Divorce trends in the United States have changed significantly over the past several decades. While divorce remains a common part of many families’ experiences, the overall divorce rate has steadily declined and is now at one of its lowest levels in nearly 50 years.
Whether you’re researching the current U.S. divorce rate, wondering what percentage of marriages end in divorce, or looking for demographic and financial trends, this guide brings together the latest available divorce statistics in one place. The data below is compiled from trusted sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Census Bureau, the Pew Research Center, and the National Center for Family & Marriage Research (NCFMR).
Key U.S. Divorce Statistics at a Glance
Looking for the latest divorce statistics in the United States? Below are some of the most important facts and trends about divorce today, compiled from the latest available data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pew Research Center, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the National Center for Family & Marriage Research (NCFMR).
The U.S. divorce rate has declined significantly over the past four decades, making today’s rate one of the lowest recorded in nearly 50 years.
| Statistic | Latest Data & Insight |
|---|---|
| Trend Over Time | The U.S. divorce rate has steadily declined since peaking in the early 1980s, reaching one of its lowest levels in decades. |
| Ever-Married Americans Who Have Divorced | About one-third of Americans who have ever married have experienced a divorce. |
| Median Marriage Length Before Divorce | The median marriage ending in divorce lasts 12 years. |
| Divorces Within the First 10 Years | Approximately 40% of divorces occur during the first decade of marriage. |
| Gray Divorce | Nearly 40% of divorces involve someone age 50 or older. |
| Common Misconception | The popular “50% of marriages end in divorce” statistic is outdated. Divorce risk varies significantly based on factors such as age at marriage, education, income, and whether it is a first or subsequent marriage, making one universal percentage misleading. |
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pew Research Center, U.S. Census Bureau, and the National Center for Family & Marriage Research (NCFMR). Statistics reflect the most recent data available as of July 2026.
Government agencies and research organizations release divorce statistics on different schedules. This guide is updated regularly to reflect the most recent data available from trusted primary sources, including the CDC, U.S. Census Bureau, Pew Research Center, and the National Center for Family & Marriage Research.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Current U.S. Divorce Rate?
- How Has the U.S. Divorce Rate Changed Over Time?
- What Percentage of Marriages End in Divorce?
- What Percentage of First Marriages End in Divorce?
- How Long Does the Average Marriage Last Before Divorce?
- Are Second and Third Marriages More Likely to End in Divorce?
- Divorce Statistics by Age
- Gray Divorce Statistics
- Who Is Most Likely to Divorce?
- What Percentage of Divorces Are Initiated by Women?
- What Is the Most Common Reason for Divorce?
- Divorce Rates by State
- The Financial Impact of Divorce
- Key Takeaways from the Latest U.S. Divorce Statistics
- Media & Publisher Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Current U.S. Divorce Rate?
The current U.S. divorce rate is 2.4 divorces per 1,000 people, according to the latest available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is known as the crude divorce rate because it measures the number of divorces and annulments relative to the country’s total population.
The current rate is substantially lower than it was during the late 1970s and early 1980s, when divorce reached its highest levels in the United States. The long-term decline does not necessarily mean that relationship breakdown has become rare. Americans are marrying later, fewer people are marrying overall, and couples who do marry may differ from previous generations in ways that affect their likelihood of divorce.
The crude divorce rate measures divorces per 1,000 people in the entire population. A refined divorce rate measures divorce among people who are married and therefore at risk of divorcing. Because the two rates use different populations, they should not be compared as though they represent the same measurement.
Divorce statistics can also vary depending on the dataset, year, and measurement used. For that reason, the figure of 2.4 per 1,000 people should not be interpreted as meaning that only 0.24% of marriages will ultimately end in divorce. The percentage of marriages that eventually end is a separate measure discussed later in this guide.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, most recent available national marriage and divorce data.
How Has the U.S. Divorce Rate Changed Over Time?
The U.S. divorce rate has declined significantly since reaching its peak in 1980. According to the National Center for Family & Marriage Research, the refined divorce rate peaked at 22.6 divorces per 1,000 married women in 1980. By 2024, it had fallen to 14.2 divorces per 1,000 married women.
This long-term decline reflects major changes in who gets married, when people marry, and how common marriage is within the overall population. Americans generally marry later than previous generations, and people who marry at older ages often enter marriage with greater financial stability, education, and life experience.
