No one walks down the aisle planning for divorce. But life changes, relationships evolve, and, unfortunately, marriages sometimes end.
As a Sacramento divorce lawyer with 14 years of experience, I've guided hundreds of clients through the dissolution of marriage. One question many tend to ask is, "How common is what I’m going through?"
Here's what recent divorce statistics reveal about marriage and what comes after.
National Divorce Numbers
In a 2024 analysis of data collected between 2000 and 2023, the CDC reported 672,502 divorces across 45 states plus the District of Columbia. Five of those — California, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota, and New Mexico — don't report to the national system.
Current marriage rates provide valuable context. In 2024, Americans registered 2,082,354 marriages at a rate of 6.3 per 1,000 people. In 2022, Nevada led the country with 25.9 marriages per 1,000 residents, which is no surprise given Las Vegas's wedding industry. California sits at around 5.5 marriages per 1,000 people, below the national average.
The National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University calculates what they call a "refined divorce rate”, which measures divorces per 1,000 married women rather than total population. This metric hit 14.2 in 2024, down from a peak of 22.6 in 1979–1980.
Most marriages that end in divorce last eight to nine years. About 20% of marriages end within the first five years. Second marriages typically last seven to 10 years before dissolution, while third marriages average five to eight years.
Adults aged 25–39 experience the highest divorce rates, though “gray divorce” among those over 50 has doubled since the 1990s. Research by Barna in 2025 found that roughly one in six adults has been divorced, with over half remarrying eventually.
California's Surprisingly Low Divorce Rate
California consistently ranks among states with the lowest divorce rates — 45th out of 50 states, to be exact.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports California's 2022 divorce rate as 5.9 per 1,000 women aged 15 and older. In 2021, only 8.9% of Californians aged 15 and older were divorced, down from 9.8% in 2014.
Sacramento County reports an 11.3% divorce rate. Shasta County has California's highest rate at 14.3%, while Santa Clara County maintains the lowest at 7.3%.
About 90% of California divorces are uncontested, meaning both parties agree to end the marriage amicably. Around 43% of divorcing couples have minor children, making child custody a central issue in nearly half of all dissolutions.
Why does California's rate stay relatively low? Part of the reason is that people marry later here. The median age for first marriage in California now sits at 28–30 years old (for women), nearly a decade later than in the 1950s. This delay generally means more maturity and financial stability.
The state's high cost of living creates a paradox: Economic pressure contributes to some divorces through financial stress, but it also makes divorce economically difficult. Maintaining two separate households in California costs significantly more than one shared residence.
First Marriages vs. Remarriage
Your odds of divorce increase with each marriage. While roughly 41% of first marriages end in divorce, second marriages face dissolution rates of 60%–67%, and third marriages have an average 73% divorce rate.
Why do subsequent marriages fail more often? Adults entering second or third marriages frequently carry emotional and financial complications from prior relationships. Blending families with children from different marriages can create additional challenges. And economic stress from child support or spousal support obligations to former spouses can strain new partnerships.
According to the National Center for Family & Marriage Research, first-marriage divorce rates have declined significantly. In 2008, there were 16.9 divorces per 1,000 males in first marriages. By 2023, that number dropped to 11.5 per 1,000. For females, the rate decreased from 18.7 divorces per 1,000 in 2008 to 13.4 in 2023.
Despite these figures, approximately 75% of divorced people eventually remarry. The desire for companionship tends to remain strong even after seeing one or more marriages end.
Why Marriages End
Research identifies consistent patterns across millions of divorces:
- Lack of commitment: One or both partners stop working to maintain the relationship. This encompasses everything from emotional disconnection to simple neglect.
- Infidelity: Affairs (whether physical or emotional) factor into up to 60% of marriages that end in divorce. They often prove difficult or impossible to overcome.
- Financial problems: Economic stress can prompt arguments and resentment. Couples that earn less than $50,000 annually make up a substantial portion of divorces.
- Communication issues: Women initiate approximately 70% of divorces, often citing a lack of emotional support and communication failures.
- Domestic violence: Physical, emotional, or substance abuse can create an unsafe environment requiring separation for the protection of the victim.
Furthermore, a 2023 Forbes Advisor survey reported that lack of family support contributed to 43% of divorces.
Who Gets Divorced More Often?
Certain factors significantly affect divorce risk:
Age at Marriage
People who marry between the ages of 20 and 25 face a higher divorce risk than those who wait until their late 20s or early 30s. Research from Bowling Green State University shows that divorce rates decline with age across all racial and ethnic groups.
