10 Marriage vs. Divorce Facts in the U.S.

1. About 50% of Marriages End in Divorce
 
While divorce rates have dropped throughout the years, there's a 50/50 chance of a marriage ending in divorce. This number increases for each marriage. For example, 41% of first-time marriages end in divorce while 60% of second marriages end in divorce. Third marriages have a 73% chance of ending in divorce.

2. Oklahoma & Arkansas Have Highest Divorce Rates
 
Oklahoma has the highest divorce rate. At 13.45%, about 32% of the adult population that has been married has since gotten divorced. Behind Oklahoma is Arkansas, with a 13.15% divorce rate. Men in the state have the country's highest divorce rate average of 13.5%.
 
3. Older People Get Divorced Less
 
The percentage of women and men who get divorced differs by age range. For example, 27.6% of women and only 11.7% of men under the age of 20 get divorced. Both women and men between the ages of 20 to 24 are most likely to get divorced. Those between the ages of 35-39 are less likely to get divorced. Women and men in this age range fall to single-digit percentages.
 
4. Average Marriage Time Before Divorce: 8 Years
 
The average marriage lasts about eight years before ending in divorce. Most people wait at least three years before remarrying again.
 
5. Divorce Rates By Job
 
According to the US Census Bureau’s 5-Year American Community Survey from 2015, gaming managers have the highest divorce rate (53%) while actuaries have the lowest rate (17%). Overall statistics show that higher-paying professions have lower divorce rates when compared to lower-salary jobs.
 
6. First Marriages Are More Likely to Last

According to the National Survey of Family Growth, the likelihood of a first marriage lasting at least 10 years is 70% for men and 68% for women. For marriages lasting 20 years, percentages are 56% for men and 52% for women.
 
7. Marriage Length Has Increased
 
In the 1980s, 65% of marriages were predicted to make it at least 15 years, but couples who married in the 1990s had a 75% chance of reaching the 15-year mark.
 
8. Marriage Rates Peaked in the 1950s
 
Right after WWII ended, the marriage rate in the U.S. peaked at more than 15%. Marriage rates hit an all-time low in the mid-1950s but experienced a continued increase up until the 1970s.
 
9. People Are Getting Married Later
 
The average age for first-time marriage is around 28 for men and 25 for women. In the 1960s, the average age for men was 23 and 20 for women.
 
10. Married Men Live Longer
 
Single women tend to live longer than married women. On the other hand, married men tend to live longer than single men. Overall, married couples tend to be happier and less stressed. A study found that married people had lower cortisol levels and faster cortisol decline.

The Importance of a Birth Certificate
 
If you're planning to get married in the near future, you'll need to apply for a marriage license. Your state's county clerk will require certain forms of identification before the license can be provided. This includes a photo ID, your birth certificate, and proof of divorce if you were previously married.
 
Can't find your birth certificate? No worries! At FastBirthCertificates.com, we offer fast birth certificate replacement. With our service, you don't have to worry about how to get a birth certificate. Just fill out our online form and we'll send you your vital record.
 
For any questions about our service call us at (415) 528-2585.
 
Sources

1. https://www.mckinleyirvin.com/Family-Law-Blog/2012/October/32-Shocking-Divorce-Statistics.aspx
2. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr049.pdf
3. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/02/upshot/the-divorce-surge-is-over-but-the-myth-lives-on.html
4. https://qz.com/1069806/the-highest-and-lowest-divorce-rates-in-america-by-occupation-and-industry/
5. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/marriage-health-stress-levels_us_58a32c64e4b03df370da768c