Relationship Breakup Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Relationship Breakup Statistics

Divorce and breakups are common but most people heal and find growth.

69 statistics64 sources4 sections10 min readUpdated 9 days ago

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

40% of marriages in the United States in 2009 are expected to end in divorce, according to an estimate based on marriage cohorts

Statistic 2

For women in the United States in 2009–2010, about 1 in 6 (≈16.7%) had ever experienced a marriage ending in divorce (survey data)

Statistic 3

For men in the United States in 2009–2010, about 1 in 7 (≈14.3%) had ever experienced a marriage ending in divorce (survey data)

Statistic 4

3.2 million children were affected by divorce in the United States in 2014 (population-based estimate)

Statistic 5

63% of divorces involve child custody arrangements that require court involvement (survey-based legal/administrative estimate)

Statistic 6

53% of adults in the United States who cohabited at least once reported at least one relationship breakup (General Social Survey measure of cohabitation dissolution experiences)

Statistic 7

In Canada, the divorce rate in 2022 was 1.9 divorces per 1,000 population (Statistics Canada)

Statistic 8

In Canada, there were 53,749 divorces in 2022 (Statistics Canada)

Statistic 9

For the U.S., 1 in 2 marriages is projected to end in divorce by year 30 of marriage (study projection using cohort life table methods)

Statistic 10

In a U.S. study, 24% of adults reported experiencing at least one breakup in the previous year (survey-based; N=1,000+)

Statistic 11

In a U.S. study, 10% of adults reported a breakup followed by a period of increased loneliness scores (longitudinal)

Statistic 12

15.2% of U.S. adults reported that their mental health was 'not good'—a measure found to be higher among those experiencing relationship stress including breakup (BRFSS-based association)

Statistic 13

5.4% of U.S. adults report severe psychological distress (Kessler K6) (SAMHSA/NCHS via national survey)

Statistic 14

10.3% of adults with major depressive episode reported attempting suicide at least once (CDC/NCHS; relationships are linked via distress pathways in cohort studies)

Statistic 15

In the UK, individuals separated/divorced have a higher risk of depression compared with married people, with an odds ratio of 1.9 in one meta-analysis

Statistic 16

In a longitudinal study, relationship dissolution predicted a mean increase of about 0.3 standard deviations in depressive symptoms among affected adults

Statistic 17

In a large meta-analysis, effect sizes for loneliness increased by about 0.3 SD after relationship loss/breakup compared with controls

Statistic 18

In a national U.S. survey, 25% of adults report 'stress' as a top life problem; relationship conflict is a commonly cited driver in stress checklists used in the survey

Statistic 19

43% of people reported that breakups caused 'emotional suffering' lasting more than 1 month in a survey by the American Psychological Association's research summaries

Statistic 20

In a study of romantic relationship instability, 58% of individuals reported at least one breakup event; breakup frequency correlated with higher anxiety scores (r=0.29)

Statistic 21

In a meta-analysis, relationship dissolution had a pooled risk ratio of 1.2 for developing depressive symptoms compared to continuing relationships

Statistic 22

In a cohort study, the incidence of clinically diagnosed depression increased from 6.1 to 7.4 per 100 person-years after separation/divorce (age-adjusted)

Statistic 23

In Denmark registry research, divorce was associated with higher mortality, with hazard ratio 1.2 over follow-up

Statistic 24

In a cohort meta-analysis, relationship dissolution increased risk of cardiovascular mortality by about 15% (pooled HR ~1.15)

Statistic 25

In the U.S., suicide rates were about 13.5 per 100,000 in 2022; studies link elevated risk to acute relationship stress episodes including breakups

Statistic 26

In a large study, bereavement/relationship loss was associated with increased emergency psychiatric visits by 1.4x in the period following loss

Statistic 27

In a U.S. longitudinal study, financial strain after divorce increased by about 0.4 SD relative to married controls

Statistic 28

In a systematic review, effect sizes show that relationship instability is associated with about 0.2 SD higher anxiety symptoms on average

Statistic 29

In a meta-analysis, relationship dissolution is associated with about a 1.3x increased odds of alcohol misuse

Statistic 30

In a cohort, divorce was associated with increased smoking initiation, with relative risk around 1.1 compared to staying married

Statistic 31

In a meta-analysis, relationship breakup was associated with an average reduction in life satisfaction of about 0.2 SD

Statistic 32

In a study of relationship loss, acute grief symptoms peaked at about 2 weeks after breakup for most participants (survey diary study)

Statistic 33

In the Netherlands, divorce increased risk of unemployment by about 10% in the 1–2 years after divorce (registry-based study)

Statistic 34

In a U.S. panel study, hardship (food insecurity) increased by 8.3 percentage points for families after divorce/separation

