Shocking Divorce Statistics You Should Know About

Divorce statistics can help people understand how common divorce is and how certain factors influence the stability of a marriage.

Researchers track divorce statistics by the characteristics of the spouses, such as their gender, age, race, and sexuality, to identify national trends and see how different groups experience marriage. While each situation is unique, the data can help individuals understand what divorce may look like today.

Plog & Stein, P.C., represents clients in all types of Colorado divorce cases. We bring decades of experience in the Denver metro area and understand the realities families face during major life changes.

We guide clients through child custody, property division, and support issues with an approach centered on efficiency and long-term financial stability. When someone needs a dedicated Colorado divorce attorney, our team stands ready.

Table of Contents

1. Basic Divorce Statistics in the United States
2. Divorce Statistics by Age
3. Divorce Statistics by Gender
4. Divorce Statistics by Sexuality
5. Divorce Statistics by Race
6. Divorce Statistics Involving Children
7. Other Factors That Influence Divorce
8. Talk with a Colorado Divorce Attorney Who Understands Divorce Trends

Basic Divorce Statistics in the United States

Divorce rates in the U.S. have shifted over the last century. Researchers at the National Center for Family and Marriage Research (NCFMR) report that the divorce rate for married women rose through much of the twentieth century, then declined from a peak of 22.6 divorces per 1,000 married women in 1980 to 14.6 per 1,000 in 2022.

In 2019, the overall U.S. divorce rate was approximately 15.5 divorces per 1,000 married women, marking a forty-year low at the time.

Researchers also examine how divorce differs between first marriages and remarriages. Generally:

• First marriages tend to have the lowest divorce risk,
• Second marriages show a higher risk of divorce than first marriages, and
• Third or later marriages likely face the highest risk.

In 2023, roughly one-third of Americans who have ever been married have also experienced a divorce.

Divorce Statistics by Age

Divorce statistics by age indicate that:

• Divorce among adults aged 55 to 64 roughly doubled from 5 per 1,000 married adults in 1990 to about 10 per 1,000 in 2021;
• Adults age 50 and older now represent an increasingly large share of all U.S. divorces; and
• Younger adults saw substantial declines in divorce rates between 1990 and 2021, with the steepest drop among those ages 25-39, indicating that divorce is now far more common at older ages than it was a generation ago.

The age at which you marry can play a major role in whether a marriage lasts.

Divorce Statistics by Gender

National data highlights several consistent patterns in divorce statistics by gender:

• Women initiate about 69% of divorces;
• Men often experience a sharper initial drop in household income after divorce, although income stability typically improves over time; and
• Women frequently retain a greater share of day-to-day caregiving responsibilities after divorce.

These trends help demonstrate why spouses often enter divorce with different concerns about finances, parenting duties, and long-term goals.

Divorce Statistics by Sexuality

Researchers have also begun to examine divorce statistics by sexuality since same-sex marriage became legal nationwide. Studies show the following patterns:

• Same-sex marriages have a slightly higher rate of divorce than the rate for different-sex marriages in comparable groups;
• Female-female couples tend to show higher divorce likelihood than male-male couples; and
• Overall, national divorce rates did not increase after same-sex marriage became legal.

Same-sex couples follow similar trajectories as different-sex couples, although some relationship dynamics differ across subgroups.

Divorce Statistics by Race

Racial and ethnic groups show measurable differences in divorce rates, and national population-level surveys help illustrate these patterns. The following divorce statistics by race explore variations in divorce by ethnic and racial background:

• Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native adults experience divorce at higher rates;
• White and multiracial adults typically experience the next highest divorce rates;
• Hispanic or Latino adults follow; and
• Asian American adults generally have the lowest rate.

Differences in marital stability exist across racial and ethnic groups, and these disparities may be influenced in part by economic conditions, community support systems, cultural expectations, and geographic factors.

Divorce Statistics Involving Children

Changes in family structure affect millions of children, and national statistics illustrate how common single-parent or blended-family arrangements have become. Current data shows that:

• About 23% of U.S. children live with one parent and no other adults;
• Roughly 21% of children live with their mother only, and about 4.5% live with their father only; and
• One-third to two-fifths of children move to a new home within the first few years after a divorce.

These numbers underscore the central roles that parenting time, decision-making authority, and child support play in most divorces involving children.

Other Factors That Influence Divorce

Several additional factors influence the likelihood of divorce. For example, adults with a college degree are about half as likely to divorce compared to those with a high-school education only.

Premarital cohabitation can increase the risk of divorce for couples who move in together before forming a clear commitment, who cohabit at very young ages, or who move in together for practical rather than relationship-based reasons.

Domestic violence also plays a major role in whether a marriage ends, and researchers have documented strong links between abuse and marital dissolution. Studies consistently show the following patterns:

• Couples who experience domestic violence are up to four times more likely to divorce than couples without violence;
• Between 25% and 40% of divorcing spouses say abuse contributed to the breakdown of the marriage; and
• Survivors of severe intimate partner violence leave the relationship through separation or divorce in about 70% of cases.

These patterns show how domestic violence increases both the likelihood and urgency of divorce, and why safety planning often becomes part of the legal process.

Talk with a Colorado Divorce Attorney Who Understands Divorce Trends

If you want guidance about divorce or other family law matters after learning about divorce statistics, our team can help. Plog & Stein, P.C. has served clients throughout the Denver metro area for decades.

We invite you to contact us to speak with an experienced Colorado divorce attorney who can explain your options, help you anticipate what to expect, and guide you through this process. Call us or request a consultation online to learn more.