In 2022, the divorce rate in the United States stood at 2.4 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 eight years. The average age men were at when they went through their first divorce was 32, for women this was 30. The average length of a second marriage was about 10 years.

The graph displays the divorce rate per 1,000 people in the United States from 2000 to 2022. The x-axis represents the years, labeled from '00 to '22, 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 2022, 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.

Despite public opinion that divorce is becoming more frequent in the United States, the divorce rate actually seems to be declining, with Nevada being the top state for divorce in 2022, with a rate of 4.2 divorces per 1,000 of the population, followed by Oklahoma, Arkansas, Idaho, and Wyoming. Marriage and divorce in Nevada Nevada has one of the highest marriage rates in the country, and Las Vegas is a popular wedding destination. Nevada is one of the few states in the U.S. that allows couples to get a marriage license and get married immediately afterwards. In addition, Nevada is a no-fault divorce state, which means that couples do not need to address the reason behind the divorce. Divorced couples in the U.S. In recent years, the number of divorced individuals over age 50 in the U.S. seems to have surpassed the number of those who were under the age of 30, but whether or not the younger generation remains married longer than generations past remains to be seen. Additionally, far more children of divorced parents lived with a female single parent, rather than a male single parent.

According to a survey conducted in the United States, the average cost for a honeymoon in 2021 was 4.8 thousand U.S. dollars when travelling by plane. If choosing car, the average spending dropped to 2.2 thousand U.S. dollars.

According to a survey conducted in the United States, 43 percent of American couples changed location of their honeymoon due to the coronavirus pandemic. About 41 percent of respondents, instead, said that they postponed the initial honeymoon date.

In 2022, there were about 670,000 divorces conducted in the United States. This is a decrease from the previous year, when there were about 690,000 divorces conducted nationwide.

This statistic shows the number of divorced individuals in the United States in 2021, by age and sex. In 2021, about 1.97 million women in the U.S. between the ages of 50 and 54 were divorced.

In 2022, the marriage rate in the United States stood at 6.2 per 1,000 people of the population. This is a decrease from 1990 levels, when the marriage rate was 9.8 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. Marriage is 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 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.

Although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, the decennial census is the official source of population totals for April 1st of each decennial year. In between censuses, the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities, and towns and estimates of housing units and the group quarters population for states and counties..Information about the American Community Survey (ACS) can be found on the ACS website. Supporting documentation including code lists, subject definitions, data accuracy, and statistical testing, and a full list of ACS tables and table shells (without estimates) can be found on the Technical Documentation section of the ACS website.Sample size and data quality measures (including coverage rates, allocation rates, and response rates) can be found on the American Community Survey website in the Methodology section..Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates.ACS data generally reflect the geographic boundaries of legal and statistical areas as of January 1 of the estimate year. For more information, see Geography Boundaries by Year..Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing a 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. In addition to sampling variability, the ACS estimates are subject to nonsampling error (for a discussion of nonsampling variability, see ACS Technical Documentation). The effect of nonsampling error is not represented in these tables..Users must consider potential differences in geographic boundaries, questionnaire content or coding, or other methodological issues when comparing ACS data from different years. Statistically significant differences shown in ACS Comparison Profiles, or in data users' own analysis, may be the result of these differences and thus might not necessarily reflect changes to the social, economic, housing, or demographic characteristics being compared. For more information, see Comparing ACS Data..Divorce estimates may vary from the divorce data released by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) because of differences in methodology and data collection. NCHS uses information collected on divorce decrees from states providing them. From these administrative records, NCHS then publishes information about couples who divorced in a calendar year. In contrast, the ACS collects survey-based reports from individuals as to whether or not they divorced in the last 12 months. We recommend using caution when comparing the NCHS estimates to the ACS estimates of divorces..Estimates of urban and rural populations, housing units, and characteristics reflect boundaries of urban areas defined based on 2020 Census data. As a result, data for urban and rural areas from the ACS do not necessarily reflect the results of ongoing urbanization..Explanation of Symbols:- The estimate could not be computed because there were an insufficient number of sample observations. For a ratio of medians estimate, one or both of the median estimates falls in the lowest interval or highest interval of an open-ended distribution. For a 5-year median estimate, the margin of error associated with a median was larger than the median itself.N The estimate or margin of error cannot be displayed because there were an insufficient number of sample cases in the selected geographic area. (X) The estimate or margin of error is not applicable or not available.median- The median falls in the lowest interval of an open-ended distribution (for example "2,500-")median+ The median falls in the highest interval of an open-ended distribution (for example "250,000+").** The margin of error could not be computed because there were an insufficient number of sample observations.*** The margin of error could not be computed because the median falls in the lowest interval or highest interval of an open-ended distribution.***** A margin of error is not appropriate because the corresponding estimate is controlled to an independent population or housing estimate. Effectively, the corresponding estimate has no sampling error and the margin of error may be treated as zero.

