What month has the highest divorce rate?
Divorce Rate in the U.S.: Geographic Variation, 2021
The adjusted divorce rate in the U.S. peaked in 1979 (see Figure 1). The general trend since then has been one of decline, and analyses of divorce trends using the American Community Survey beginning in 2008 indicate successive yearly declines beginning in 2012 (Westrick-Payne, 2022a). The pandemic has had dramatic effects on divorce in the U.S. with a 12% reduction in administrative counts of divorces, which are available from 35 states (Westrick-Payne, Manning, & Carlson, 2022). The ACS shows a parallel trend with a nearly 10% decline in the adjusted divorce rate from 15.5 in 2019 to 14.0 in 2020 (Westrick-Payne, 2022b). Using the 2021 1-year estimate of the American Community Survey (ACS), we estimated the number of divorces and divorce rates among women ages 15 and older in the United States and show how these rates vary across states. This Family Profile is an update of previous profiles that examine the divorce rate across each state [FP-17-24; FP-18-21; FP-19-23; FP-20-25; FP-22-08].
- The number of women who reported they divorced declined from 960,014 in 2020 (Westrick-Payne, 2022b) to 948,862 in 2021.
- The divorce rate, however, remained unchanged at 14.0 divorces per 1,000 married women in both 2020 and 2021.This rate is the lowest level over a 40-year time span.
Figure 1. Women’s Adjusted Divorce Rate, 1970-2021
Source: NCFMR analyses of 1970-2000, National Center for Health Statistics; 2008-2019 and 2021, U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-yr est., and 2020 American Community Survey, 1-year Experimental PUMS
Five Highest and Lowest Adjusted Divorce Rates, 2021
- Arkansas had the highest divorce rate among women in the U.S., with 21.7 women divorcing in the last year per 1,000 married women.
- The state with the lowest divorce rate in 2021 was New Hampshire, with 8.2 divorces per 1,000 married women.
Figure 2. Women’s Highest and Lowest Adjusted Divorce Rates, 2021
Source: NCFMR analyses of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2021 1-yr est.
State Rankings and Geographic Variation in Divorce Rates, 2021
- The 13 states in the top quartile had rates of at least 16.0 divorces per 1,000 married women in 2021.
- The 13 states in the bottom quartile had 12.5 or fewer divorces per 1,000 married women in 2021.
- Most states in the South and West had divorce rates in the top two quartiles.
- Exceptions included Virginia, New Mexico, Arizona, South Dakota, and California.
- Exceptions included Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Vermont, and Maine.
Figure 3. State-Level Women’s Adjusted Divorce Rate by Quartile, 2021
Source: NCFMR analyses of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2021 1-yr est.
Figure 4. Geographic Variation of Women’s Adjusted Divorce Rate Among States, 2021
Source: NCFMR analyses of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2021 1-yr est.
Data Sources:
Clarke. S. C. (1995). Advanced report of final marriage statistics, 1989 and 1990. Monthly Vital Statistics Report, 42(12). National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/mvsr/supp/mv43_12s.pdf
National Center for Health Statistics (1974). Summary report final marriage statistics, 1970. Monthly Vital Statistics Report, 23(2), Supp.1. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/mvsr/supp/mv23_02s1acc.pdf
National Center for Health Statistics (1983). Advance report of final marriage statistics, 1980. Monthly Vital Statistics Report, 32(5), Supp. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/mvsr/supp/mv32_05s.pdf
National Center for Health Statistics (2001). Births, marriages, divorces, and deaths: Provisional data for January-December 2000. National Vital Statistics Report, 49(6), Associated Table 3. Department of Health & Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr49/nvsr49_06.pdf
U.S. Census Bureau (2022). American Community Survey, 2021 1-Year Estimates [Table B12001]. Retrieved from: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=B12001&tid=ACSDT1Y2021.B12001
U.S. Census Bureau (2022). American Community Survey, 2021 1-Year Estimates [Table B12501]. Retrieved from: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=B12501&tid=ACSDT1Y2021.B12501
U.S. Census Bureau (2021). American Community Survey, 2020 1-year Experimental PUMS
References:
Allred, C. (2019). Divorce rate in the U.S.: Geographic variation, 2018. Family Profiles, FP-19-23. Bowling Green, OH: National Center for Family & Marriage Research. https://doi.org/10.25035/ncfmr/fp-18-23
Hemez, P. (2017). Divorce rate in the U.S.: Geographic variation, 2016. Family Profiles, FP-17-24. Bowling Green, OH: National Center for Family & Marriage Research. https://doi.org/10.25035/ncfmr/fp-17-24