Education Level
Individuals with a college education are 30% less likely to divorce. Someone with a bachelor's degree might be looking at a 25% divorce rate, while someone with only a high school diploma might face rates closer to 45%.
Race and Ethnicity
Black women have the highest first-divorce rate at 24.5 per 1,000 women, while Asian adults experience the lowest rates across both genders.
Income
Couples that earn less than $50,000 per year have a higher risk of divorce, though this trend has changed in recent years. Single-income households show rising divorce rates, while double-income households show declining rates. Marriages where the wife serves as the primary earner are particularly vulnerable, accounting for approximately 42% of all divorces.
Occupation
Dancers, bartenders, and massage therapists experience divorce rates exceeding 30%. By contrast, agricultural engineers and clergy demonstrate some of the lowest rates of all occupations studied (1.78% and 5.61%, respectively).
Religious Beliefs
By some estimates, couples who regularly attend religious services are 30%–50% less likely to divorce. Religiously unaffiliated marriages end in divorce at a rate closer to 50%.
How Divorce Affects Children
Approximately 40% of children in the United States experience parental divorce by age 18. In California, some 43% of divorcing couples have minor children.
Most California children (63.7%) live with both married parents. Among divorced parents, 37.7% of mothers maintain custody of children under 18, compared to 18.4% of fathers.
The economic consequences of divorce have an outsized effect on the custodial parent. Many face decreased income and financial insecurity, creating hardship for dependent children despite child support provisions.
State-by-State Differences
Divorce statistics vary substantially across states.
Nevada maintains the highest divorce rate at 4.2 per 1,000 people, likely influenced by its easy marriage and divorce laws. Louisiana, Illinois, and Massachusetts tie for the lowest rate at approximately 0.7–1.4 per 1,000 people.
Southern states generally have higher divorce rates, with 76% falling in the third or fourth quartile. Western states exhibit more variation.
California's position at 45th out of 50 states reflects stable marriage patterns despite high living costs, cultural diversity, and other unique factors.
When Divorce Tends to Happen
Research suggests that 20% of marriages end within the first five years, a critical period of vulnerability. The median marriage duration before divorce remains eight to nine years for first marriages, though some estimates put it closer to 12 years.
According to the CDC, approximately 36% of first marriages among women aged 15–44 end in divorce within the first 10 years. Second and third marriages display shorter average durations, reflecting the compounding factors discussed earlier.
The Cost of Divorce
Forbes reports the average cost of divorce to be around $15,000 per person, though high-conflict cases or substantial asset divisions can cause expenses to exceed $100,000. For state-specific information, read our detailed blog about divorce costs in California.
Economic impacts go far beyond legal fees. Divorced individuals often report decreased income and financial security. Women tend to face particularly severe repercussions, especially those who sacrificed careers to raise children.
California's community property laws mandate equal division of marital assets in divorce, potentially creating substantial financial adjustments for both parties. Moreover, spousal support obligations can prompt income to transfer between spouses, and child support payments can reshape household budgets.
Maintaining two separate households costs substantially more than sharing a residence. Housing expenses may increase by more than double, along with utilities, insurance, and fixed costs.
Gray divorce, an increasingly common trend nationwide, can create especially harsh economic realities for older women with limited time to rebuild their retirement savings.
Recent Divorce Trends
Despite the somewhat troubling historical stats, divorce rates continue to decline gradually. Several notable factors are driving this trend:
- Marrying later: Getting married older means more emotional maturity and financial stability. Cohabitation before marriage also allows for compatibility testing.
- Cultural shifts: More egalitarian relationships reduce traditional stressors, while changing gender roles allow couples to make arrangements that fit their circumstances.
- Online divorce services: The search volume for "online divorce" increased 7% in 2024, with 47 million divorce-related searches — the highest recorded volume ever.
- Seasonal patterns: Divorce searches spike in January after the holidays, drop during Valentine's Day week, then rebound.
Interestingly (though perhaps not surprisingly), election years show increased divorce searches following major political events.
Take Steps Now to Protect Your Future
Divorce statistics can be eye-opening, but your situation requires dedicated, personalized attention. California's mandatory six-month waiting period from the serving of the divorce papers means formal dissolution takes time. The right legal assistance can preserve your options and prevent costly mistakes.
AF Law, a trusted Sacramento family law firm, provides trustworthy counsel on all divorce-related issues. We know what evidence courts find persuasive, when negotiation serves your interests, and how to protect your rights throughout the legal process.
Schedule your consultation today to discuss your situation with a qualified attorney who will work tirelessly to protect your rights and future.
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