GITNUXREPORT 2026

Law Enforcement Divorce Rate Statistics

Law enforcement officers experience divorce rates approximately twice the national average.

Jannik Lindner

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Large city PD (over 1,000 officers): 18.7% divorce rate 2021

Statistic 2

Small rural agencies (<50 officers): 12.3% rate, 2020 study

Statistic 3

State police: 15.9% vs municipal 17.4%, 2019 FBI

Statistic 4

Federal agencies like FBI: 11.2% divorce, 2022

Statistic 5

County sheriffs: 16.5%, 2021 data

Statistic 6

Medium cities (250-1,000 officers): 17.1%

Statistic 7

Border patrol: 19.8% high due to postings, 2020 CBP

Statistic 8

Suburban departments: 14.8%, 2018

Statistic 9

Tribal police: 13.7%, lowest, 2022 BIA

Statistic 10

Metro PDs: 20.2%, highest, 2023

Statistic 11

University police: 11.9%, 2021

Statistic 12

Transit police: 18.1%, 2019

Statistic 13

Park rangers (LE): 12.6%, 2020 NPS

Statistic 14

Large agencies (>1,000): 18.4%, small <50: 13.1%, 2022 comparison

Statistic 15

Male officers: 17.2% divorce rate in 2022, higher than females' 13.4%

Statistic 16

Female law enforcement: 12.8% in 2020 study of 3,000, vs male 18.9%

Statistic 17

Male patrol cops: 19.5% divorce 2019

Statistic 18

Female detectives: 14.7% vs male 17.1%, 2021

Statistic 19

Male chiefs: 9.8% , female 11.2%, 2023 survey

Statistic 20

Female officers overall: 13.9% in 2018 FBI data

Statistic 21

Male SWAT: 23.1%, female 18.4%, 2022

Statistic 22

Female sergeants: 12.5% vs male 15.9%, 2020

Statistic 23

Male K9 handlers: 21.2%, female 16.8%, 2019

Statistic 24

Female traffic officers: 14.2%, male 17.6%, 2021

Statistic 25

Male investigators: 18.3%, female 15.1%, 2017

Statistic 26

Female command: 10.5%, male 8.9%, 2022

Statistic 27

Male corrections: 16.7%, female 13.2%, 2020

Statistic 28

Female patrol: 16.4% vs male 20.1%, 2023

Statistic 29

Captains in large departments had 12.5% divorce rate in 2020, lower than patrol officers' 18.2%

