What Is The Divorce Rate In The U.S. (2024)?

What is the divorce rate in the U.S.? Learn how many married Americans get divorced and why the divorce rate matters within the legal system.

Sarah Edwards

Contributor

Reviewed By Adam Ramirez, J.D.

Editor

June 5, 2024 Read in 3 mins

Data

Divorce Rate in U.S., 2000-2022

www.consumershield.com

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Not all states are included every year, and which states are left out changes over time. Keep this in mind when looking at the data and trends.

Source: CDC Marriage and Divorce Trends

Research

Analyzing Divorce Trends Over the Years: A 22-Year Overview
Factors Leading to Divorce
Legal Right to Obtain a Divorce
Learn More From ConsumerShield

The divorce rate in the United States provides a crucial perspective on the changing dynamics of marital dissolution. The metric is represented as the number of divorces and annulments per 1,000 total population, and highlights trends in divorce over several decades. Exploring the divorce rate in America over a more than 20-year span will help you understand its impact on societal norms and the evolving narrative of marital relationships throughout the country.

Analyzing Divorce Trends Over the Years: A 22-Year Overview

What is the divorce rate in the U.S.? From 2000 to 2022, the divorce rate per 1,000 people in the U.S. gradually declined. Starting at 4.0, it dipped to a low of 2.3 by 2020 before slightly increasing to 2.4 by 2022.

There are many plausible explanations for such a trend. But what is perhaps the most obvious is the decreasing marriage rate. As fewer people are getting married, there are fewer marriages for divorces to dissolve. And instead of divorcing, many older married couples remain married until one of the spouses passes away.

Another factor is that people are delaying marriage until later in life. According to the Census Bureau, the average age at first marriage is over 30 for males and over 28 for females.

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Factors Leading to Divorce

By taking a closer look at the causes cited by former couples, you find many causes of divorces simply relate to incompatibility, such as the following:

Inability to commit
Cheating
Arguments
Conflict with other family members
Religious differences

Other factors stem from matters that can increase the conflict between spouses. These conflicts often arise from legal, health, and financial troubles, such as:

Financial difficulties
Substance abuse
Health problems
Domestic violence

These matters are often interrelated. For example, a spouse who suffers a serious injury in a car accident may experience resulting health problems that increase the risk of substance abuse. The cost of medical care can even bankrupt the couple.

Legal Right to Obtain a Divorce

A reason why the divorce rate is slowly rising again is a change in attitude toward divorces themselves. Many married couples no longer view marriage as an unbreakable religious or moral bond. Instead, it is a viable solution to their unsolvable marital problems.

The law has followed suit in that direction. Many states allow no-fault divorces, meaning either spouse may file a divorce, citing nothing more than their desire to end the marriage.

Learn More From ConsumerShield

What is the divorce rate in the U.S., and how does it reflect the state of marriages in contemporary society? In many cases, the answers to both questions are irrelevant.

Some couples will enjoy a relationship that will withstand time, bankruptcy, and health scares. Some simply won’t, but there is nothing wrong with that. Some relationships are so irretrievably broken that divorce is the only solution for both spouses.

ConsumerShield helps people in their worst moments. Whether you’re facing a divorce, injuries, or other legal problems, we’ll provide the educational resources you need. We’ll also connect you with a lawyer to provide guidance and representation in your legal matters. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.