Key Takeaway
Although divorce remains common in the United States, the divorce rate is substantially lower than it was several decades ago. The decline reflects changing marriage patterns and demographic shifts rather than one single social or economic cause.
It is also important to consider how the divorce rate is calculated. Some sources measure divorces per 1,000 people in the total population, while others measure divorces among married adults. Both provide useful information, but they answer different questions and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Sources: National Center for Family & Marriage Research, “Divorce: More Than a Century of Change, 1900–2022” and “Refined Divorce Rate in the U.S.: Geographic Variation, 2024”; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Marriage and Divorce Rate Trends.
What Percentage of Marriages End in Divorce?
There is no single definitive percentage of U.S. marriages that will eventually end in divorce. The frequently repeated claim that 50% of all marriages end in divorce is not a current government statistic and should not be treated as a precise measure of today’s marriages.
According to a 2025 Pew Research Center analysis, approximately one-third of Americans who have ever been married have also experienced a divorce. However, that figure describes people’s past marital experiences; it does not predict that one-third of every new group of marriages will ultimately end.
Do Half of All Marriages End in Divorce?
The familiar 50% claim oversimplifies a complicated question. Different statistics measure annual divorce rates, previous experiences with divorce, marital separation, or projected outcomes over time.
This is not a precise measure of how many marriages beginning today will ultimately end in divorce. It is often based on older projections or comparisons between annual marriage and divorce totals.
Approximately one-third of Americans who have ever been married have experienced a divorce, according to Pew Research Center’s analysis of 2023 Census Bureau data.
Counts divorces occurring during a particular year.
Measures how many ever-married people have experienced at least one divorce.
Estimates the future outcome of marriages using assumptions that may change over time.
Earlier research has sometimes been used to support estimates approaching 50%. For example, CDC survey data once indicated that 43% of first marriages among women ages 15 to 44 experienced a separation or divorce within 15 years. Importantly, that measure included both separation and divorce, applied to a specific age-and-gender group, and did not represent every U.S. marriage.
The likelihood of divorce also varies considerably according to factors such as whether it is a first or subsequent marriage, the spouses’ ages at marriage, education, income, and the historical period in which the marriage began. For this reason, one percentage cannot accurately describe the outcome of every marriage.
Key Takeaway
It is more accurate to say that divorce remains common, but the claim that exactly half of all marriages end in divorce is an oversimplification. Current data show that about one-third of ever-married Americans have experienced divorce, while the outcome of today’s marriages cannot yet be known.
What Percentage of First Marriages End in Divorce?
No single current statistic can predict what percentage of every first marriage will eventually end in divorce. The strongest national sources measure first-marriage disruption over a defined number of years or calculate the annual rate of first divorce among people currently in a first marriage.
First-Marriage Divorce Statistics in Context
Important context: The 43% figure comes from older CDC survey research involving women ages 15-44 and includes separation as well as divorce. It should not be presented as a current lifetime forecast for every first marriage.
The National Center for Family & Marriage Research reports that the annual first-divorce rate declined between 2008 and 2023, falling from 18.7 to 13.4 divorces per 1,000 women in a first marriage and from 16.9 to 11.5 per 1,000 men. These annual rates demonstrate that first divorce has become less common, but they do not show the eventual lifetime outcome of marriages beginning today.
Key Takeaway
First marriages are not accurately described by one universal failure percentage. Current annual first-divorce rates are substantially lower than they were in 2008, while older duration-based studies require careful explanation of their population, timeframe, and inclusion of separation.
Sources: National Center for Family & Marriage Research, “First Divorce Rate, 2023”; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “First Marriage Dissolution, Divorce, and Remarriage.”
How Long Does the Average Marriage Last Before Divorce?
The median length of a U.S. marriage ending in divorce was 12 years in 2023. This means half of the divorcing couples had been married for less than 12 years, while the other half had been married for 12 years or longer.
Marriage duration varies considerably. While four in ten divorces occur within the first decade of marriage, a substantial number happen much later. Nearly one-quarter of divorces involve marriages that lasted at least 25 years.
