Marriages and Divorces

Provisional number of marriages and marriage rate: United States, 2000-2014
Provisional number of divorces and annulments and rate: United States, 2000-2014
Provisional number of marriages and marriage rate: United States, 2000-2014
Year Marriages Population Rate per 1,000 total population
20141 2,140,272 308,759,713 6.9
20131 2,081,301 306,136,672 6.8
2012 2,131,000 313,914,040 6.8
2011 2,118,000 311,591,917 6.8
2010 2,096,000 308,745,538 6.8
2009 2,080,000 306,771,529 6.8
2008 2,157,000 304,093,966 7.1
2007 2,197,000 301,231,207 7.3
20062 2,193,000 294,077,247 7.5
2005 2,249,000 295,516,599 7.6
2004 2,279,000 292,805,298 7.8
2003 2,245,000 290,107,933 7.7
2002 2,290,000 287,625,193 8.0
2001 2,326,000 284,968,955 8.2
2000 2,315,000 281,421,906 8.2

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.

 

Provisional number of divorces and annulments and rate: United States, 2000-2014
Year Divorces & annulments Population Rate per 1,000 total population
20141 813,862 256,483,624 3.2
20131 832,157 254,408,815 3.3
20122 851,000 248,041,986 3.4
20112 877,000 246,273,366 3.6
20102 872,000 244,122,529 3.6
20092 840,000 242,610,561 3.5
20082 844,000 240,545,163 3.5
20072 856,000 238,352,850 3.6
20062 872,000 236,094,277 3.7
20052 847,000 233,495,163 3.6
20043 879,000 236,402,656 3.7
20034 927,000 243,902,090 3.8
20025 955,000 243,108,303 3.9
20016 940,000 236,416,762 4.0
20006 944,000 233,550,143 4.0

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
  • % Marriages end in divorce

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

Description Statistics
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