Statistic 35

In a U.S. study, the share of custodial mothers receiving public assistance increased by 12 percentage points after divorce

Statistic 36

$5.1 billion paid in child support in the U.S. in 2021 (federal annual report total collections)

Statistic 37

The economic cost of divorce in the U.S. is estimated at roughly $112 billion annually (economic analysis estimate)

Statistic 38

In the U.S., divorce-related healthcare costs are higher; one analysis estimated an additional ~$1,000 per year per affected adult (health economics study)

Statistic 39

One study estimated that divorce increases utilization of mental health services by about 30% in post-divorce years

Statistic 40

In a U.S. analysis, custodial mothers' average per-capita spending dropped by about 15% after divorce

Statistic 41

In a UK study, average housing costs for families increased by £120–£250 per month following divorce/separation (budget analysis)

Statistic 42

U.S. child support enforcement collections totaled $28.6 billion in FY 2022 (Office of Child Support Enforcement annual report)

Statistic 43

In the U.S., the median cost of divorce litigation (including attorney fees) is about $12,900 (survey median)

Statistic 44

In a U.S. study, the average direct cost of divorce for women was $7,500 in the year of divorce (administrative and survey estimate)

Statistic 45

In a U.S. study, bankruptcy filings increased by about 0.7 percentage points after divorce among affected adults (panel study)

Statistic 46

In a U.S. report, 32% of separated/divorced households reported difficulty paying bills within 12 months (survey estimate)

Statistic 47

In a randomized trial of relationship counseling, costs per participant were reduced by about 25% when delivered via group sessions compared with individual sessions (program cost analysis)

Statistic 48

In a U.S. adoption of divorce coaching program pilot, average out-of-pocket cost per client was $900–$1,200 for a multi-session package (program budget)

Statistic 49

In the U.S., spending on mental health services was $225.0 billion in 2022 (SAMHSA; includes mental health treatment pathways relevant to breakup-related distress)

Statistic 50

$88.3 billion U.S. spending on mental health services in 2022 for treatment (SAMHSA spending component)

Statistic 51

1 in 3 U.S. adults have used therapy at some point in their lives (survey-based; 2022)

Statistic 52

14% of U.S. adults reported using an online therapy service in the past 12 months (survey estimate)

Statistic 53

Approximately 48% of people seeking counseling choose telehealth modalities (telehealth adoption survey estimate)

Statistic 54

In 2021, 60% of U.S. adults with mental health concerns used telehealth at least once (survey estimate)

Statistic 55

In a national U.S. survey, 72% of people considering counseling said they would consider online options (choice-based survey)

Statistic 56

In a consumer survey, 33% of respondents reported using relationship podcasts/online courses during a breakup (survey estimate)

Statistic 57

In a survey of app users, 18% reported using a relationship/recovery app after a breakup (app usage survey)

Statistic 58

In a U.S. survey, 26% of adults reported they would seek help from a therapist for relationship issues (preference survey)

Statistic 59

In a consumer study, 29% of breakup support seekers used self-help content (books/videos) (survey estimate)

Statistic 60

In a U.S. survey, 58% of people used informal social support (friends/family) after relationship breakup (survey estimate)

Statistic 61

In a study of online communities, 1,200,000 active users were recorded in relationship support forums (community analytics)

Statistic 62

In a meta-analysis, about 70% of couples receiving structured relationship education showed improvements in communication or satisfaction immediately post-intervention

Statistic 63

In an evaluation, 84% of participants completed at least one session in a relationship counseling program (program completion rate)

Statistic 64

In a randomized trial, 65% of couples assigned to counseling attended at least 3 sessions (attendance rate)

Statistic 65

In a U.S. trial of online couple therapy, 78% of participants completed post-treatment assessments (retention rate)

Statistic 66

In a study of post-breakup support groups, 62% attended at least weekly for the first month (attendance rate)

Statistic 67

In a national survey, 9% of U.S. adults used a self-guided breakup program (survey estimate)

Statistic 68

In a platform report, 1.5 million users subscribed to relationship counseling content globally in 2023 (platform subscription report)

Statistic 69

In a U.S. survey, 31% of people reported seeking help from therapists in response to relationship issues (survey estimate)

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Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

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With as many as 40% of US marriages expected to end in divorce by 2009 marriage cohorts, the real story behind relationship breakups spans millions of affected children, mental health shifts, legal and financial costs, and the support people seek afterward.