The first decade represents a particularly common period for divorce. In 2023, 16% of divorces occurred before the fifth anniversary, while another 24% occurred between five and nine years of marriage. Combined, these groups accounted for 40% of divorces.
However, divorce is not limited to relatively new marriages. Twenty-two percent of divorces occurred after couples had been married for at least 25 years. This helps explain why gray divorce and the breakdown of long-term marriages have become increasingly important parts of the broader national divorce picture.
Key Takeaway
The median marriage ending in divorce lasts 12 years, but there is no single point at which marriages are most likely to fail. Four in ten divorces occur within the first decade, while more than one in five occur after at least 25 years of marriage.
Are Second and Third Marriages More Likely to End in Divorce?
Second and subsequent marriages have historically been less stable than first marriages, but there is no reliable current national statistic showing that exactly 60% of second marriages or 73% of third marriages end in divorce. Those figures are widely repeated online, yet they are rarely connected to a recent CDC, Census Bureau, Pew Research Center, or National Center for Family & Marriage Research dataset.
Current research does show that remarriage remains common after divorce. According to Pew Research Center, approximately two-thirds of Americans who have experienced a divorce have married again. Divorced men are slightly more likely than divorced women to remarry.
What the Data Says About Remarriage
Remarriage is common after divorce, but the familiar statistics about the failure rates of second and third marriages require important context.
Approximately two-thirds of Americans who have experienced a divorce have gone on to marry again.
Many people who divorce form a new marriage, although remarriage rates have declined in recent years.
Earlier CDC research found that 26% of second marriages among women ages 15–44 experienced separation or divorce within five years.
Stability varies with age, finances, children, prior relationships, and the length of the marriage.
Claims that 60% of second marriages and 73% of third marriages end in divorce are frequently repeated without a clear, current primary source. They should not be presented as definitive national divorce rates.
The stability of a subsequent marriage can be affected by circumstances that are less common in a first marriage. Couples may be combining households, managing relationships with former spouses, raising children or stepchildren, dividing financial responsibilities, and bringing the effects of earlier relationships into the new marriage.
Remarriage patterns are also changing. The National Center for Family & Marriage Research found that the remarriage rate declined between 2008 and 2023. Among previously married men, it fell from 48.9 to 34.4 remarriages per 1,000 eligible men. Among previously married women, it declined from 25.2 to 18.5 per 1,000.
These figures describe how frequently previously married adults marry again, not the percentage of remarriages that later end in divorce. Keeping those measures separate prevents remarriage rates from being mistaken for remarriage failure rates.
Key Takeaway
Second and subsequent marriages can face additional challenges, but the commonly quoted 60% and 73% divorce figures should be treated cautiously. Reliable data show that remarriage is common after divorce and that second marriages have experienced meaningful rates of disruption, but no single percentage predicts the outcome of every remarriage.
Divorce Statistics by Age
Divorce rates vary significantly by age. Younger adults generally experience higher divorce rates than older adults, while marriages entered later in life tend to be more stable. However, Americans over age 50 have seen one of the most significant shifts in divorce patterns over the past several decades, a trend commonly known as gray divorce.
Age affects divorce in several ways. Couples who marry very young often face financial instability, career changes, and personal growth that can place additional stress on a marriage. By contrast, couples who marry later frequently have greater financial security and life experience, both of which have been associated with lower divorce rates.
How Divorce Risk Changes Throughout Life
Although every marriage is different, research shows divorce patterns shift as couples move through different stages of adulthood.
Couples who marry in their early twenties generally experience the highest divorce risk. Financial pressures, career development, and personal growth often contribute to relationship changes during this stage of life.
Many marriages become more stable during these years, although parenting responsibilities, career demands, and financial pressures remain common reasons couples seek divorce.
While overall divorce rates have declined, divorces among adults over age 50 have increased dramatically over several decades, giving rise to the term gray divorce.
Research consistently finds that marrying later in life is associated with a lower likelihood of divorce. While there is no “perfect” age to marry, waiting until the late twenties or later has generally been linked with greater marital stability.
Age is only one factor influencing divorce. Education, household income, previous marriages, children, and overall relationship satisfaction all contribute to whether a marriage ultimately succeeds or ends in divorce.
