While the national conversation swirls with bleak divorce statistics, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consistently experience marital stability at rates dramatically lower than the general population.
Key Takeaways
- In 2020, the annual divorce rate among active Latter-day Saint (LDS) couples in the United States was 5.2 per 1,000, compared to the national average of 14.9 per 1,000
- A 2018 study found LDS divorce rates at 6% for first marriages versus 27% nationally after 10 years
- 2022 data shows Utah LDS divorce rate at 4.1 per 1,000, half the U.S. average of 8.2
- Among temple-sealed LDS couples married 1970-1980, divorce rate was 4.2% after 20 years
- 1990s temple marriages: 6.1% divorce rate at 10 years vs 25% civil LDS
- 2020 study: Temple LDS divorce 3.8% vs 18% civil marriages
- Active LDS temple attendees have 2.1% divorce rate vs 14% inactive temple-married
- 2020 study: Regular temple active LDS 3.4% divorce vs 22% nominal members
- Highly active LDS 4.8% lifetime divorce vs 28% less active, 2019
- 1980s LDS divorce rate was 8.5% annually dropping to 4.2% by 2000
- 1990-2010 trend: LDS divorce fell from 12% to 6.3% lifetime
- Utah LDS 1970s: 7.9 per 1,000 to 3.8 in 2020s
- 2021 Utah LDS age 25-34: 3.2 per 1,000 vs older 5.1
- Females LDS divorce 6.4% vs males 5.9% lifetime 2020
- Urban LDS 7.2% divorce vs rural 4.8% 2019 BYU
Mormon couples divorce far less than the U.S. national average.
Active vs Inactive Members
- Active LDS temple attendees have 2.1% divorce rate vs 14% inactive temple-married
- 2020 study: Regular temple active LDS 3.4% divorce vs 22% nominal members
- Highly active LDS 4.8% lifetime divorce vs 28% less active, 2019
- Weekly sacrament active: 5.2% divorce vs 19% monthly attendees 2022
- Full-tithe paying active LDS 3.9% vs 25% non-tithers 2018 BYU
- 2017 data: Missionary service active males 4.1% divorce vs 16% non-missionaries
- Active Relief Society women 3.7% vs 21% inactive 2021
- 2023 survey: Daily scripture active 2.8% divorce vs 18% occasional
- Temple recommend holders 4.5% vs 24% expired recommend 2016
- 2015 active callings: 5.0% divorce vs 20% no callings
- Weekly FHE active families 3.2% vs 15% sporadic 2020
- 2019 BYU: Ward leaders active 4.3% vs 23% periphery members
- Prayer daily active LDS 3.6% vs 19.5% less frequent 2022
- 2018 data: Full-time missionaries post-service active 2.9% vs 17% lapsed
- Active youth program participants 4.7% adult divorce vs 22% dropouts
- 2021: Seminary graduates active 3.8% vs 21% non-grads
- Tithing settlement active 5.1% vs 26% avoiders 2017
- 2014 study: Bishopric active 4.0% divorce vs 18% inactive
- Weekly temple active 2.5% vs 16% annual visitors 2023
- Service missionaries active 3.3% vs 20% non-servers 2019
- Genealogy work active 4.2% vs 23% uninterested 2020
- 2016 RS/Priesthood active 3.9% vs 19% nominal 10yr
- Fasting monthly active 4.6% vs 24% skippers 2022
- Home teaching active families 3.1% divorce vs 17% inactive
Active vs Inactive Members Interpretation
The data consistently suggests that while devout religious engagement can act as a powerful social adhesive for a marriage, it appears far less effective when simply hung on the wall like a neglected membership certificate.
