In 2022, the divorce rate in the United States stood at *** per 1,000 of the population. Divorce in the U.S. Divorce is the termination of a marital union. In the United States, as in most other countries, it is a legal process in which a judge or another legal authority dissolves the bonds of matrimony existing between two persons. The process of divorce also normally involves issues surrounding distribution of property, financial support of the former spouse, child custody and child support. A divorce also allows a person to marry again.In the United States, divorce is, like marriage, a matter for state governments, not the federal government. Although divorce laws vary from state to state, for example on which terms a divorce can be arranged, a divorce must be certified by a court of law to become effective. A declining divorce rate Over the last couple of years, both the marriage rate and the divorce rate have been declining in the United States. As of 2009, the average length of a first marriage in the U.S. was ***** years, while the average length of a second marriage was about ** years.

The graph displays the divorce rate per 1,000 people in the United States from 2000 to 2023. The x-axis represents the years, labeled from '00 to '23, while the y-axis indicates the divorce rate per 1,000 individuals. The divorce rate starts at 4.0 per 1,000 in 2000 and 2001, which are the highest values in the dataset. Over the years, there is a general downward trend, with the rate decreasing to 2.3 per 1,000 in 2020, the lowest point recorded. In 2021 and 2023, the rate slightly fluctuates, rising to 2.5 and then decreasing to 2.4 per 1,000 respectively. The data highlights a consistent decline in the divorce rate over the 22-year period.

The graph illustrates the yearly percentage of divorces compared to marriages in the United States from 2000 (‘00) to 2023 (‘23). The x-axis shows years in two-digit form, while the y-axis shows the divorce-to-marriage percentage. During this period, the divorce percentage ranged from a high of about 41.7% in 2002 to a low of around 32.6% in 2022. The overall trend reflects a gradual decline in annual divorces relative to marriages, though year-to-year fluctuations remain. These figures should be viewed as approximate estimates.

In 2022, the marriage rate in the United States stood at *** per 1,000 people of the population. This is a decrease from 1990 levels, when the marriage rate was *** marriages per 1,000 people. Marriage Marriage is a union that can legally, culturally, and financially bind two people. Marriage occurs between all genders, races, and cultures, and is often drastically different all around the world, due to the diversity of cultures and religions. Marriage can be recognized by a state, religious authority, or an organization. Typically viewed as a contract, it brings people together through a multitude of avenues. A part of marriage is the wedding, for which couples can decide to partake in or not. Weddings are also incredibly diverse and vary in time, money, and customs. Marriage in the United States Marriage in the United States is viewed differently across all 50 states. The number of married couples in the United States has been steadily increasing since 1960. On the other hand, the divorce rate in the United States has decreased since 1990. Nevada was the state in 2021 that had the highest marriage rate in the United States, due to easy accessibility to get married there. In 2021, Nevada was also the state with the highest divorce rate in the country.

As of 2023, the divorce rate in China decreased to *** divorces per 1,000 inhabitants. Before 2020, this number had been constantly increasing since 2002. Divorce rate in Asian countries The divorce rate in China soared from around **** divorces per 1,000 people in 2000 to **** divorces in 2019. This is a quite high value compared to the divorce rate of countries in the Asia Pacific region. However, China shares the fate of a growing divorce rate with many other developing countries, while in most developed countries, the number of divorces per 1,000 inhabitants is either stable or falling. For example, the divorce rate in Singapore has been manly stable at *** divorces per 1,000 inhabitants in the last ten years and the divorce rate in South Korea has fallen from *** in 2009 to *** in 2023. In comparison, the U.S. divorce rate has been falling since 1992 from *** divorces per 1,000 people to *** divorces in 2022. Dating scene in China For the younger generations, dating and marriage happens (if at all) at a much later life stage compared to their parents. The fact that China has the highest working hours in the region does not ease the dire situation for singles in China, most of them being employed as professionals or employed in the media sector, where long working hours and high work pressure are quite common.

Japan registered **** divorces per 1,000 inhabitants in 2023, a slight increase from the after three consecutive years of decline. The divorce rate was mostly on a downward trend in the past two decades.

Number of divorces and various divorce indicators (crude divorce rate, divorce rate for married persons, age-standardized divorce rate, total divorce rate, mean and median duration of marriage, median duration of divorce proceedings, percentage of joint divorce applications), by place of occurrence, 1970 to most recent year.

Data on marriages and divorces at national level are transmitted by the National Statistics Institutes on voluntary basis in the context of the annual demographic data collections in the field of demography carried out by Eurostat.

The POPSTAT (population statistics) questionnaire collects annual mandatory and voluntary demographic data from the National Statistical Institutes. It is the most in-depth annual national and regional demographic and migration data collection. The data relate to populations, births, deaths, immigrants, emigrants, marriages and divorces, and is broken down into several categories (Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007).

The completeness of the demographic data collected on a voluntary basis depends on the availability and completeness of information provided by the National Statistical Institutes.

The following statistics on marriages and divorces are collected from the National Statistical Institutes:

• Marriages by previous legal union status of marrying persons;
• First-time marrying persons by age, year of birth and sex;
• Marriages by country of citizenship of marrying persons;
• Marriages by country of birth of marrying persons;
• Divorces by duration and year of the marriage;
• Divorces by country of citizenship of spouses;
• Divorces by country of birth of spouses.

Statistics on marriages and divorces: based on the different breakdowns of data on marriages and divorces received, Eurostat produces the following:

• Statistics available in the online table Marriage indicators (demo_nind):
  • Total number of marriages;
  • Crude marriage rate;
  • Mean age at first marriage – male;
  • Mean age at first marriage – female;
  • Total first marriage rate – male;
  • Total first marriage rate – female;
  • Proportion of first marriages – male;
  • Proportion of first marriages – female.
• Statistics available in the online table Divorce indicators (demo_ndivind):
  • Total number of divorces;
  • Crude divorce rate;
  • Divorces per 100 marriages.

