Divorce is an emotionally challenging event for all parties involved as no one enters a marriage expecting it to fail. Yet, approximately 45% of marriages end in divorce in the United States alone.
Various studies have looked into different factors that could cause a marriage to end in divorce and from these studies, we compiled this list of 10 shocking divorce statistics.
10 Statistics for Divorce Worth Noting
Divorce statistics can and do range depending on various factors, including region and the age of the individuals involved. Here is a closer look at some of the factors that may lead to divorce:
1. Divorce Rate by Age Group
According to divorce statistics, about 60% of divorces in the United States involved individuals between 24 to 39 years of age. On average, couples about 30 years of age are likely to go through their first divorce. Of those under 20 years old, 27.6% of women and 11.7% of men are likely to go through a divorce.
Currently, about 22% of women and 21% of men have been divorced once or more in their lives.
2. Divorce Rate by State
Out of every 1,000 people in the U.S., 9.2% will divorce each year, with the rate highest in the south and lowest in the northeast. According to the CDC, the states with the highest divorce rates are Arkansas and Nevada at 5.3% and 5.6%, With Washington at 4.1% respectively. In comparison, the states with the lowest rates are Iowa and Illinois at 1.2% and 2.2%, respectively.
3. Frequency of Divorce
There is approximately one divorce every 36 seconds, which means 2,400 occur every day, and 72,000 every month. That amounts to 876,000 divorces each year.
4. Percentage of Marriages that End in Divorce
According to current divorce statistics, there has been a significant drop in divorce rates between 2000 to 2018. The overall divorce rate in 2000 was at approximately 4.0%. However, those numbers have since dropped and in 2018 the overall divorce rate in the United States was down to 2.9%.
5. Things That Increase Risk of Divorce
Several factors can increase the risks of getting a divorce. These include age, number of marriages, education, and intelligence.
48% of individuals who get married before 18 are more likely to file for divorce within ten years of marriage as compared to those who marry after the age of 25.
Previously married couples are 90% more likely to get divorced than couples in their first marriage.
High school dropouts are 13% more likely to get divorced than those who attended college, while individuals whose I.Q.s are below average have a 50% chance of getting divorced.
6. Things That Decrease the Risk of Divorce
Factors like where you met, religion, and your sexual history can sometimes decrease your risks of divorce.
A person with strong religious beliefs is 14% less likely to get divorced than individuals without religious affiliations.
You’re less likely to get divorced if you met your partner in high school, college, or grad school.
7. Gray/Older Generation Divorce Statistics
Gray divorce is a term that refers to a demographic trend of an increased rate of divorce in older couples over the age of 50 years.
Divorce statistics show that in the past 30 years, the divorce rate in individuals who are over 50 years old has doubled. In 2014, 69% of older individuals thought divorce was morally acceptable as compared to 45% of those in the same age group in 2001. Out of three “gray divorces,” two are initiated by women.
8. Divorce and Children Statistics
Divorce affects children more than the partners involved. While some children blame themselves for the divorce, others struggle to understand why their family has to be apart.
Some studies have shown that daughters of divorced parents have a 60% higher divorce rate than children of non-divorced parents, while sons have a 35% higher rate.
Although the adverse effects of divorce, such as anger and anxiety, typically begin to go away by the second year after a divorce, children with high conflict parents have a hard time adjusting after the divorce.
9. Social Media and Divorce
Statistics for divorce shows that the time you spend on social media can have adverse effects on your marriage and may even lead to a divorce.
Out of seven married couples, one has contemplated divorce because of their partner’s activities online. 14% of individuals say they search for evidence of infidelity from their partner’s social media accounts, while 81% of divorce attorneys have found evidence of infidelity from social media.
10. Professions with the Highest Divorce Rate
Salary and job stability have a lot to do with how happy your marriage will be. While some professions are positively associated with happy and lasting marriages, others are not.
According to current divorce statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, the professions with the highest divorce rates are Gaming managers at 52.9%, Bartenders at 52.7%, and Flight attendants at 50.5%. The professions with the lowest divorce rates are Actuaries at 17%, Physical scientists at 18.9%, and Medical/life scientists at 19.6% rate.
How Divorce Lawyers for Men Can Help
Divorce can be a troublesome time for the entire family, both emotionally and financially. Nevertheless, a good divorce attorney can help make the process easier by providing you information on the divorce process and quality representation. If you’re going through a divorce or have questions about divorce proceedings in Washington State, get in touch with a Seattle family law attorney by calling us at +1-360-866-7393 or schedule a consultation online.