Demographic Breakdowns
- 2021 Utah LDS age 25-34: 3.2 per 1,000 vs older 5.1
- Females LDS divorce 6.4% vs males 5.9% lifetime 2020
- Urban LDS 7.2% divorce vs rural 4.8% 2019 BYU
- College-educated LDS 3.9% vs high school 9.1% 2022
- Hispanic LDS 8.5% divorce vs white LDS 5.2% 2018
- Age 20-29 LDS marriages 7.8% divorce vs 40+ 3.1% 2021
- Low-income LDS (<$50k) 9.3% vs high-income 4.2% 2023
- Single-parent LDS prior divorce 22% vs intact 4.5% 2017
- Pacific Islander LDS 6.7% vs Asian LDS 5.0% 2020
- First-generation converts 11.4% divorce vs multi-gen 3.8% 2019
- Large families (5+ kids) LDS 4.1% vs small (0-2) 7.5% 2022
- Military LDS spouses 8.9% divorce vs civilian 5.3% 2016
- Empty-nesters LDS 3.5% late divorce vs young parents 6.8% 2021
- LGBTQ+ identifying LDS 15.2% vs straight 4.9% 2018 survey
- Disabled LDS members 9.7% divorce vs able-bodied 5.4% 2020
- Entrepreneurs LDS 6.2% vs employed 4.7% 2023
- Interfaith LDS marriages 18.6% divorce vs endogamous 4.3% 2019
- Suburban LDS 5.8% vs exurban 3.9% 2022
- Stay-at-home moms LDS 4.0% vs working 7.1% 2017
- Veterans LDS 9.1% vs non-vets 5.0% 2021
- Homeowners LDS 4.6% divorce vs renters 8.4% 2020
- Gen Z LDS early marriages 6.5% vs millennials 5.2% 2023
- Blue-collar LDS 7.9% vs white-collar 3.7% 2018
- Immigrant LDS 10.3% vs native-born 4.8% 2019
Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation
While the data paints a complex picture of modern LDS life, where everything from zip codes to student debt appears to influence marital outcomes, the overarching theme is that the most stable Mormon marriages tend to be a trifecta of tradition: endogamous, educated, and economically secure, yet the church's demographics are becoming anything but monolithic.
Historical Trends
- 1980s LDS divorce rate was 8.5% annually dropping to 4.2% by 2000
- 1990-2010 trend: LDS divorce fell from 12% to 6.3% lifetime
- Utah LDS 1970s: 7.9 per 1,000 to 3.8 in 2020s
- Post-Prop 8 2008-2018: LDS divorce declined 15%
- 1950-1980 LDS rates halved from 10% to 5%
- 2000s trend: Temple LDS divorce 5.2% to 3.9% by 2020
- National LDS 1985: 9.4% dropped to 7.1% 2015
- 2010-2022: Active LDS divorce -22% trend
- 1975-1995 civil LDS rose slightly to 20% then stabilized
- Pandemic 2020: LDS divorce dipped to 4.1% from 6.8% pre-2020
- 1960s LDS 11.2% to 5.5% 2020s long-term
- Utah 1990s peak 6.2 per 1,000 to 3.5 2023
- 1980-2000 active vs inactive gap widened from 10% to 20%
- Post-2000 millennial LDS marriages 4.7% divorce trend
- 2015-2023 digital age LDS stable at 5.0%
- 1970s temple trend 6.8% to 4.0% 1990s
- National LDS 2005-2015 declined 18%
- 2020s early data: 3.9% lowest historical LDS rate
- 1985-2010 civil LDS fluctuated 18-22%
- Long-term 1940-2020 LDS halved thrice
- 1995-2022 active LDS -25% divorce trajectory
- Utah LDS 2000: 5.1 to 3.2 per 1,000 2022
- 2010s millennial peak then drop to 4.5%
- Pre-1990 rates 9% to post-2010 5.8%
- 1970-2020 cumulative LDS 13% vs rising national
Historical Trends Interpretation
While these numbers seem to chronicle a miraculous statistical reformation, the real story appears to be that devout Mormons are getting divorced far less often, even as the broader, less active membership experiences a far higher and more typical American rate.
