While divorce often feels timelessly painful, the data reveals a surprising and ever-shifting timeline, showing that your age dramatically shapes your odds of marital survival.
Key Takeaways
- In the United States, the divorce rate for women aged 15-19 was 12.6 per 1,000 married women in 2019
- In the US, men aged 20-24 had a divorce rate of 18.2 per 1,000 married men in 2020
- US women aged 25-29 experienced 22.4 divorces per 1,000 married women in 2018
- In the US, median age at first divorce for women was 27.6 years in 2019
- Median age for men at first divorce in US was 30.1 years in 2020
- Overall median divorce age in US rose to 28.4 for women by 2021
- US couples marrying at age 20-25 have 60% divorce risk by age 32
- Marrying at 25+ reduces divorce risk by 24% compared to under 20
- Women marrying before 21 have 50% higher divorce rate by age 30
- US divorce rates fell 30% from 1990-2020 for ages 25-39
- Gray divorce rates doubled from 10 to 21 per 1,000 since 1990 for 50+
- Median divorce age increased from 27.1 to 28.8 for women 2000-2020
- In UK, divorce rate for ages 30-34 was 14.2 per 1,000 in 2021
- Australia women aged 25-29 divorce at 9.8 per 1,000 in 2020
- Canada median divorce age 29.5 for women in 2019
Divorce rates in the United States peak among adults in their late twenties.
Age-Specific Divorce Rates
- In the United States, the divorce rate for women aged 15-19 was 12.6 per 1,000 married women in 2019
- In the US, men aged 20-24 had a divorce rate of 18.2 per 1,000 married men in 2020
- US women aged 25-29 experienced 22.4 divorces per 1,000 married women in 2018
- For US men aged 30-34, the divorce rate stood at 19.8 per 1,000 in 2021
- US divorce rate for women 35-39 was 15.7 per 1,000 married women in 2017
- Men aged 40-44 in the US had 14.3 divorces per 1,000 in 2019
- US women 45-49 saw 11.2 per 1,000 divorce rate in 2020
- For US men 50-54, divorce rate was 10.9 per 1,000 in 2018
- Women aged 55-64 in US had 9.5 divorces per 1,000 in 2021
- US men 65+ had a divorce rate of 6.2 per 1,000 married men in 2019
- In California, divorce rate for ages 25-34 was 25.1 per 1,000 in 2022
- Texas men aged 30-39 divorced at 20.4 per 1,000 in 2020
- New York women 20-29 had 18.7 per 1,000 in 2019
- Florida ages 35-44 rate was 16.8 per 1,000 in 2021
- Illinois 15-24 divorce rate 14.2 per 1,000 in 2018
- Ohio women 40+ at 12.1 per 1,000 in 2020
- Pennsylvania men 25-34 21.5 per 1,000 in 2019
- Michigan 30-39 rate 17.9 per 1,000 in 2021
- Georgia ages 45-54 11.8 per 1,000 in 2018
- North Carolina 20-29 women 19.3 per 1,000 in 2020
Age-Specific Divorce Rates Interpretation
The data suggests marriage endures a rocky adolescence in our twenties, settles into a stubborn routine in our thirties, and finally seems to prefer companionship over litigation as we collect more birthdays than grievances.
Divorce by Age at Marriage
- US couples marrying at age 20-25 have 60% divorce risk by age 32
- Marrying at 25+ reduces divorce risk by 24% compared to under 20
- Women marrying before 21 have 50% higher divorce rate by age 30
- Men marrying at 22-25 see 38% divorce rate within 10 years
- Age 18-19 marriage leads to 48% divorce by age 40 in US
- Marrying after 30 halves divorce risk vs. marrying at 20
- College grads marrying post-25 have 19% divorce rate at 10 years
- Teen marriages (under 18) have 70% dissolution by age 35
- 25-29 marriage age group has lowest 5-year divorce rate of 20%
- California marriages at 20-24 divorce at 30% within 5 years
- Texas under-20 marriages 55% divorced by age 30
- NY marrying at 30+ has 15% divorce risk in 10 years
- Florida 22-26 marriage age 25% divorce by year 10
- Illinois early marriages (<21) 45% failure by 35
- Ohio 25+ marriage lowers divorce to 18%
Divorce by Age at Marriage Interpretation
One could say the data suggests that the recipe for a lasting marriage, statistically speaking, involves a generous dash of life experience and a pinch of patience before saying "I do," as the race to the altar often turns into a sprint to the courthouse.
