U.S. Divorce Statistics (2026): Rates, Trends & Key Facts

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sources: Pew Research Center; National Center for Family & Marriage Research (NCFMR); U.S. Census Bureau.

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 to divide retirement accounts, pensions, investment portfolios, businesses, or substantial real estate holdings. Spousal maintenance and estate planning also become increasingly important considerations.

Unlike younger couples, older couples 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.

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.

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.

Sources: Pew Research Center; U.S. Census Bureau.

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.

For a closer look at how these trends appear in one of the states Modern Family Law serves, explore our Colorado divorce facts and statistics.

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 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.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); National Center for Health Statistics.

The Financial Impact of Divorce

Divorce can have a significant financial impact beyond attorney’s fees. 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.

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.

Sources: American Bar Association; Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFA); various state court administrative reports.

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.

Sources: CDC, Pew Research Center, U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Family & Marriage Research.

How Modern Family Law Can Help

Statistics can provide valuable perspective, but they can never predict what your own divorce will look like. Every family has its own circumstances, priorities, and challenges. While national trends help us better understand divorce in the United States, the decisions you make during your own case will have a much greater impact on your future than any statistic ever could.

At Modern Family Law, we help individuals and families navigate every stage of the divorce process with experienced legal guidance and practical solutions. Whether you’re considering divorce, responding to a divorce petition, negotiating a parenting plan, dividing marital property, or addressing spousal maintenance, our attorneys are committed to helping you make informed decisions that protect what matters most.