In 2021, the divorce rate in England and Wales was *** divorces per thousand married couples, which was significantly higher than the rate in 2018, which was ***. The Divorce rate in England and Wales has been falling steadily since a rate of **** was recorded in 2003 and 2004. In the last available data for Scotland in 2008, the divorce rate was ****.

Annual divorce numbers and rates, by duration of marriage, sex, to whom granted and reason, that took place in England and Wales.

Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Per 1000: Divorce Rate data was reported at 1.700 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.730 % for 2016. Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Per 1000: Divorce Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 1.280 % from Dec 1947 (Median) to 2017, with 71 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.300 % in 2002 and a record low of 0.730 % in 1963. Vital Statistics: Japanese Only: Per 1000: Divorce Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G005: Vital Statistics.

Ages of husband and wife at marriage, and analyses of the percentage of marriages ending in divorce by year of marriage and anniversary, and proportions of men and women who had ever divorced by year of birth and age.

How many married couples are in the U.S.? In 2023, there were 62.18 million married couples in the United States. This is an increase from 40.2 million married couples in 1960. Marriage in the U.S. While the number of married couples in the U.S. has increased in the past few decades, this could very well just be due to population change, since while the U.S. population has been increasing, the marriage rate has decreased significantly since 1990. In addition, the divorce rate has almost halved since 1990 despite concerns that more people are getting divorced than in years past. Same-sex marriage in the U.S. After years of advocacy, same-sex marriage became legal in the United States in June 2015. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage was legal in a landmark ruling in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges. In 2015, a clear majority of Americans were in favor of the legalization of same-sex marriage, and approval has only been increasing in the years since.

Mean age and median age at divorce and at marriage, for persons who divorced in a given year, by sex or gender and place of occurrence, 1970 to most recent year.

Divorces Registered: Non-Muslim: Perak data was reported at 1,051.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 870.000 Person for 2015. Divorces Registered: Non-Muslim: Perak data is updated yearly, averaging 677.000 Person from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2016, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,051.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 401.000 Person in 2002. Divorces Registered: Non-Muslim: Perak data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G008: Vital Statistics: Marriages & Divorces.

This statistic shows the results of a survey among divorced Americans regarding who is to blame for their divorce. 55 percent of respondents said that it was their partner's fault that they had to resort to divorce.

Divorces Registered: Non-Muslim: Pulau Pinang data was reported at 1,096.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,042.000 Person for 2015. Divorces Registered: Non-Muslim: Pulau Pinang data is updated yearly, averaging 907.000 Person from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2016, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,096.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 447.000 Person in 2002. Divorces Registered: Non-Muslim: Pulau Pinang data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G008: Vital Statistics: Marriages & Divorces.

According to the 2020 UNIDOMO questionnaire, Portugal clearly led the list of European countries with the highest divorce rate per 100 marriages. With 91.5 divorces the Portuguese Republic led the list, followed by Spain and Luxembourg. All three countries boast a significantly higher share than the other European countries, each reporting a divorce rate over 80 divorces.

A different way to look at Portugal

While Portugal clearly has the most divorces per 100 marriages, looking at divorce rates per 1.000 inhabitants in other European countries alters the picture of the country as one unsettled by significant numbers of divorces. With nearly 1.7 divorces per 1,000 inhabitants Portugal has roughly the same divorce rate as Germany and the Netherlands. Interesting is furthermore that although marriages in Portugal tend to result in divorce lightly more often as in Luxembourg (80.3%), the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg experienced a 0.6 point higher divorce rate.

What about the rest of the World?

While compared with Latin American countries like Guatemala or Peru, ranked among the countries with the lowest divorce rates in the world, Luxembourg’s divorce rate seems excessive. However, when compared with divorce rates (per 1.000 inhabitants) of countries like the United States (2.7) or China (3.5) divorce rates from Luxembourg and Europe are not out of the ordinary.

The Family Law and Divorce Lawyers and Attorneys industry has seen tepid growth recently, influenced by shifting American family dynamics. Divorce rates have been on the decline, putting a damper on revenue growth. However, per capita disposable income has risen, a silver lining that has allowed more individuals to afford expert legal advice, keeping the industry from going belly up. Despite these mixed signals, successful firms adapt to changing conditions to maintain their competitive edge. Ultimately, lawyers and attorneys practicing in family and divorce law are forecast to see revenue grow at a CAGR of 0.3% to total $13.2 billion over the five years to 2024. In 2024, industry revenue is expected to climb an additional 0.7%.External competition for family and divorce law practitioners is on the rise. Billing hours for lawyers continue to increase, pushing potential clients to seek less expensive alternatives. Online filing services present significant competition for traditional family law firms. Additionally, individuals increasingly turn to volunteer lawyers and nonprofit centers to settle matters without hiring experienced operators or going to court. For example, the Collaborative Family Law Center in New York offers divorce-related assistance, and similar centers exist nationwide. These trends are indicative of the growing challenge traditional firms face in maintaining their client base, hampering profitability. The national divorce rate is expected to keep falling, likely putting a squeeze on revenue for family and divorce law practitioners. Potential clients will increasingly turn to the internet to file less complicated documents, bypassing traditional legal services. With more of the population connected online, online legal platforms are set to rise. Moreover, the trend of resolving family law cases without lawyers is expected to grow, fueled by specialized nonprofit centers and volunteer lawyers. This shift will further mitigate growth, as more individuals seek cost-effective alternatives for their legal needs, leaving traditional law firms to face revenue declines. As a result, industry revenue is forecast to contract at a CAGR of 0.2% to $13.1 billion over the five years to 2029.