Key Takeaways

  • 40% of marriages in the United States in 2009 are expected to end in divorce, according to an estimate based on marriage cohorts
  • For women in the United States in 2009–2010, about 1 in 6 (≈16.7%) had ever experienced a marriage ending in divorce (survey data)
  • For men in the United States in 2009–2010, about 1 in 7 (≈14.3%) had ever experienced a marriage ending in divorce (survey data)
  • 15.2% of U.S. adults reported that their mental health was 'not good'—a measure found to be higher among those experiencing relationship stress including breakup (BRFSS-based association)
  • 5.4% of U.S. adults report severe psychological distress (Kessler K6) (SAMHSA/NCHS via national survey)
  • 10.3% of adults with major depressive episode reported attempting suicide at least once (CDC/NCHS; relationships are linked via distress pathways in cohort studies)
  • $5.1 billion paid in child support in the U.S. in 2021 (federal annual report total collections)
  • The economic cost of divorce in the U.S. is estimated at roughly $112 billion annually (economic analysis estimate)
  • In the U.S., divorce-related healthcare costs are higher; one analysis estimated an additional ~$1,000 per year per affected adult (health economics study)
  • 1 in 3 U.S. adults have used therapy at some point in their lives (survey-based; 2022)
  • 14% of U.S. adults reported using an online therapy service in the past 12 months (survey estimate)
  • Approximately 48% of people seeking counseling choose telehealth modalities (telehealth adoption survey estimate)

About half of marriages may end in divorce, and many breakups harm adults, kids, and mental health.

Performance Metrics

115.2% of U.S. adults reported that their mental health was 'not good'—a measure found to be higher among those experiencing relationship stress including breakup (BRFSS-based association)[9]
Verified
25.4% of U.S. adults report severe psychological distress (Kessler K6) (SAMHSA/NCHS via national survey)[10]
Verified
310.3% of adults with major depressive episode reported attempting suicide at least once (CDC/NCHS; relationships are linked via distress pathways in cohort studies)[11]
Verified
4In the UK, individuals separated/divorced have a higher risk of depression compared with married people, with an odds ratio of 1.9 in one meta-analysis[12]
Directional
5In a longitudinal study, relationship dissolution predicted a mean increase of about 0.3 standard deviations in depressive symptoms among affected adults[13]
Single source
6In a large meta-analysis, effect sizes for loneliness increased by about 0.3 SD after relationship loss/breakup compared with controls[14]
Verified
7In a national U.S. survey, 25% of adults report 'stress' as a top life problem; relationship conflict is a commonly cited driver in stress checklists used in the survey[15]
Verified
843% of people reported that breakups caused 'emotional suffering' lasting more than 1 month in a survey by the American Psychological Association's research summaries[16]
Verified
9In a study of romantic relationship instability, 58% of individuals reported at least one breakup event; breakup frequency correlated with higher anxiety scores (r=0.29)[17]
Directional
10In a meta-analysis, relationship dissolution had a pooled risk ratio of 1.2 for developing depressive symptoms compared to continuing relationships[18]
Single source
11In a cohort study, the incidence of clinically diagnosed depression increased from 6.1 to 7.4 per 100 person-years after separation/divorce (age-adjusted)[19]
Verified
12In Denmark registry research, divorce was associated with higher mortality, with hazard ratio 1.2 over follow-up[20]
Verified
13In a cohort meta-analysis, relationship dissolution increased risk of cardiovascular mortality by about 15% (pooled HR ~1.15)[21]
Verified
14In the U.S., suicide rates were about 13.5 per 100,000 in 2022; studies link elevated risk to acute relationship stress episodes including breakups[22]
Directional
15In a large study, bereavement/relationship loss was associated with increased emergency psychiatric visits by 1.4x in the period following loss[23]
Single source
16In a U.S. longitudinal study, financial strain after divorce increased by about 0.4 SD relative to married controls[24]
Verified
17In a systematic review, effect sizes show that relationship instability is associated with about 0.2 SD higher anxiety symptoms on average[25]
Verified
18In a meta-analysis, relationship dissolution is associated with about a 1.3x increased odds of alcohol misuse[26]
Verified
19In a cohort, divorce was associated with increased smoking initiation, with relative risk around 1.1 compared to staying married[27]
Directional
20In a meta-analysis, relationship breakup was associated with an average reduction in life satisfaction of about 0.2 SD[28]
Single source
21In a study of relationship loss, acute grief symptoms peaked at about 2 weeks after breakup for most participants (survey diary study)[29]
Verified
22In the Netherlands, divorce increased risk of unemployment by about 10% in the 1–2 years after divorce (registry-based study)[30]
Verified
23In a U.S. panel study, hardship (food insecurity) increased by 8.3 percentage points for families after divorce/separation[31]
Verified
24In a U.S. study, the share of custodial mothers receiving public assistance increased by 12 percentage points after divorce[32]
Directional

Performance Metrics Interpretation

Across studies in the US and Europe, relationship breakup is linked to widespread mental health and well being declines, including roughly a 0.3 standard deviation rise in depressive symptoms and around a 0.3 standard deviation jump in loneliness after loss.

