Divorce rate statistics…why do marriages fail?
Divorce rate Statistics in the United States, what do they tell us and what are The Most Common Reasons for Divorce?
If you have read many of my blogs which I have posted here over the last 16 years, you will know that I enjoy divorce and family law >statistics. In fact, my wife says that I am a “stat junkie”. She might be right!
I came across an excellent Forbes article from August that is filled with current interesting divorce statistics, even including footnotes citing the authority. Click here to read it. Here are some of the many included that I found most interesting!
Number of Divorces Versus the Number of Marriages.
In 2021, a total of 689,308 divorces occurred in the 45 reporting states. While not apples to apples, during the same year there were 1.985,072 marriages. Clearly far more individuals get married than divorced.
When do Couples Typically Divorce?
Marriages that fail typically last about 8 years.
Has the Marriage and the Divorce Rate Dropped Since 2000?
Yes. They both have. The marriage rate has declined, dropping from 8.2 per population in 2000 to 6.00 per population in 2021. So has the divorce rate. In 2000, a total of 944,000 divorces and annulments occurred. The crude divorce rate was 4.00 per population during that year. By 2021, it had fallen to 2.5 per 1,000 population, with just 689,308 people divorcing that year. An especially significant drop in the divorce rate, which has continued since.
What Percentage of Couples Who Get Divorced End Up Remarrying Each Other?
About 6%. That is a figure that was higher than I would have expected, as I thought it would be lower. But interestingly, when this occurs, the odds of a future successful marriage are high. 72% of reunited couples remain married after remarrying each other.
Is it True that Divorcees Have a Higher Mortality Rate than Married Individuals?
The answer is “yes”. The mortality rate is 1,363 per 100,000 for divorcees compared with only 779 per 100,000 for married couples. There are many articles on the web about this statistic and the various factors which might contribute to that result.
What Percentage of First Marriages are the First One for One for Each Individual?
60% of marriages are the first marriages for both partners. I was a bit surprised to learn that as many as 20% of marriages involve one person who has been married before while another 20% are repeat marriages for both parties.
What is the Remarriage Rate After One Divorce?
Many who divorce ultimately decide to enter into subsequent marriage(s). A total of 52% of women and of 64% of men get married again after their marriage has ended.
It was a “no brainer” to me that more men remarry as contrasted with women.
Is it True that Couples Who Live Together Before Marriage Are More Likely to Divorce?
The answer is “yes”. Only 46% of couples who cohabitated before marriage had a union that lasted 20 or more years. By contrast, 57% of couples who did not cohabitate together before marriage had their union last 20 or more years. Certainly many factors could enter into this figure such as religious beliefs.
Over 70% of Couples Report not Fully Understanding the Realities or Stages of Marriage.
Insufficient knowledge about what all a marriage entails is one of the leading contributing factors to divorce. 72% of couples reported they didn’t fully understand the extent of the commitment involved in a successful marriage before they married. Further, many divorced individuals said they were surprised their partner changed so much during their marriage.
The Most Common Reasons for Divorce:
- 75% of individuals and couples cited lack of commitment;
- 60% of couples citing a partner’s infidelity;
- 58% of couples report arguing and excess conflict;
- 45% of divorcing couples indicate they married at too young of an age;
- 38% report financial problems; and
- 24% cite domestic abuse.
Click here to read a prior post from November 4,2023 discussing in more detail the leading causes of divorce.
Of Those Who Divorce, What Percentage Believe that They Should Have Worked Harder to Save the Marriage?
Just 33% of women and 32% of men believe they personally should have made more of an effort to try to save their marriage. I found this interesting. I hope that is because the parties involved therapists and counselors and didn’t make a hasty decision to divorce.
How Much Do Divorces Typically Cost and How Long do They Take?
Divorces may take time depending on the level of contention and issues involved. According to Forbes, contested divorces usually take over a year to finalize — although simple divorces can be completed in as little as three months. Divorce are not inexpensive, with couples spending an average of $7,000 to dissolve their union.
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Attorney Robert “Chip” Mues has been focusing his legal practice throughout Southwest Ohio primarily in divorce and family law matters since 1978. Chip is passionate about family law and has proudly published the Ohio Family Law Blog since 2007. In addition, he is the managing partner of Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues. To learn more about him or the law firm, visit the firm’s website at www.hcmmlaw.com. Appointments are available in person, over the phone or by Zoom. Call us at 937 293-2141.
