Marriage and Divorce Statistics

Provisional number of marriages and marriage rate: United States, 2000-2014

Provisional number of divorces and annulments and rate: United States, 2000-2014 including online divorces.

YearMarriagesPopulationRate per 1,000 total population
201412,140,272308,759,7136.9
201312,081,301306,136,6726.8
20122,131,000313,914,0406.8
20112,118,000311,591,9176.8
20102,096,000308,745,5386.8
20092,080,000306,771,5296.8
20082,157,000304,093,9667.1
20072,197,000301,231,2077.3
200622,193,000294,077,2477.5
20052,249,000295,516,5997.6
20042,279,000292,805,2987.8
20032,245,000290,107,9337.7
20022,290,000287,625,1938.0
20012,326,000284,968,9558.2
20002,315,000281,421,9068.2

1 Excludes data for Georgia.
2 Excludes data for Louisiana.
Note: Rates for 2001-2009 have been revised and are based on intercensal population estimates from the 2000 and 2010 censuses. Populations for 2010 rates are based on the 2010 census.
Source: CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics System.

YearDivorces & annulmentsPopulationRate per 1,000 total population
20141813,862256,483,6243.2
20131832,157254,408,8153.3
20122851,000248,041,9863.4
20112877,000246,273,3663.6
20102872,000244,122,5293.6
20092840,000242,610,5613.5
20082844,000240,545,1633.5
20072856,000238,352,8503.6
20062872,000236,094,2773.7
20052847,000233,495,1633.6
20043879,000236,402,6563.7
20034927,000243,902,0903.8
20025955,000243,108,3033.9
20016940,000236,416,7624.0
20006944,000233,550,1434.0

1 Excludes data for California, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, and Minnesota.
2 Excludes data for California, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, and Minnesota.
3 Excludes data for California, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, and Louisiana.
4 Excludes data for California, Hawaii, Indiana, and Oklahoma.
5 Excludes data for California, Indiana, and Oklahoma.
6 Excludes data for California, Indiana, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
Note: Rates for 2001-2009 have been revised and are based on intercensal population estimates from the 2000 and 2010 censuses. Populations for 2010 rates are based on the 2010 census.
Source: CDC/NCHS National Vital Statistics System.

AGE DIVORCE STATISTICS

Current divorce statistics in America is estimated at 50%. This data is not accurately correct, however, it is reasonably close to the actual rate. The Americans for Divorce Reform estimates that “Probably, 40 or possibly even 50 percent of marriages will end in divorce if current trends continue”, which is actually a projection. Commonly said, 50% of all marriages in the America end in divorce. But this statement about the divorce statistics in America hides all the details about distribution, however, you can also checkout this divorce statistics page for the latest information.

Age at marriage for those who divorce in America

AgeWomenMen
Under 20 years old27.6%11.7%
20 to 24 years old36.6%38.8%
25 to 29 years old16.4%22.3%
30 to 34 years old8.5%11.6%
35 to 39 years old5.1%6.5%

Divorce Statistics in America for Marriage

Enrichment journal also gives similar divorce statistics in America:

  • The divorce rate in America for first marriage is 41%
  • The divorce rate in America for second marriage is 60%
  • The divorce rate in America for third marriage is 73%

CHILDREN AND DIVORCE STATISTICS

According to Discovery Channel, couples with children have a slightly lower rate of divorce than childless couples – in the United States, only 40 % of all couples with kids choose divorce. Sociologists believe that childlessness is one of the most common causes here – absence of children leads to loneliness and weariness. On the other hand, the desire to save a family by all means often keeps a couple from a hard decision, and so does unwillingness to face all the nasty legal stuff related to a divorce process.

In the United States, at least 66 % of all divorced couples are childless. Divorce reasons are different in every couple – and they are not exactly about absence of kids in the first place (due to problems with fertility or general health, or due to the choice of childless path by one of the partners). Besides, it is not entirely true that couples without kids divorce easier, or faster – not all the time. Mainly, they have to go through some waiting period (depends on the state) just like couples with kids do. They also have to deal with a great number of standard procedures associated with divorce.

OTHER STATISTICS ON DIVORCE

DescriptionStatistics
State with the lowest divorce rateMassachusetts (2.4 per 1,000 population)
State with the highest divorce rateNevada (9.1 per 1,000 population)
Percentage of US population that is divorced10%
Mean age at first divorceFor Males: 30.5 yrs.
For Females: 29 yrs.
Median age at second divorceFor Males: 39.3 yrs.
For Females: 37 yrs.
Median number of years people wait to remarry after their first divorceFor Males: 3.3 yrs.
For Females: 3.1 yrs.
Average length of divorce proceedings1 year.

* Source of this Divorce Statistics: Divorce Magazine