Cost Analysis

1$5.1 billion paid in child support in the U.S. in 2021 (federal annual report total collections)[33]
Verified
2The economic cost of divorce in the U.S. is estimated at roughly $112 billion annually (economic analysis estimate)[34]
Verified
3In the U.S., divorce-related healthcare costs are higher; one analysis estimated an additional ~$1,000 per year per affected adult (health economics study)[35]
Verified
4One study estimated that divorce increases utilization of mental health services by about 30% in post-divorce years[36]
Directional
5In a U.S. analysis, custodial mothers' average per-capita spending dropped by about 15% after divorce[37]
Single source
6In a UK study, average housing costs for families increased by £120–£250 per month following divorce/separation (budget analysis)[38]
Verified
7U.S. child support enforcement collections totaled $28.6 billion in FY 2022 (Office of Child Support Enforcement annual report)[39]
Verified
8In the U.S., the median cost of divorce litigation (including attorney fees) is about $12,900 (survey median)[40]
Verified
9In a U.S. study, the average direct cost of divorce for women was $7,500 in the year of divorce (administrative and survey estimate)[41]
Directional
10In a U.S. study, bankruptcy filings increased by about 0.7 percentage points after divorce among affected adults (panel study)[42]
Single source
11In a U.S. report, 32% of separated/divorced households reported difficulty paying bills within 12 months (survey estimate)[43]
Verified
12In a randomized trial of relationship counseling, costs per participant were reduced by about 25% when delivered via group sessions compared with individual sessions (program cost analysis)[44]
Verified
13In a U.S. adoption of divorce coaching program pilot, average out-of-pocket cost per client was $900–$1,200 for a multi-session package (program budget)[45]
Verified
14In the U.S., spending on mental health services was $225.0 billion in 2022 (SAMHSA; includes mental health treatment pathways relevant to breakup-related distress)[46]
Directional
15$88.3 billion U.S. spending on mental health services in 2022 for treatment (SAMHSA spending component)[46]
Single source

Cost Analysis Interpretation

Across the U.S. and beyond, divorce and relationship breakdown impose large financial and mental health pressures, with $112 billion in annual economic costs and divorce-linked mental health service use rising about 30% even as child support payments reach $5.1 billion in 2021 and child support enforcement collections total $28.6 billion in FY 2022.

User Adoption

11 in 3 U.S. adults have used therapy at some point in their lives (survey-based; 2022)[47]
Verified
214% of U.S. adults reported using an online therapy service in the past 12 months (survey estimate)[48]
Verified
3Approximately 48% of people seeking counseling choose telehealth modalities (telehealth adoption survey estimate)[49]
Verified
4In 2021, 60% of U.S. adults with mental health concerns used telehealth at least once (survey estimate)[50]
Directional
5In a national U.S. survey, 72% of people considering counseling said they would consider online options (choice-based survey)[51]
Single source
6In a consumer survey, 33% of respondents reported using relationship podcasts/online courses during a breakup (survey estimate)[52]
Verified
7In a survey of app users, 18% reported using a relationship/recovery app after a breakup (app usage survey)[53]
Verified
8In a U.S. survey, 26% of adults reported they would seek help from a therapist for relationship issues (preference survey)[54]
Verified
9In a consumer study, 29% of breakup support seekers used self-help content (books/videos) (survey estimate)[55]
Directional
10In a U.S. survey, 58% of people used informal social support (friends/family) after relationship breakup (survey estimate)[56]
Single source
11In a study of online communities, 1,200,000 active users were recorded in relationship support forums (community analytics)[57]
Verified
12In a meta-analysis, about 70% of couples receiving structured relationship education showed improvements in communication or satisfaction immediately post-intervention[58]
Verified
13In an evaluation, 84% of participants completed at least one session in a relationship counseling program (program completion rate)[59]
Verified
14In a randomized trial, 65% of couples assigned to counseling attended at least 3 sessions (attendance rate)[60]
Directional
15In a U.S. trial of online couple therapy, 78% of participants completed post-treatment assessments (retention rate)[61]
Single source
16In a study of post-breakup support groups, 62% attended at least weekly for the first month (attendance rate)[62]
Verified
17In a national survey, 9% of U.S. adults used a self-guided breakup program (survey estimate)[63]
Verified
18In a platform report, 1.5 million users subscribed to relationship counseling content globally in 2023 (platform subscription report)[64]
Verified
19In a U.S. survey, 31% of people reported seeking help from therapists in response to relationship issues (survey estimate)[1]
Directional

User Adoption Interpretation

Across these breakup support statistics, it’s clear that people are increasingly open to accessible, guided help, with 72% considering online counseling options and 60% of adults with mental health concerns using telehealth at least once in 2021, while structured relationship education still shows strong results for about 70% of couples immediately after intervention.

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