When you walk down the aisle to meet the love of your life and say “I do,” you do not expect to dissolve your union at any point.
However, life is unpredictable and people change over time. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the divorce rate for U.S. residents from reporting states and the District of Columbia is 2.9 per 1,000 people.
In which year of marriage is the risk of divorce highest?
An estimated 41 percent of first marriages end in divorce. The likelihood of divorce is even higher in subsequent marriages.
Gray divorce refers to the uncoupling of adults over the age of 50. Since 1990, the national divorce rate has doubled. It is even higher for gray divorce parties over 65. The aging population is seeking marriage dissolution now more than ever before.
Why are divorce statistics on the decline?
CDC data suggest that the total number of marriages in the U.S. is approximately 2,132,853. On average, the divorce rate in 2022 is lower than it was a decade ago. A few potential reasons for this decline include:
- More couples are opting for cohabitation without legal marriage
- Millennials are waiting longer to get married than previous generations
- Higher education levels for women correlate with longer-lasting marriages
- Not all separated couples file for legal divorce
- The Coronavirus pandemic has delayed divorce proceedings across the nation in recent years
Marriage is a big commitment, but if yours fails, it is not the end of the world. You and your partner deserve to be happy and healthy whether you choose to remain attached or go your separate ways.