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.

In 2023, there were about 15.09 million children living with a single mother in the United States, and about 3.05 million children living with a single father. The number of children living with a single mother is down from its peak in 2012, and the number of children living with a single father is down from its peak in 2005.

Marriage and divorce in the United States

Despite popular opinion in the United States that “half of all marriages end in divorce,” the divorce rate in the U.S. has fallen significantly since 1992. The marriage rate, which has also been decreasing since the 1990s, was still higher than the divorce rate in 2021. Half of all marriages may not end in divorce, but it does seem that fewer people are choosing to get married in the first place.

New family structures

In addition to a falling marriage rate, fewer people in the U.S. have children under the age of 18 living in the house in comparison to 1970. Over the past decade, the share of families with children under 18, whether that be married couples or single parents, has stayed mostly steady, although the number of births in the U.S. has also fallen.

The global divorce services market is experiencing significant growth, driven by rising divorce rates, increased awareness of mental health, and the growing accessibility of online therapy and counseling platforms. The market, segmented by application (male and female) and type of service (divorce counseling, evaluation, and others), shows strong potential for expansion. While precise figures for market size and CAGR are not provided, a reasonable estimation based on industry reports and growth trends in related sectors suggests a market valued in the billions, experiencing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 8-10% between 2025 and 2033. This growth is propelled by several key factors, including increased societal acceptance of divorce, higher levels of stress and relationship conflict in modern life, and the increasing affordability and convenience of online divorce support resources. The convenience and anonymity offered by online platforms like ReGain, BetterHelp, and Calmerry are significantly contributing to market expansion, especially among younger demographics. The market's regional distribution reflects global trends in divorce rates and economic development. North America and Europe currently hold the largest market shares, due to higher disposable incomes and established mental healthcare infrastructure. However, rapid growth is anticipated in Asia-Pacific regions driven by increasing urbanization, changing social norms, and rising awareness around mental well-being. Restraints to market growth include the stigma associated with divorce in some cultures, the lack of access to affordable services in developing countries, and concerns regarding data privacy and security in online platforms. The ongoing evolution of technology and the integration of artificial intelligence within mental health platforms are likely to further shape the market landscape, offering personalized and efficient services. Future growth will be determined by the expansion of affordable, accessible, and culturally sensitive services across diverse regions.

As of 2023, the divorce rate in China decreased to 2.6 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 0.96 divorces per 1,000 people in 2000 to 3.36 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 1.9 divorces per 1,000 inhabitants in the last ten years and the divorce rate in South Korea has fallen from 2.5 in 2009 to 1.8 in 2023. In comparison, the U.S. divorce rate has been falling since 1992 from 4.8 divorces per 1,000 people to 2.4 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.

Divorce records are often a valuable source of information for researchers, as they can provide sometimes difficult to find information like a couple's date of marriage, the names of children, and a woman's maiden name. They also allow a fascinating insight into the values and mores surrounding marriage at the time.