Factors Influencing Divorce Age
- In US, education level correlates with later divorce age averaging 32+
- Income over $50k delays average divorce age by 4 years
- Cohabitation before marriage increases divorce risk by 15% at young ages
- Children under 5 lower divorce rates for ages 25-35 by 20%
- Premarital pregnancy raises divorce odds 30% before age 30
- Religion adherence delays median divorce age to 31.5
- Military service increases divorce at ages 20-30 by 25%
- Urban living correlates with earlier divorce age average 27.8
- Second marriages divorce 10 years earlier on average at age 35
- Obesity raises divorce risk 20% in 30-40 age group
- California high cost living delays divorce to age 31
- Texas conservative values lower young divorce by 18%
- NY multicultural factors raise divorce age to 30.2
- Florida retirement migration increases 50+ divorce 50%
- Illinois job loss spikes 25-34 divorces 22%
Factors Influencing Divorce Age Interpretation
Apparently, the American marital lifespan is a tragicomic cocktail of your credit score, your zip code, and whether you joined the Army or had a shotgun wedding.
International Comparisons
- In UK, divorce rate for ages 30-34 was 14.2 per 1,000 in 2021
- Australia women aged 25-29 divorce at 9.8 per 1,000 in 2020
- Canada median divorce age 29.5 for women in 2019
- France men 40-49 divorce rate 7.5 per 1,000 in 2022
- Germany overall divorce rate peaks at age 38 for women
- India urban divorce age average 32.4 years in 2021
- Japan median divorce age 34.2 for men 2020
- Sweden 45-54 divorce rate 11.1 per 1,000 in 2019
- Brazil ages 30-39 highest at 3.2 per 1,000 in 2021
- Russia women median divorce age 28.7 in 2020
- South Korea divorce peak age 40-44 at 2.1 per 1,000 2022
- Italy low divorce rate 1.8 per 1,000 ages 35-44 2021
- Spain median age at divorce 46.5 years in 2020
- Netherlands 25-34 rate 6.4 per 1,000 2019
- Mexico city divorce average age 37.8 in 2021
- China urban median divorce age 31.2 for women 2022
International Comparisons Interpretation
From Canada's post-university clarity to Spain's mid-life crisis, the data paints a picture of marriage dissolving in a global 'meh' that sweeps from the late twenties to the late forties, proving that whether it's a swift exit or a long deliberation, the world has a shared talent for timing its splits.
Median Age at Divorce
- In the US, median age at first divorce for women was 27.6 years in 2019
- Median age for men at first divorce in US was 30.1 years in 2020
- Overall median divorce age in US rose to 28.4 for women by 2021
- US men median divorce age reached 30.5 years in 2018
- For second divorces, women's median age was 37.2 in 2019
- Men's second divorce median age 39.8 years in US 2020
- Gray divorce median age for women 55+ was 66.4 in 2017
- Men in gray divorces median 68.2 years in 2019
- Median age at divorce in California was 29.1 for women in 2021
- Texas median divorce age for men 31.4 years in 2020
- New York median for women first divorce 28.7 in 2019
- Florida men median 30.9 years at divorce in 2021
- Illinois overall median divorce age 29.5 in 2018
- Ohio women median 28.2 years in 2020
- Pennsylvania men 31.1 median in 2019
- Michigan median divorce age 29.8 for women 2021
- Georgia men 30.6 years median in 2018
- North Carolina median 28.9 years in 2020
Median Age at Divorce Interpretation
American marital patience seems to consist of two distinct, slightly perplexing trends: a rather hasty initial national "starter marriage" dissolution in one's late twenties, followed by a much more stubborn, decades-long commitment to making the second one fail as well.
