Shocking Divorce Statistics

There’s a popular divorce statistic floating around for decades— 50% of U.S. marriages end in divorce. It turns out that’s no longer true in 2020. Our Colorado Springs attorneys took a look at the data, and we’re shining a light on the current state of divorce.

U.S. Marriage and Divorce Rates

According to the U.S. Census board, both marriage and divorce rates have decreased over the past 20 years.
As of 2017, approximately 50% of adults in the U.S. were married. This is a 28% decrease from the all-time high of 72% in 1960.
The median duration of current marriages in the U.S. has increased almost one year in the recent decade, from 19 years in 2010 to 19.8 years in 2019.
For every 1,000 marriages in the last year, only 14.9% ended in divorce. This is the lowest rate we have seen in 50 years.
According to the Pew Research Center, the divorce rate has doubled among U.S. adults 50 and older since the 1990s.

Divorce Demographics

Average age: 45.5 years old
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 29%
Employed: 63.3%
Unemployed: 36.7%
Living below the poverty line: 12.6%
Living with children under 18: 24.1%
Homeowner: 67.1%
Renter: 32.9%

Multiple Divorces & Remarriage Statistics

75% of divorcees will remarry.
6% of divorcees remarry their spouse.
60% of second marriages end in divorce.
73% of third marriages end in divorce.
People wait an average of 3 years after a divorce to remarry.

Divorce Statistics by State

States with the highest divorce rates in 2019:

Arkansas — 10.70%
Oklahoma — 10.40%
Nevada — 10.20%
New Mexico — 10.20%
Kentucky — 10.10%
Wyoming — 10%
Delaware — 9.40%
Utah — 9.40%
Kansas — 9.20%
Alabama — 9.10%

States with the lowest divorce rates in 2019:

Maine — 4.80%
South Dakota — 6%
New York — 6.10%
Pennsylvania — 6.10%
Illinois — 6.20%
Iowa — 6.30%
New Jersey — 6.30%
Massachusetts — 6.40%
Wisconsin — 6.40%
California — 6.50%

Contact a Trusted Colorado Springs Divorce Attorney

At Law Office of Greg Quimby, P.C., we understand the value of family. We are committed to protecting our clients and their loved ones whether they are filing for divorce, drafting a will, or adopting. If you need assistance with a family law matter, you can trust our team to care for your needs.

Call (719) 212-4227 to schedule a consultation today.