Most people get married with the expectation of staying with their spouses forever. However, a variety of challenging circumstances can force people to compromise that goal. Adultery, abuse, addiction, differing values and other factors can make a marriage unsustainable.
People considering divorce often think of marital dissolution as a sign of personal failure. They may have a hard time coming to grips with the idea that divorce may be the best option for their family. Those who are familiar with divorce statistics may have less of an emotional response to the idea of divorcing.
Data about divorce can help calm people’s anxiety about the decision to file. The three divorce statistics below can help people understand that their circumstances are not particularly unusual, nor are they a sign of personal failure.
1. Divorce rates remain shockingly high
According to data gathered over the last 150 years, approximately 50% of all marriages eventually end in divorce. While the actual rate fluctuates from year to year, a long-term analysis of divorce rates shows that every other marriage typically ends in divorce.
However, some people have more risk than others. Those who remarry after a divorce are more likely to divorce again. They face a roughly 60% divorce rate.
2. Smoking affects divorce risk
Researchers discovered that smoking increases divorce risk by roughly 50%. Divorce risk is slightly lower for couples where both partners smoke. In cases where only one spouse is a tobacco user, the chances of divorce are substantially higher.
3. Age influences divorce risk
Statistically, younger couples are more likely to divorce. Those who married before the age of 18 have a high risk of divorcing within 10 years, and those who married between the ages of 20 and 25 also have a higher-than-standard risk of divorce.
On the other hand, divorce rates among couples who are over the age of 50 have increased substantially in recent decades. They have seen the sharpest increase in divorce out of any age group over the last two decades in particular.
There’s nothing wrong with recognizing that filing for divorce may be the healthiest path forward. Learning about divorce statistics and procedures can help people feel confident about a decision to end a marriage.