent, with third unions accounting for nearly three-fourths of divorces.
Regional realities
Locations throughout the United States reveal interesting rankings when looking at median income levels, with Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts having low divorce rates. Conversely, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Alabama, also reporting similar income numbers, have the highest divorce rates.
Covid-19 played its role in 2021, with the divorce rate at approximately 45 percent before the pandemic. The middle of that same year saw an uptick in filings. Easing restrictions in 2022 saw divorce rates return to pre-Covid levels at more than 44 percent.