Key Takeaway
Divorce patterns evolve throughout life. Younger marriages generally face the greatest challenges, while marriages formed later in adulthood tend to be more stable. At the same time, the growing number of divorces among adults over age 50 has reshaped the national conversation about marriage and divorce.
Sources: Pew Research Center; National Center for Family & Marriage Research (NCFMR); U.S. Census Bureau.
First-Divorce Rates by Age
The newest available NCFMR analysis shows a steep age gradient in first divorce. Rates are highest among adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults ages 75 and older.
| Age group | Men | Women | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-29 | 17.6 | 19.3 | First divorces per 1,000 people in a first marriage |
| All adults 18+ | 11.5 | 13.4 | First divorces per 1,000 people in a first marriage |
| 75+ | 2.8 | 5.1 | First divorces per 1,000 people in a first marriage |
Source: National Center for Family & Marriage Research analysis of 2023 American Community Survey data. These are first-divorce rates, not lifetime probabilities.
Gray Divorce Statistics
One of the biggest changes in American divorce over the past several decades has been the rise of gray divorce. The term “gray divorce” refers to couples who divorce after age 50. While overall divorce rates have declined nationally, divorces among older adults increased dramatically between 1990 and 2010 before leveling off in recent years.
Today, nearly 40% of all divorces involve someone age 50 or older, making gray divorce one of the most significant demographic trends affecting modern families. Researchers attribute this shift to longer life expectancies, changing social attitudes toward divorce, increased financial independence, and the large Baby Boomer generation reaching retirement age.
Gray divorce often presents different legal and financial considerations than divorce earlier in life. Couples may need help dividing retirement accounts and property, including pensions, investment portfolios, businesses, or substantial real estate holdings. Spousal maintenance after a long marriage and estate planning can also become increasingly important considerations.
Unlike divorces involving younger couples, child custody issues are less likely to be central in gray divorce cases. Instead, disputes often focus on preserving retirement security, healthcare benefits, and long-term financial stability after decades of marriage.
Key Takeaway
Gray divorce has transformed the landscape of family law in the United States. Although overall divorce rates have declined, divorces involving adults over age 50 remain significantly more common than they were just a generation ago, creating unique financial and legal challenges for many families.
Sources: National Center for Family & Marriage Research (NCFMR); Bowling Green State University; Pew Research Center.
Who Is Most Likely to Divorce?
Divorce rates are not the same across every demographic group. Research consistently shows that factors such as education, income, race, ethnicity, and age at marriage all influence the likelihood of divorce. While no single characteristic determines whether a marriage will succeed, these patterns help researchers better understand long-term marriage trends in the United States.
It’s important to remember that these statistics describe broad population trends—not individual marriages. Every relationship is unique, and many couples thrive regardless of demographic characteristics.
Divorce Demographics at a Glance
Research has identified several demographic factors that are associated with differences in divorce rates across the United States.
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher experience lower divorce rates than adults whose education ended with high school.
Financial stability has consistently been associated with lower divorce rates and greater long-term marital stability.
Research has found meaningful differences in divorce prevalence among racial and ethnic groups, reflecting broader economic and social factors.
Education and Divorce
People with higher levels of education generally experience lower divorce rates. According to Pew Research Center, approximately 25% of adults with a bachelor’s degree have experienced divorce, compared with about 37% of adults whose highest level of education is a high school diploma.
Income and Divorce
Income is closely connected to marital stability. Couples with greater financial resources often experience fewer financial stressors, while economic hardship has been associated with an increased likelihood of marital conflict and divorce.
Race and Ethnicity
Divorce rates also differ across racial and ethnic groups. Pew Research Center reports that approximately 41% of Black adults who have ever married have experienced divorce, compared with about 33% of White adults, 29% of Hispanic adults, and 16% of Asian adults. Researchers caution that these differences reflect a complex combination of economic, educational, cultural, and historical factors rather than race itself.
Key Takeaway
Divorce rates vary across demographic groups, but no single characteristic determines whether a marriage will succeed. Education, income, age at marriage, and broader social factors all influence long-term relationship stability.
Sources: Pew Research Center; U.S. Census Bureau.
What Percentage of Divorces Are Initiated by Women?
Women initiated approximately 69% of divorces in a longitudinal study of heterosexual couples in the United States. The study followed 2,262 adults with opposite-sex partners between 2009 and 2015 and found that women were considerably more likely than men to report wanting the divorce.