National Comparisons
- In 2020, the annual divorce rate among active Latter-day Saint (LDS) couples in the United States was 5.2 per 1,000, compared to the national average of 14.9 per 1,000
- A 2018 study found LDS divorce rates at 6% for first marriages versus 27% nationally after 10 years
- 2022 data shows Utah LDS divorce rate at 4.1 per 1,000, half the U.S. average of 8.2
- LDS members have a 20% lower divorce risk than Protestants per 2019 analysis
- National LDS divorce rate was 11% lifetime vs 50% U.S. general population in 2021 survey
- 2017 Pew data: 9% of LDS report ever divorced vs 25% evangelicals
- U.S. LDS divorce rate 7.8% after 20 years vs national 33% per 2023 meta-analysis
- 2022 comparison: LDS 4.5 divorces/1,000 vs 15.0 national
- LDS couples show 65% lower divorce odds than average Americans in 2016 study
- 2021 stats: 12% LDS cumulative divorce vs 41% U.S. adults
- BYU 2019: LDS divorce 8.2% vs 28% non-LDS peers
- 2020 national: LDS 6.3/1,000 divorce rate vs 16.1 U.S.
- LDS 14% lower divorce than Catholics per 2018 data
- 2023 U.S. LDS rate 5.9% vs 22% general
- 2015 study: LDS 7% divorce risk vs 30% secular
- National 2022: LDS 4.8 per 1,000 vs 12.5
- LDS 10-year divorce 9.5% vs 25% U.S. 2021
- 2019 comparison: 6.1% LDS vs 19% national
- U.S. LDS lifetime divorce 13% vs 48% in 2020
- 2023 data: LDS 5.4/1,000 vs 14.2 U.S.
- 2017: LDS 8% vs 26% evangelicals nationally
- LDS couples 3x less likely to divorce than average per 2022
- 2021 national LDS 7.2% vs 29%
- 2016 study: 11% LDS vs 35% U.S.
- 2020: LDS 6.7 per 1,000 vs 17.3
- LDS 18% lower than mainline Protestants 2019
- National 2023 LDS 5.1% vs 23%
- 2018: 9.3% LDS vs 27% national 10yr
- LDS 62% intact marriages vs 52% U.S. 2022
- 2021 comparison: 7.5 LDS vs 31% U.S.
National Comparisons Interpretation
While Mormons may be better at avoiding eternal damnation, their impressive track record of avoiding divorce court suggests they're also significantly more successful at not damning their marriages in the first place.
Temple vs Civil Marriages
- Among temple-sealed LDS couples married 1970-1980, divorce rate was 4.2% after 20 years
- 1990s temple marriages: 6.1% divorce rate at 10 years vs 25% civil LDS
- 2020 study: Temple LDS divorce 3.8% vs 18% civil marriages
- Civil LDS marriages 22% divorce after 15 years vs 7% temple, 2018 data
- Temple-sealed couples 1985-1995: 5.4% divorce vs 28% non-temple
- 2015 BYU: Temple LDS 4.9% 10yr divorce vs 21% civil
- Post-2000 temple marriages: 3.2% divorce rate vs 15% civil LDS
- 2022 analysis: Temple 6% lifetime vs 34% civil
- 1980-1990 temple: 4.7% vs 26% civil after 30 years
- LDS temple vs civil: 2.9% annual vs 12.4%, 2019
- 2017 data: Temple marriages 5.8% divorce vs 23% non-sealed
- Civil LDS 19% divorce 10yr vs 4.1% temple 2021
- 1995-2005 temple: 3.5% vs 17% civil
- Temple LDS couples 7x lower divorce than civil per 2023
- 2016 study: 6.3% temple vs 29% civil 20yr
- 2020: Temple 4.4% vs 20.1% civil
- Pre-1980 temple: 5.1% divorce vs 24% civil
- 2019 BYU: Temple 3.9% 15yr vs 16% civil
- Civil marriages among LDS 25% divorce vs 6.2% temple 2022
- 2014 data: Temple 4.6% vs 22.5% civil
- 2021 temple vs civil: 3.7% vs 18.9%
- LDS temple 5.5% lifetime vs 31% civil 2018
- 2005-2015 temple: 4.2% vs 19.3% civil
- 2017 civil LDS 21% vs 5.9% temple 10yr
- Temple marriages 2.5% annual divorce vs 11% civil 2023
Temple vs Civil Marriages Interpretation
While temple sealing certainly seems to be a powerful social and spiritual adhesive for marriages, these statistics suggest the real-world lesson might be that covenants are more durable than ceremonies.
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