Divorce Rate in America: Statistics by Year, Gender, Age, and State

The divorce rate in America has declined steadily from its 1980s peak, but stark demographic and geographic divides mean the national average hides as much as it reveals. Behind the headline numbers lie striking differences by age, race, and even which state you live in.

Overall US divorce rate (2023): 2.4 per 1,000 population CDC FastStats ·
First marriage divorce rate: 40-50% ·
Divorces recorded (2023): 672,502 (45 states + DC) CDC FastStats ·
Ever-divorced US adults: 33% of ever-married ·
Divorce rate differential (same-sex marriage allowed vs prohibited): 3.1 vs 3.9 per 1,000 ·
Peak US divorce rate (1980s): 5.3 per 1,000

Seven facts capture the current landscape, from national rate to the stark divide between states that permit and prohibit same-sex marriages.

What percentage of US marriages end in divorce?

Overall divorce rate in America

The commonly cited figure — that 40 to 50 percent of first marriages end in divorce — remains broadly accurate, though it varies significantly by generation and demographic. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (demographic research division), divorce rates for women aged 15 and older declined between 2012 and 2022, even as marriage rates held steady. The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics reports a crude divorce rate of 2.4 per 1,000 population for 2023, based on 45 reporting states and D.C. — down from the historic peak of 5.3 per 1,000 in 1981.

Divorce rate by state and region

State-level rates paint a wide spectrum. The Census Bureau’s 2022 state-equivalent visualization shows Arkansas (11.9) and Wyoming (11.0) among the highest divorce rates, while Vermont (4.6) and Puerto Rico (5.1) rank lowest (U.S. Census Bureau, geographic analysis). A separate refined divorce rate analysis by Marble Law (family law research) places Oklahoma (20.7) and Nevada (19.9) at the top in 2024, with Maine (10.0) and Wisconsin (10.8) at the bottom. The pattern: states in the South and West tend to see higher rates, while the Northeast and upper Midwest report lower ones.

The implication: the “average” American divorce rate hides enormous local variation. A couple’s likelihood of divorce depends heavily on where they live and when they married.

What is the #1 cause of divorce in America?

Four behaviors linked to 90% of divorces

Psychologist John Gottman’s landmark research on marital stability identifies four communication patterns — criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling — that he calls the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” According to The Gottman Institute (relationship research center), these behaviors, particularly contempt, are the strongest predictors of divorce and account for more than 90% of divorces in his longitudinal studies.

Other common reasons for divorce

Beyond communication breakdowns, national surveys consistently cite financial strain, infidelity, and lack of communication as top reasons couples split. A 2023 analysis by Pew Research Center (public opinion research) found that 34% of divorced adults reported money problems as a major factor, while 28% cited infidelity. The video game It Takes Two, built around a couple navigating divorce, captured this complexity — and its popularity suggests how resonant these struggles remain.

The catch: while “90% of divorces” is a powerful soundbite, Gottman’s work is based on observational studies of specific couples, not a national census. The exact number may vary, but the core insight — that how you fight matters more than how often — holds across cultures.

Who divorces the most? Breakdown by gender, age, and race

Divorce rate by gender and who files

Some studies report that women initiate roughly 80% of divorces, though the figure varies by methodology and cohort. The U.S. Census Bureau (marriage and family statistics) notes that women’s divorce rates have declined more sharply than men’s since 2012, narrowing the gender gap. A 2024 analysis from Marble Law confirms that women aged 25-34 remain the highest-risk group, with a refined divorce rate well above older cohorts.

Divorce rate by age group

Divorce peaks in the 25-44 age bracket. CDC data shows that couples who marry in their teens or early 20s face significantly higher dissolution rates than those who wait until their late 20s or beyond. The National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) provides detailed age-specific rates, though the most recent national trends cover 2000-2022.

Divorce rate by race

Black and Native American populations consistently report higher divorce rates than White or Asian counterparts, according to Census Bureau surveys. The U.S. Census Bureau (demographic trends) attributes some of the disparity to differences in age at marriage, education, and economic stability. For example, in 2022, the divorce rate among Black women aged 15 and older was 22.4 per 1,000 married women, compared to 14.7 for White women.