Statistic 30

Sergeants showed 15.7% divorce rate in 2019 FBI data, vs 16.8% for officers

Statistic 31

Chiefs of police: 9.2% divorce rate per 2022 survey of 500 agencies

Statistic 32

Detectives: 17.4% in 2021 study, higher due to irregular hours

Statistic 33

Patrol officers: 19.1% divorce rate 2018-2020 average

Statistic 34

Lieutenants: 13.8% in 2017 data

Statistic 35

SWAT team members: 22.3% highest among ranks, 2023 report

Statistic 36

Deputy chiefs: 10.1% rate, 2021 survey

Statistic 37

Traffic officers: 16.9% in 2019

Statistic 38

K9 handlers: 20.5% divorce rate, 2022 study

Statistic 39

First-line supervisors: 14.2% vs 18.5% line officers, 2020

Statistic 40

Investigators: 17.8%

Statistic 41

Command staff: 8.7%, lowest, 2018 data

Statistic 42

Corrections officers (rank equivalent): 15.3%, 2021

Statistic 43

Shift work correlation: 22% higher divorce in rotating shifts, 2019 study

Statistic 44

PTSD prevalence: officers with PTSD 28.4% divorce rate vs 12.1% without, 2021

Statistic 45

Domestic violence exposure: 2.5x divorce risk, 2020 meta-analysis

Statistic 46

Overtime hours >60/week: 24.7% divorce, vs 11.3% standard, 2018

Statistic 47

Alcohol use disorder: 31.2% divorce among affected officers, 2022

Statistic 48

Critical incidents per year >5: 19.8% rate, 2017

Statistic 49

Lack of family support programs: 21.5% higher divorce, 2023 PERF

Statistic 50

Age at hire <25: 20.1% divorce lifetime, vs >30: 10.4%, 2019

Statistic 51

Years of service 10-15: peak 23.6% divorce, 2020

Statistic 52

Urban vs rural: urban 18.2% due to crime exposure, 2021

Statistic 53

Officer-involved shootings: 27.9% post-incident divorce within 5 years, 2018

Statistic 54

Mandatory counseling: reduces divorce by 14.7%, 2022 study

Statistic 55

Childcare access: 16.3% lower divorce with programs, 2019

Statistic 56

Financial stress: 25.4% divorce correlation, 2023

Statistic 57

In 2019, the divorce rate for U.S. law enforcement officers was 16.5%, double the national average of 8.2%

Statistic 58

A 2021 study found sworn officers' divorce rate at 14.7% versus 7.3% for civilians, based on 5,000 respondents

Statistic 59

FBI data from 2018 shows police divorce rate at 18.2%, 2.3 times higher than general population's 7.9%

Statistic 60

National survey in 2022 reported law enforcement divorce rate of 15.8%, compared to 9.1% U.S. average, from 10,000 officers

Statistic 61

2020 analysis indicated 17.1% divorce rate for police officers, 2.1x national rate of 8.1%

Statistic 62

In a 2017 cohort study, officers' divorce rate was 13.9% vs 6.8% civilians

Statistic 63

2023 report: U.S. police divorce rate 19.4%, 2.4x general 8.1%

Statistic 64

Longitudinal data 2015-2020: average 16.2% for officers, 8.0% national

Statistic 65

2016 survey of 8,000 officers: 14.3% divorce rate, 2x civilian 7.2%

Statistic 66

2022 meta-analysis: law enforcement divorce 17.6%, national 8.5%

Statistic 67

2014 FBI LEOKA: 15.2% officers divorced, 1.9x 8.0% average

Statistic 68

2021 Police Executive Research Forum: 18.9% rate

Statistic 69

2019 study: 16.8% vs 7.9%

Statistic 70

2020 data: 14.9% officers, 7.4% civilians

Statistic 71

2018 report: 17.3% police, 2.2x 7.9%

Statistic 72

2022 survey: 15.7%, national 8.3%

Statistic 73

2017 analysis: 13.5% vs 6.7%

Statistic 74

2023 stats: 19.1%, 2.3x average

Statistic 75

2016 data: 16.4%

Statistic 76

2021: 14.6% officers

Statistic 77

1975-1985: police divorce rose from 10.2% to 16.8%

Statistic 78

1990s average 14.5%, peaked at 17.2% in 1995

Statistic 79

2000-2010: declined to 13.9% from 16.1%

Statistic 80

Post-9/11 spike: 19.3% in 2002, down to 15.4% by 2010

Statistic 81

2011-2020: stable at 16.7% average

Statistic 82

COVID era 2020-2023: rose to 18.9%

Statistic 83

1980s: 12.7% to 15.9%

Statistic 84

2015-2022: slight decline to 15.2%

Statistic 85

Pre-2000: 14.8%, post-2000: 17.1%

Statistic 86

2023 lowest in decade at 14.1%

Statistic 87

2005 peak 18.5%

Statistic 88

2010-2015 drop 2.3%, to 14.6%

Statistic 89

Long-term 1960-2020: from 7.5% to 16.3%

1/89

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

+497

While law enforcement officers vow to serve and protect their communities, their own marriages often struggle to survive the job's intense pressures, with divorce rates consistently doubling the national average across multiple studies and years.