Reynolds, L. (2020). Divorce rate in the U.S.: Geographic variation, 2019. Family Profiles, FP-20-25. Bowling Green, OH: National Center for Family & Marriage Research. https://doi.org/10.25035/ncfmr/fp-20-25
Schweizer, V. (2018). Divorce rate in the U.S.: Geographic variation, 2017. Family Profiles, FP-18-21. Bowling Green, OH: National Center for Family & Marriage Research. https://doi.org/10.25035/ncfmr/fp-18-21
Westrick-Payne, K. K. (2022). Divorce rate in the U.S.: Geographic variation, 2020. Family Profiles, FP-22-08. Bowling Green, OH: National Center for Family & Marriage Research. https://doi.org/10.25035/ncfmr/fp-22-08
Westrick-Payne, K. K., Manning, W. D., & Carlson, L. (2022). Pandemic Shortfall in Marriages and Divorces in the United States. Socius, 8. https://doi.org/10.1177/23780231221090192
Suggested Citation:
Marino, F. (2022). Divorce rate in the U.S.: Geographic variation, 2021. Family Profiles, FP-22-26. Bowling Green, OH: National Center for Family & Marriage Research. https://doi.org/10.25035/ncfmr/fp-22-26
Clarke. S. C. (1995). Advanced report of final marriage statistics, 1989 and 1990. Monthly Vital Statistics Report, 42(12). National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/mvsr/supp/mv43_12s.pdf
National Center for Health Statistics (1974). Summary report final marriage statistics, 1970. Monthly Vital Statistics Report, 23(2), Supp.1. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/mvsr/supp/mv23_02s1acc.pdf
National Center for Health Statistics (1983). Advance report of final marriage statistics, 1980. Monthly Vital Statistics Report, 32(5), Supp. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/mvsr/supp/mv32_05s.pdf
National Center for Health Statistics (2001). Births, marriages, divorces, and deaths: Provisional data for January-December 2000. National Vital Statistics Report, 49(6), Associated Table 3. Department of Health & Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr49/nvsr49_06.pdf
U.S. Census Bureau (2022). American Community Survey, 2021 1-Year Estimates [Table B12001]. Retrieved from: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=B12001&tid=ACSDT1Y2021.B12001
U.S. Census Bureau (2022). American Community Survey, 2021 1-Year Estimates [Table B12501]. Retrieved from: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=B12501&tid=ACSDT1Y2021.B12501
U.S. Census Bureau (2021). American Community Survey, 2020 1-year Experimental PUMS
Data analysts on World Divorce Rates: Ranking of countries from highest to lowest risk of getting divorced
London, United Kingdom, April 2023 – Recent economic challenges, as well as the Covid pandemic in particular, have become an ultimate challenge for couples worldwide, which is evident in the rising divorce rates. In light of this, data analysts at casinoalpha.com have researched worldwide divorce statistics from official sources from 100 countries worldwide in order to rank the likelihood of getting divorced in the next twelve months.
Map: World Divorce Rates. The odds of getting divorced. Full image and results available at casinoalpha.com/what-are-the-odds/the-odds-of-getting-divorced
Russian citizens are most likely to get divorced in the next year
Russia ranks first with the highest divorce rate worldwide, likely as a result of economic instability in recent decades that have put significant stress on marriages. Based on the newest data on population and the number of divorces, this study predicts that 1 in 172 people in Russia will file for divorce this year and officially end their marriage. The divorce rate in Russia is 74%, meaning that more than three-quarters of all marriages end in a breakup.
A high risk of ending in divorce is also shown by couples in Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan and China.
The world’s highest divorce rates can be found in Portugal and Spain
When it comes to separation, married couples in Canada show higher divorce rates than American couples. 48% of all marriages end in a divorce in Canada, compared to 45% in the US. By far the world’s highest divorce rates can be found in Portugal, where 92% of all marriages end in a breakup, and Spain, with a divorce rate of 86%.
India with lowest divorce rates in worldwide comparison
Traditionally, India has low divorce rates, with only around 1% of marriages ending in divorce. Marriage is highly valued in Indian culture, and divorce has historically been stigmatised. This has created a strong social pressure to maintain the marriage, even in the face of difficulties.
A low risk of ending in divorce is also shown by couples in Vietnam, Guatemala, Malta and Peru.
