The Decline of the Divorce Rate

The Decline of Divorce Rate in the United States

The United States' divorce rate has declined over the last decade. The last time it peaked was in 1979-1981, when 53% of marriages ended in divorce, resulting in 5.3 divorces per 1,000 people. In 2009, the divorce rate was 9.7 per 1,000 women, and in 2019, it was 7.6 per 1,000 women. The marriage rate has also declined over the past decade, falling from 17.6 per 1,000 women in 2009 to 16.3 in 2019.<\/p>

Factors Influencing Divorce Rates

Although the divorce rate has been decreasing in recent years, it will probably never drop below the current numbers. For instance, the divorce rate for first-time couples is around 50%. The same is true for couples who were married after the age of 25. According to retired psychologist Kalman Heller, Ph.D., only ten percent of marriages last longer than five years. And the average length of second and third-time marriages is less than 8 years.<\/p>

Comparison of Divorce Rates

Compared to those who are married to the same sex, the divorce rate for gay men and women is twice as high. The UK Office of National Statistics has determined that lesbian couples are twice as likely to end their marriages than gay male couples. In the United States, the divorce rate is 3.1 per thousand in states where gay marriages are legal while it is 3.9 in states where same-sex marriage is prohibited.<\/p>

Impact on Children

Moreover, children of divorced parents are four times more likely to end up in divorce themselves. Several socioeconomic, religious, and moral factors play a role in this pattern, which varies by region. Some European countries have divorce rates that are similar to US levels, while others have significantly lower national averages. Overall, though, European divorce rates are lower than those of the United States.<\/p>

Historical Perspective

Since the 1960s, the U.S. divorce rate has been increasing. While marriage rates are declining in most countries, the US has consistently had the highest rate. Although South Korea's divorce rate was slightly lower, it is still higher than those of other countries. The rate of divorce in the US peaked in 1981 at 5.3 per thousand people. However, the trend for the last decade has decreased and continues to decrease. The current rate is 2.7 per thousand people.<\/p>

Educational and Racial Disparities

As a result, there is now more evidence pointing to the decline of divorce in the U.S. Among college-educated adults, the divorce rate has decreased by 30 percent since the 1970s. However, in less educated groups, the rate has increased by six percentage points. The same trend can be seen for the divorce rate among white and black men. Moreover, children of divorced parents are four times more likely to end up in divorce themselves. Several socioeconomic, religious, and moral factors play a role in this pattern, which varies by region. Some European countries have divorce rates that are similar to US levels, while others have significantly lower national averages. Overall, though, European divorce rates are lower than those of the United States.<\/p>

The Impact of Easy Divorce

During the 1970s, the government promoted the idea that easy divorce would improve the quality of married life. After all, it gave unhappy spouses an opportunity to leave the marriage. But the quality of marriage declined. In 1970, 70% of married men and 67% of married women said that their marriages were very happy. Yet, divorce rates had reached a record high in the decade.<\/p>