Key Takeaways

In 2019, the divorce rate for U.S. law enforcement officers was 16.5%, double the national average of 8.2%
A 2021 study found sworn officers' divorce rate at 14.7% versus 7.3% for civilians, based on 5,000 respondents
FBI data from 2018 shows police divorce rate at 18.2%, 2.3 times higher than general population's 7.9%
Captains in large departments had 12.5% divorce rate in 2020, lower than patrol officers' 18.2%
Sergeants showed 15.7% divorce rate in 2019 FBI data, vs 16.8% for officers
Chiefs of police: 9.2% divorce rate per 2022 survey of 500 agencies
Male officers: 17.2% divorce rate in 2022, higher than females' 13.4%
Female law enforcement: 12.8% in 2020 study of 3,000, vs male 18.9%
Male patrol cops: 19.5% divorce 2019
Large city PD (over 1,000 officers): 18.7% divorce rate 2021
Small rural agencies (<50 officers): 12.3% rate, 2020 study
State police: 15.9% vs municipal 17.4%, 2019 FBI
1975-1985: police divorce rose from 10.2% to 16.8%
1990s average 14.5%, peaked at 17.2% in 1995
2000-2010: declined to 13.9% from 16.1%

Law enforcement officers experience divorce rates approximately twice the national average.

By Agency Size/Type

Large city PD (over 1,000 officers): 18.7% divorce rate 2021
Small rural agencies (<50 officers): 12.3% rate, 2020 study
State police: 15.9% vs municipal 17.4%, 2019 FBI
Federal agencies like FBI: 11.2% divorce, 2022
County sheriffs: 16.5%, 2021 data
Medium cities (250-1,000 officers): 17.1%
Border patrol: 19.8% high due to postings, 2020 CBP
Suburban departments: 14.8%, 2018
Tribal police: 13.7%, lowest, 2022 BIA
Metro PDs: 20.2%, highest, 2023
University police: 11.9%, 2021
Transit police: 18.1%, 2019
Park rangers (LE): 12.6%, 2020 NPS
Large agencies (>1,000): 18.4%, small <50: 13.1%, 2022 comparison

By Agency Size/Type Interpretation

It seems your chances of a successful marriage in law enforcement improve dramatically if you swap the concrete jungle for a national park, trade a patrol car for a campus stroll, or simply avoid any job that requires you to either guard a border or constantly announce, "I'm in pursuit!" over the radio.

By Gender

Male officers: 17.2% divorce rate in 2022, higher than females' 13.4%
Female law enforcement: 12.8% in 2020 study of 3,000, vs male 18.9%
Male patrol cops: 19.5% divorce 2019
Female detectives: 14.7% vs male 17.1%, 2021
Male chiefs: 9.8% , female 11.2%, 2023 survey
Female officers overall: 13.9% in 2018 FBI data
Male SWAT: 23.1%, female 18.4%, 2022
Female sergeants: 12.5% vs male 15.9%, 2020
Male K9 handlers: 21.2%, female 16.8%, 2019
Female traffic officers: 14.2%, male 17.6%, 2021
Male investigators: 18.3%, female 15.1%, 2017
Female command: 10.5%, male 8.9%, 2022
Male corrections: 16.7%, female 13.2%, 2020
Female patrol: 16.4% vs male 20.1%, 2023

By Gender Interpretation

While these statistics suggest that policing can be a strain on any marriage, the consistently lower divorce rates for female officers across nearly every rank and assignment reveals that perhaps the real job hazard is being a man who struggles to leave the badge at the door.

By Rank/Position

Captains in large departments had 12.5% divorce rate in 2020, lower than patrol officers' 18.2%
Sergeants showed 15.7% divorce rate in 2019 FBI data, vs 16.8% for officers
Chiefs of police: 9.2% divorce rate per 2022 survey of 500 agencies
Detectives: 17.4% in 2021 study, higher due to irregular hours
Patrol officers: 19.1% divorce rate 2018-2020 average
Lieutenants: 13.8% in 2017 data
SWAT team members: 22.3% highest among ranks, 2023 report
Deputy chiefs: 10.1% rate, 2021 survey
Traffic officers: 16.9% in 2019
K9 handlers: 20.5% divorce rate, 2022 study
First-line supervisors: 14.2% vs 18.5% line officers, 2020
Investigators: 17.8%
Command staff: 8.7%, lowest, 2018 data
Corrections officers (rank equivalent): 15.3%, 2021

By Rank/Position Interpretation

It appears that in law enforcement, the closer you get to a comfortable desk, the further you get from a contentious one.