International Rank
Country
Adults affected by divorce in the next 12 months
National Divorce Rate
International Rank
Country
Adults affected by divorce in the next 12 months
National Divorce Rate
1
Russia
51
Spain
2
Belarus
52
Turkey
3
Moldova
53
Tajikistan
4
Kazakhstan
55
Hungary
5
China
54
New Zealand
6
Ukraine
56
Singapore
7
Latvia
57
Kyrgyzstan
9
Lithuania
58
Mauritius
8
Denmark
59
Albania
10
Cuba
61
Suriname
11
Costa Rica
60
Poland
12
Sweden
62
Syria
14
San Marino
63
Tonga
13
Liechtenstein
64
Croatia
15
Finland
65
Bulgaria
16
Libya
66
Azerbaijan
17
Cyprus
67
Serbia
18
Egypt
68
Brazil
19
United States
69
Thailand
20
Luxembourg
70
Montenegro
21
Monaco
71
Romania
22
Georgia
72
Dominican Republic
23
Chile
73
Italy
24
Canada
74
Ecuador
25
Czech Republic
75
Grenada
26
France
76
Jamaica
27
Iran
77
Armenia
28
Estonia
78
Mongolia
29
Israel
79
Dominica
31
Saudi Arabia
80
The Bahamas
30
South Korea
81
Uruguay
33
Bermuda
82
Slovenia
32
Australia
83
Uzbekistan
35
Iceland
84
Nicaragua
34
Switzerland
85
El Salvador
36
Greece
86
Bosnia and Herzegovina
37
Belgium
87
North Macedonia
38
Norway
88
Venezuela
39
Japan
89
Ireland
40
United Kingdom
90
Panama
42
Germany
91
Mexico
41
Portugal
92
Colombia
43
Netherlands
93
South Africa
44
Austria
94
United Arab Emirates
45
Malaysia
95
Qatar
46
Algeria
96
Peru
47
Lebanon
97
Malta
48
Slovakia
98
Guatemala
49
Jordan
99
Vietnam
50
Seychelles
100
India
More findings:
● The US ranks 19th out of 100 countries with the highest divorce rate worldwide. The median cost of a divorce in the US is US$7,500. 45% of all marriages in the US end in divorce.
● When it comes to separation, married couples in New Zealand show slightly higher divorce rates than Australian couples. 42% of all marriages end in a divorce in New Zealand, compared to 41% in Australia.
● 42% of all marriages in New Zealand end in divorce. Based on the newest data on population and the number of divorces, this study predicts that 1 in 433 New zealand citizens will file for divorce in the upcoming year and officially end their marriage. New Zealand ranks 54th out of 100 countries with the highest divorce rate worldwide. A contested divorce in in New Zealand cost between NZ$5,000 and NZ$10,000.
● Canada ranks 24th out of 100 countries with the highest divorce rate worldwide. The average cost of a contested divorce in Canada is CAN$12,875. 48% of all marriages end in a divorce in the United Kingdom.
● Data analysts have projected that 1 in 371 Britons will file for divorce in the upcoming twelve months, ranking the UK 40th out of the 100 nationalities that are most likely to get divorced. 41% of all marriages end in a divorce in the United Kingdom.
Sources
Only particularly credible statistical data from trustworthy sources were selected. These sources include Eurostat of the European Union, the official database of the OECD and the Statistics Department of the World Bank.
For more information about the study, methodology and sources please visit casinoalpha.com/what-are-the-odds/the-odds-of-getting-divorced
Media contact
ABCD Agency
Christian Merz
christian@abcd.agencyAbout Casino Alpha
Casino Alpha is an independent market analysis platform that publishes informative reviews for gambling products and services. The company’s mission is to guide players, be they new or experienced, in this industry. Behind the company stands a team with experience in various domains that have seamlessly connected millions of players through their real-life gaming experiences. Each and everyone has contributed in its own way to delivering an in-depth casino database and actionable pieces of advice on how to play safely and responsibly. For further information please visit casinoalpha.com .
Divorce Statistics 2022
Divorce solicitors, Crisp & Co, take a look at the newly released ONS divorce statistics, breaking down the key stats.
People say that 50% of marriages end in divorce, and many people believe divorce rates have increased in recent years. The question is, do UK divorce statistics actually reflect this?
In fact, divorce rates are at their lowest levels since the 1970s, and seem to be continuing to fall. The infographic below contains a number of interesting divorce statistics for UK couples living in England and Wales:
How many marriages end in divorce?
The latest divorce statistics show that 103,592 couples divorced in 2020. Interestingly, this was a 4% decrease on the previous year. Of these, 102,438 were opposite sex couples and 1,154 were same sex couples — an increase of around 40% compared to 2019.
How much does divorce cost?