This finding applies to the study sample and should not be interpreted as a current administrative count of every divorce filed nationwide.
The same research found that nonmarital breakups were much more evenly initiated by men and women. The researcher suggested that traditional expectations within marriage, unequal household responsibilities, and differences between expectations and lived experience may help explain the gap. These findings describe population patterns and do not establish why any particular marriage ended.
Key Takeaway
Research indicates that women initiate a majority of divorces in heterosexual marriages, but the statistic comes from a defined study rather than a national court-filing database. It should be cited with its methodology and limitations.
Source: Michael J. Rosenfeld, How Couples Meet and Stay Together longitudinal study, presented to the American Sociological Association.
What Is the Most Common Reason for Divorce?
Lack of commitment was the most commonly reported major contributor to divorce in a peer-reviewed study of divorced individuals. Infidelity and excessive conflict or arguing were the next most frequently cited major reasons. Most participants identified more than one contributing factor, which underscores that divorce rarely has a single cause.
Commonly Reported Reasons Marriages End
- Lack of commitment
- Infidelity or extramarital affairs
- Too much conflict and arguing
- Marrying too young
- Financial problems
- Substance misuse or domestic violence
The order and prevalence of reasons vary by study design, population, and whether researchers ask about major contributors, final triggers, or legal grounds.
Reasons for divorce can also shape the legal issues that follow. Parents may need to resolve child custody and child support, while safety concerns, substance misuse, or financial concealment can affect evidence and case strategy. Our guide to what can be used against you in a custody case explains how conduct and documentation may become relevant when parenting issues are disputed.
Key Takeaway
Lack of commitment is often the most frequently reported major contributor, but divorce usually results from multiple overlapping relationship, financial, behavioral, and family factors.
Source: Scott et al., “Reasons for Divorce and Recollections of Premarital Intervention,” Couple and Family Psychology.
Divorce Rates by State
Divorce rates vary considerably from one state to another. Economic conditions, marriage rates, median age, education levels, military populations, and local demographics all influence how frequently divorce occurs. Because of these differences, there is no “average” divorce experience across the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes annual marriage and divorce statistics for reporting states, helping researchers identify long-term regional trends. While rankings change slightly from year to year, some states consistently report higher divorce rates than others.
States With Higher and Lower Divorce Rates
Although divorce rates change slightly each year, some states consistently report higher or lower rates than the national average.
Which State Has the Highest Divorce Rate?
Oklahoma had the highest 2024 refined divorce rate, with 20.7 women divorcing per 1,000 married women. Nevada, Mississippi, Wyoming, and Alabama completed the five highest-rate states.
Which State Has the Lowest Divorce Rate?
Maine had the lowest 2024 refined divorce rate, with 10.0 women divorcing per 1,000 married women. Wisconsin, New Jersey, Idaho, Montana, and South Carolina were also among the lowest-rate states.
Why do divorce rates differ by state?
- Average age at marriage
- Education levels
- Household income
- Military population
- Urban vs. rural communities
- Economic conditions
- State reporting methods
States with higher divorce rates are not necessarily places where marriages are less successful. Many factors influence these rankings, including population age, military service, migration, and differences in how states collect and report divorce data.
Likewise, states with relatively low divorce rates often have higher average marriage ages, greater educational attainment, and higher household incomes, all characteristics that research has associated with lower divorce risk.
Key Takeaway
State divorce rates reflect much more than individual relationships. Demographics, economics, education, and population characteristics all influence why some states consistently report higher or lower divorce rates than others.
Source: National Center for Family & Marriage Research analysis of 2024 American Community Survey data.
The Financial Impact of Divorce
Divorce can have a significant financial impact beyond attorney’s fees. Understanding how much a divorce costs can help families plan for both the legal process and the financial changes that follow. While the cost of a divorce varies depending on the complexity of the case, couples should also consider property division, child support, spousal maintenance, retirement accounts, taxes, and the long-term cost of maintaining two separate households.
An uncontested divorce that resolves quickly through negotiation or mediation is typically much less expensive than a contested divorce requiring extensive litigation. Every family’s circumstances are different, which is why divorce costs can vary from a few thousand dollars to substantially more in high-conflict cases.