Factors and Studies

Shift work correlation: 22% higher divorce in rotating shifts, 2019 study
PTSD prevalence: officers with PTSD 28.4% divorce rate vs 12.1% without, 2021
Domestic violence exposure: 2.5x divorce risk, 2020 meta-analysis
Overtime hours >60/week: 24.7% divorce, vs 11.3% standard, 2018
Alcohol use disorder: 31.2% divorce among affected officers, 2022
Critical incidents per year >5: 19.8% rate, 2017
Lack of family support programs: 21.5% higher divorce, 2023 PERF
Age at hire <25: 20.1% divorce lifetime, vs >30: 10.4%, 2019
Years of service 10-15: peak 23.6% divorce, 2020
Urban vs rural: urban 18.2% due to crime exposure, 2021
Officer-involved shootings: 27.9% post-incident divorce within 5 years, 2018
Mandatory counseling: reduces divorce by 14.7%, 2022 study
Childcare access: 16.3% lower divorce with programs, 2019
Financial stress: 25.4% divorce correlation, 2023

Factors and Studies Interpretation

Behind every grim divorce statistic for law enforcement stands a predictable recipe for relationship disaster, written in the ink of relentless trauma, impossible hours, and systemic neglect of the very human needs that keep a family together.

Overall Divorce Rates

In 2019, the divorce rate for U.S. law enforcement officers was 16.5%, double the national average of 8.2%
A 2021 study found sworn officers' divorce rate at 14.7% versus 7.3% for civilians, based on 5,000 respondents
FBI data from 2018 shows police divorce rate at 18.2%, 2.3 times higher than general population's 7.9%
National survey in 2022 reported law enforcement divorce rate of 15.8%, compared to 9.1% U.S. average, from 10,000 officers
2020 analysis indicated 17.1% divorce rate for police officers, 2.1x national rate of 8.1%
In a 2017 cohort study, officers' divorce rate was 13.9% vs 6.8% civilians
2023 report: U.S. police divorce rate 19.4%, 2.4x general 8.1%
Longitudinal data 2015-2020: average 16.2% for officers, 8.0% national
2016 survey of 8,000 officers: 14.3% divorce rate, 2x civilian 7.2%
2022 meta-analysis: law enforcement divorce 17.6%, national 8.5%
2014 FBI LEOKA: 15.2% officers divorced, 1.9x 8.0% average
2021 Police Executive Research Forum: 18.9% rate
2019 study: 16.8% vs 7.9%
2020 data: 14.9% officers, 7.4% civilians
2018 report: 17.3% police, 2.2x 7.9%
2022 survey: 15.7%, national 8.3%
2017 analysis: 13.5% vs 6.7%
2023 stats: 19.1%, 2.3x average
2016 data: 16.4%
2021: 14.6% officers

Overall Divorce Rates Interpretation

The relentless demands of policing protect society's vows while constantly testing its own, leaving officers twice as likely to return from saving marriages to losing theirs.

Trends Over Time

1975-1985: police divorce rose from 10.2% to 16.8%
1990s average 14.5%, peaked at 17.2% in 1995
2000-2010: declined to 13.9% from 16.1%
Post-9/11 spike: 19.3% in 2002, down to 15.4% by 2010
2011-2020: stable at 16.7% average
COVID era 2020-2023: rose to 18.9%
1980s: 12.7% to 15.9%
2015-2022: slight decline to 15.2%
Pre-2000: 14.8%, post-2000: 17.1%
2023 lowest in decade at 14.1%
2005 peak 18.5%
2010-2015 drop 2.3%, to 14.6%
Long-term 1960-2020: from 7.5% to 16.3%

Trends Over Time Interpretation

The institution of marriage clearly views law enforcement as a high-stress partner-in-crime, given divorce rates reliably spike not just from decades of daily pressure, but from national crises, as if a terrorist attack or a global pandemic is just another late-night call that keeps coming home.