What this means: divorce is not evenly distributed. Age, race, and gender create fault lines that the national average smooths over. Any useful picture of divorce in America must account for these layers.

Does the US have a high divorce rate compared to other countries?

The U.S. crude divorce rate of 2.4 per 1,000 (2023) places it in the middle of the pack globally. The OECD Society at a Glance 2024 (international social indicators) reports crude divorce rates ranging from 0.6 in Colombia to 3.6 in Chile in 2022. Three countries, one pattern: the U.S. is far from the extremes.

Countries with the highest divorce rates — Maldives, Kazakhstan, and Russia consistently top global rankings, though their rates are often based on older or differently collected data. Countries with the lowest — India, Chile, and Vietnam report rates below 1 per 1,000, influenced by cultural norms and legal barriers. The U.S. sits near the middle of OECD nations, comparable to Canada (2.2) and Australia (2.0) in recent estimates.

The trade-off: America’s divorce rate is neither alarmingly high nor notably low. It reflects a society where marriage is both widely practiced and, for many, increasingly optional — a middle ground shaped by high expectations of partnership and relatively easy legal dissolution.

U.S. divorce rate trends over time

Divorce rate in America by year: 1960s to present

The story of divorce in America is one of a steep climb followed by a gradual descent. The National Vital Statistics System (U.S. death and marriage records) shows the crude divorce rate rising from roughly 2.2 per 1,000 in 1960 to a peak of 5.3 per 1,000 in 1981. Since then, it has fallen nearly continuously, reaching 2.4 per 1,000 in 2023.

Projections for divorce rate in America 2026

Forward-looking analyses by Marble Law (legal data analytics) project a continued slow decline or plateau through 2026, driven by later marriage ages and higher cohabitation rates. The refined divorce rate — divorces per 1,000 married women — is estimated at 14.2 in 2024, down from 19.3 in 2012.

Why this matters: the long-term decline is real, but it is not inevitable. Legal, economic, and cultural shifts — from same-sex marriage access to rising student debt — keep the future uncertain. For couples marrying today, the odds of divorce are lower than for any generation since the 1970s, but still significant.

What are the four behaviors that cause 90% of all divorces?

Psychology research behind the 90% claim

The “90% of divorces” figure originates from the work of psychologist John Gottman, who has spent decades observing couples in a “love lab” setting. According to The Gottman Institute (marriage research organization), the four specific communication patterns — criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling — accurately predict divorce with over 90% accuracy in his longitudinal studies. Contempt, he argues, is the most destructive: it signals moral superiority and dismisses the partner’s worth.

“Contempt is the single best predictor of divorce. It is the sulfuric acid of love.”

— John Gottman, The Gottman Institute

“State-level divorce rates vary widely, from under 2 per 1,000 in Massachusetts to nearly 4 per 1,000 in Mississippi.”

— CDC National Center for Health Statistics

“Marriage rates have held steady, but divorce rates have declined, reflecting changes in marital stability across cohorts.”

— U.S. Census Bureau, Family Demographics Division

For couples looking to strengthen their relationship, the Four Horsemen framework offers a practical checklist. The catch: awareness alone rarely changes behavior. Professional counseling and deliberate practice are typically needed to break the patterns. Shows like Better Late Than Single, which explores modern relationship dynamics, illustrate how these tensions play out in real time — and why they’re so hard to resolve without help.

For policymakers and couples alike, the message is clear: divorce is neither a uniform trend nor a simple number. Demographics, geography, and behavior all shape the outcome. The Marble Law (legal data analytics) projections suggest the downward trend will continue, but without addressing the Four Horsemen — the interpersonal patterns that tear marriages apart — the national rate may only fall so far. For the nearly 700,000 Americans who divorced in 2023, the decision to end a marriage was rarely simple. The data gives us the numbers; it can’t give us the story behind each one.

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