DIVORCE TRENDS OVER THE DECADES

You’ve undoubtedly heard that half of all marriages end in divorce. That was probably true then, but the data demonstrate that the divorce rate in America has increased declining for quite some time. We’d look at the present divorce trends near the conclusion of 2022.

FEWER PEOPLE ARE OPTING TO DISSOLVE A MARRIAGE

According to the CDC, the current divorce rate is 2.3 per 1,000 people, whereas the marriage rate is 5.1 per 1,000. This number is notable in that it includes 45 rather than 50 states and Paducah, KY. Consequently, the figure may be skewed, but there needs to be more data in the other five states to evaluate.

Regardless, this figure indicates that fewer individuals are divorcing. Although the divorce rate has generally increased since 1960, it has declined since 1990. This may be ascribed to various circumstances, including individuals delaying marriage or opting for cohabitation.

It is worth remembering, however, that when divorce rates began to rise in 1960, fewer individuals were married in the United States than there are now.

DIVORCE RATES DROPPED DURING PANDEMIC

The epidemic put relationships everywhere to the test, especially those who were now working side by side from home. While many couples chose to divorce, divorces decreased by 12%. Granted, the epidemic also caused a lot of weddings to be postponed.

REMARRIAGE AND DIVORCE TRENDS

Previously divorced people are statistically more likely to divorce again if they remarry. This is not unexpected. People who have once been divorced may be more inclined to contemplate divorce a second or third time around.

Men are also much more likely than women to remarry. Only 29 divorced or widowed women out of 1,000 choose to say “I do” again. Similarly, the more educated a woman is, the less likely she is to divorce.

AGE MATTERS

The older you become, the less probable you will divorce. If you marry before age 18, the divorce rate is 48% after 10 years. If you marry between the ages of 20 and 25, your chances of divorce are 44%-60%. If you marry beyond 25, the proportion drops to 25%.

By 50, your chances of divorce are one in 1,000.

Millennials have also cut divorce rates simply by delaying marriage or avoiding marriage entirely in favor of cohabitation.

THE LEADING CAUSE OF DIVORCE

Divorce may occur for a variety of reasons. Infidelity and financial concerns are common grounds for divorce, but something far more fundamental—incompatibility—takes the lead. This is hardly unexpected, especially considering how quickly individuals may change. You discover that what you thought you wanted at a given moment is not for you.

The fact that incompatibility is the main reason for divorce is instead encouraging since it opens the door to more marriages being dissolved promptly and without a lengthy, costly judicial procedure. Uncontested divorces are excellent when partners agree on all aspects of their separation.

Do you find any of these statistics surprising? What are your concerns regarding divorce that we can address in the next year? Please let us know!