Connecticut began granting divorces in the mid-17th century, although only very, very sparingly at first. In the beginning only the General Assembly could grant a divorce; as the court system developed this eventually became mainly the purview of the superior courts, although the General Assembly continued to grant divorces until the early 20th century.

This index is a combination of several different indexes created by Connecticut State Library staff over a period of many years. It contains divorce records for the following counties and dates:

Fairfield: 1712-1941 Hartford: 1712-1953 Litchfield: 1751-1798, 1899-1927* Middlesex: 1786-1904 New Haven: 1712-1944 New London: 1712-1798* Tolland: 1786-1937 Windham: 1712-1798, 1907-1921* It also contains divorces granted by the General Assembly for 1655-1915.

Divorce records for Litchfield, New London, and Windham Counties that fall in years not included in this list can be found in two books compiled by Barbara B. Ferris and Grace Louise Knox in the 1980s, located in the History & Genealogy reading room:

• Connecticut divorces: Superior court records for the counties of New London, Tolland & Windham, 1719-1910
• Connecticut divorces: Superior Court records for the counties of Litchfield, 1752-1922 and Hartford, 1740-1849

Each entry in this list has a location of either a record or a file. Records are a brief summary of the case and the court's verdict that can be found in court record books. Files may have more information, such as the original divorce petition, statements from the litigants and witnesses, costs, and other material.

To request a digital of physical copy of a record or file, please contact the staff of the History & Genealogy Unit by telephone (860) 757-6580 or email. There may be a small fee, depending on the size of the order and whether you would like a digital or physical copy. When requesting a copy of a record or file, please include the information from the relevant entry in the index. You are also more than welcome to visit the Connecticut State Library to see these materials for yourself!

Note: Several volumes have extra, non-numbered pages at the end; these are denoted by a typographical mark and the word “misc.” *The February, 1769 term of the Superior Court in Fairfield is filed in a folder in the state archives RG 003, Superior Court Fairfield County Records/Dockets, Box 51. **Volume 19 contains miscellaneous papers at the end of the numbered pages. These papers are mostly in chronological order, and include court files, invoices, and the records of a few Superior Court terms. †Volume 21 contains miscellaneous papers at the end of the numbered pages. These papers are mostly in chronological order, and include court files and records for certain Superior Court terms. ††Volume 22 contains miscellaneous papers at the end of the numbered pages. These papers are mostly in chronological order, and include court files and records for certain Superior Court terms. ‡ Volume 28 contains miscellaneous papers at the end of the numbered pages. Some of these are a continuation of the August, 1793 session of the court at Litchfield.

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.

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.

This statistic shows the number of divorced individuals under the age of 30 in the United States in 2019, by state. In 2019, 80,533 individuals in Texas under the age of 30 were divorced.

In the United States, significantly more children under the age of 18 live with a female divorced parent than a male divorced parent. In 2021, about 14,000 children under the age of one lived with their divorced, single father, compared with 34,000 children of the same age who lived with their divorced single mother.

In 2022, there were 67.85 million married men and 68.45 million married women living in the United States. This is compared to 3.7 million widowed men and 11.48 million widowed women.

Marriage in the United States

Nevada had the highest marriage rate in the United States in 2021, followed by Hawaii and Montana. This can be attributed to marriage accessibility in the state. Las Vegas weddings are known for being quick, easy, and inexpensive chapel weddings. In comparison to the cheap weddings available in Las Vegas, the average expenditure for a wedding in the United States was the highest in New Jersey, clocking in at 51,000 U.S. dollars.

Same-sex marriage

The number of Americans who think that same-sex marriage should be recognized by law has more than doubled since 1996, while the number of Americans who think it should not be valid has decreased. It was not until June 26, 2015 that the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states. Before then, it was up to the states to decide if they allowed same-sex marriage. States in the Southeast are the most opposed to same-sex marriage, whereas the strongest support comes from Northern coastal states.