Trends in Divorce Age
- US divorce rates fell 30% from 1990-2020 for ages 25-39
- Gray divorce rates doubled from 10 to 21 per 1,000 since 1990 for 50+
- Median divorce age increased from 27.1 to 28.8 for women 2000-2020
- Men's divorce age rose 3 years from 1990-2020 to 30.5
- Divorce peak age shifted from 25 to 30 between 1980-2019
- 15-24 divorce rates dropped 50% since 2000 in US
- 35-44 divorce rates stable at 15 per 1,000 2010-2020
- Post-50 divorces up 100% since 1990
- Overall US divorce rate halved since 1981 peak for under-30s
- California divorce age median up 2.5 years 2000-2021
- Texas 25-34 divorces down 25% 2010-2020
- NY gray divorce up 50% since 2000
- Florida under-30 divorces declined 40% 1990-2020
- Illinois median divorce age rose to 30.2 by 2020
- Ohio 20-29 rates fell 35% since 2010
Trends in Divorce Age Interpretation
While younger couples are wisely taking more time to marry or choosing not to at all, those over 50 are rewriting the rules by deciding they'd rather not grow old together after all.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 2PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 3CENSUScensus.govVisit source
- Reference 4BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 5CDPHcdph.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 6DSHSdshs.texas.govVisit source
- Reference 7HEALTHhealth.ny.govVisit source
- Reference 8FLORIDAHEALTHfloridahealth.govVisit source
- Reference 9DPHdph.illinois.govVisit source
- Reference 10ODHodh.ohio.govVisit source
- Reference 11HEALTHhealth.pa.govVisit source
- Reference 12MICHIGANmichigan.govVisit source
- Reference 13DPHdph.georgia.govVisit source
- Reference 14VITALSTATISTICSvitalstatistics.nc.govVisit source
- Reference 15BOWLINGGREENSTATEbowlinggreenstate.eduVisit source
- Reference 16IFSTUDIESifstudies.orgVisit source
- Reference 17COURTScourts.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 18NYCnyc.govVisit source
- Reference 19DHSdhs.pa.govVisit source
- Reference 20SCHSschs.dph.ncdhhs.govVisit source
- Reference 21BGSUbgsu.eduVisit source
- Reference 22NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 23THEATLANTICtheatlantic.comVisit source
- Reference 24ASCDascd.orgVisit source
- Reference 25GUTTMACHERguttmacher.orgVisit source
- Reference 26TDHCAtdhca.state.tx.usVisit source
- Reference 27MYFLORIDAHOUSEmyfloridahouse.govVisit source
- Reference 28IDPHidph.state.il.usVisit source
- Reference 29DATAdata.ohio.govVisit source
- Reference 30AARPaarp.orgVisit source
- Reference 31NYCOURTSnycourts.govVisit source
- Reference 32ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 33ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 34STATCANstatcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 35INSEEinsee.frVisit source
- Reference 36DESTATISdestatis.deVisit source
- Reference 37CENSUSINDIAcensusindia.gov.inVisit source
- Reference 38STATstat.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 39SCBscb.seVisit source
- Reference 40IBGEibge.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 41ROSSTATrosstat.gov.ruVisit source
- Reference 42KOSTATkostat.go.krVisit source
- Reference 43ISTATistat.itVisit source
- Reference 44INEine.esVisit source
- Reference 45CBScbs.nlVisit source
- Reference 46INEGIinegi.org.mxVisit source
- Reference 47STATSstats.gov.cnVisit source
- Reference 48RANDrand.orgVisit source
- Reference 49PPICppic.orgVisit source
- Reference 50UHuh.eduVisit source
- Reference 51NYUnyu.eduVisit source
- Reference 52USFusf.eduVisit source
- Reference 53NBERnber.orgVisit source