Family breakdown is estimated to cost the taxpayer £48 billion per year. Factors that affect this figure include:
- The effects on health
- Extra housing support
- Legal aid
- Lost work hours
- Other factors
There are four main costs associated with getting divorced:
Court fees
Court fees will vary depending on how the divorce proceeds. The court fee for filing a divorce petition in England and Wales is currently £550.
There are usually other court fees associated with getting divorced too. For example, if you need the court to make a Financial Order or you want to make a Consent Order to formalise a voluntary agreement about children or finances, you will have to pay.
Legal fees
Legal fees will include the cost of retaining a solicitor to advise you on the legal aspects of your divorce, as well as their fees for representing you in negotiations or in court.
Any financial settlement you must pay to your spouse
A financial settlement may require you to give money or other assets to your former spouse or pay ongoing maintenance. You can agree this settlement privately, with the assistance of your solicitors, or in court.
Any child maintenance you are required to pay
Any child maintenance you have to pay will depend on your income, the number of children you have, any benefits you receive (including income support, incapacity benefit or a state pension) and how many other children live in your household.
Who applies for divorce?
Either spouse can start the divorce process, but divorce statistics show that, in opposite-sex couples, 63% of divorce petitions are filed by the wife. In 2019, 62% of divorce petitions were submitted by the wife in opposite-sex partnerships.
Wives have been the primary instigators for divorce in opposite-sex relationships since 1949, although statistics show that this proportion is falling.
Are more people getting divorced nowadays?
Divorce rates appear to be falling and have been since 2000 – as reflected in the number of divorces between 2019 and 2020. This could be because couples are more likely to live together before they get married or as an alternative to marriage, particularly when they are younger.
Another possible reason for the decline in divorce rates is that many people are getting married when they are older, meaning they may be more mature and have more relationship experience. This may mean couples are more likely to make better choices about whom to marry, and can handle conflict within the marriage better.
Interestingly, previous divorce statistics indicated that there was an increase of around 16,000 divorces between 2018 and 2019, but this rise in divorce rates was thought to be down to divorce centres catching up on a backlog of divorces, rather than being an accurate reflection of the number of couples who were looking to get divorced.
How long are couples married before they get divorced?
The most recent UK divorce statistics indicate that more couples are divorcing during their first year of marriage compared to 2019. The divorce rates in this instance show that 1,274 divorces ended before the two-year mark in 2019, whereas 1,530 divorces ended before two years in 2020 – an increase of around 20%.
This particular divorce statistic could have been affected by the unusual and unprecedented circumstances brought on the by onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The fact that couples were forced to spend increased amounts of time together may have acted as a catalyst for couples who weren’t well suited to one another to find reasons to apply for divorce.
What reasons did people use for divorce in 2020?
The divorce statistics illustrate that, for opposite sex couples, all of the reasons used to prove the irretrievable breakdown of the relationship have decreased from the previous year, with the exception of ‘two years separation with consent’. The use of this reason increased for both husband and wife.
In opposite sex relationships, it is also notable that the use of ‘unreasonable behaviour’ among wives is more than double than husbands (30,281 compared to 12,913).
For same sex couples, the two most common reasons used for divorce are unreasonable behaviour and two year separation with consent. The least common reason used was adultery. This is likely because adultery only concerns sexual relations with someone of the opposite sex.
Speak to our expert divorce solicitors
The Good Divorce Company at Crisp & Co have many years of experience helping people to manage the end of their marriages and civil partnerships. We know how confusing, stressful, and emotionally-taxing divorce can be, as well as the concerns about children and finances that come with ending a relationship.
Our divorce solicitors can advise you on all aspects of getting divorced, helping you to separate from your former partner as quickly and cost-effectively as possible, while minimising the potential for conflict.
Our family law team contains a number of experts in mediation and collaborative law who can help you follow a non-confrontational approach to your divorce wherever possible. We aim to minimise the emotional fallout and the risks of lasting acrimony between you and your former spouse. This can be especially important where you have children who you will need to continue co-parenting together.
We’re leading experts in no-fault divorce, the new divorce law that allows couples to end their relationship without having to place any blame. This makes divorce much more cooperative and removes the risk of conflict.
Where court action is the best or only option to pursue your divorce, we have the expertise to put together the strongest possible case for you, ensuring you get a fair settlement.
To discuss your needs with one of our expert divorce solicitors, call us today on 020 3281 7886 or fill in our simple online enquiry form for a swift response.
To add this UK divorce statistics infographic to your site, just copy and paste the code below:
Book Your Free Consultation