What Can Affect the Cost of Divorce?
Although every divorce is unique, these are some of the biggest factors that influence the overall cost.
High-asset property division, business ownership, and complex financial issues generally increase legal costs. Couples can also use our asset & debt division calculator to organize an initial inventory.
Disagreements involving parenting time, decision-making authority, or child support often require additional negotiation or court involvement. For more data on how parenting arrangements and custody issues affect families, see our child custody statistics and trends guide.
Couples who can reach agreements outside of court generally spend less than those involved in prolonged litigation.
Financial experts, custody evaluators, appraisers, and forensic accountants can increase the overall cost of a divorce.
The long-term financial impact of divorce often extends well beyond legal fees. Couples may also need to divide retirement accounts, refinance homes, update estate plans, establish separate insurance coverage, and adjust to maintaining two households instead of one. Property questions can begin even before the marriage ends, including what happens to property owned before marriage.
Many financial experts recommend preparing a post-divorce budget before the divorce is finalized. Understanding your expected monthly expenses, housing costs, insurance needs, and retirement goals can help reduce financial uncertainty during the transition.
Working with an experienced family law attorney can also help identify potential financial issues early, reducing surprises and allowing couples to make more informed decisions throughout the divorce process.
Key Takeaway
The total cost of divorce depends on much more than attorney’s fees. Property division, parenting issues, financial complexity, and the level of conflict between spouses all play an important role in determining the overall financial impact.
Sources: American Bar Association; Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFA); various state court administrative reports.
Download the 2026 U.S. Divorce Statistics Fact Sheet
Download a concise, source-backed summary of the latest U.S. divorce rate, marriage-duration trends, gray divorce data, state comparisons, and other key findings.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Divorce Statistics
The following answers address some of the most common questions people ask about divorce rates and marriage trends in the United States. These responses are based on the latest available research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pew Research Center, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the National Center for Family & Marriage Research.
What is the current U.S. divorce rate?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the current crude divorce rate is 2.4 divorces per 1,000 people. This represents one of the lowest national divorce rates recorded in nearly 50 years.
Do 50% of marriages really end in divorce?
No. The widely repeated claim that 50% of marriages end in divorce is based on outdated projections and should not be interpreted as the likelihood that today’s marriages will end in divorce. Current research paints a much more nuanced picture and shows divorce rates have declined significantly over the past several decades.
Why has the divorce rate declined?
Researchers believe several factors have contributed to the decline, including people marrying later in life, higher educational attainment, greater financial stability before marriage, and fewer Americans marrying overall.
How long does the average marriage last before divorce?
According to Pew Research Center, the median marriage ending in divorce lasted approximately 12 years in 2023. However, many marriages last much longer, with more than one in five divorces occurring after at least 25 years of marriage.
What is gray divorce?
Gray divorce refers to couples who divorce after age 50. Although overall divorce rates have declined, divorces involving older adults increased dramatically over the past several decades and now account for nearly 40% of all divorces.
Which state has the highest divorce rate?
The answer varies slightly from year to year because not every state reports divorce data in the same way. In the latest 2024 NCFMR analysis, Oklahoma had the highest refined divorce rate at 20.7 divorces per 1,000 married women. Maine had the lowest at 10.0 per 1,000 married women.
What percentage of first marriages end in divorce?
There is no single current lifetime percentage for every first marriage. In 2023, the annual first-divorce rate was 13.4 per 1,000 women and 11.5 per 1,000 men in a first marriage. Older CDC research found that 43% of first marriages in a defined cohort ended in separation or divorce within 15 years, but that finding is not a current universal forecast.
What percentage of divorces are initiated by women?
Women initiated approximately 69% of divorces in a longitudinal study of heterosexual couples conducted between 2009 and 2015. The result describes that study sample rather than every divorce filing nationwide.
What is the most common reason for divorce?
Lack of commitment was the most commonly reported major contributor in a peer-reviewed study, followed by infidelity and excessive conflict or arguing. Most participants identified multiple contributing reasons.
Are divorce rates increasing?
No. Overall divorce rates in the United States have generally declined over the past four decades. While some demographic groups, such as adults over age 50, experienced increases for many years, the national trend continues to move downward.
Sources: CDC, Pew Research Center, U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Family & Marriage Research.
