1 / 46
#46. Iowa
Divorce rate per thousand: 1.2
Divorce rate compared to national average: 61% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.3
Marriage rate compared to national average: 9% lower
States with the highest divorce rates
In 1980, nearly 50% of all marriages ended in divorce. Though now an aged statistic, that astounding number is still cited as conventional wisdom regarding successful marriages today. Fortunately, new findings suggest that divorce is actually on a relatively steep decline; despite myths, the institution of marriage is indeed alive and well in America. But as with most things, the numbers vary greatly from place to place, and some states have divorce rates over four times higher than other regions in America!
The Center For Disease Control (CDC) and the National Center of Health Statistics report data from each state to find the number of people that both divorce and marry per capita each year. To help see regional differences, Stacker analyzed the 2015 CDC report to see which states had the highest and lowest rates for divorce (excluding California, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, and Minnesota), comparing that rate to the national average. Read on to see which Midwestern state has almost half as many divorces as any other place in America, and where your state stacks up against the rest.
You may also like: What happens to the tons of food waste restaurants generate
2 / 46
#45. Illinois
Divorce rate per thousand: 2.2
Divorce rate compared to national average: 29% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 5.9
Marriage rate compared to national average: 15% lower
3 / 46
#44. Massachusetts
Divorce rate per thousand: 2.6
Divorce rate compared to national average: 18% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 5.5
Marriage rate compared to national average: 20% lower
4 / 46
#43. Texas
Divorce rate per thousand: 2.6
Divorce rate compared to national average: 16% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 7.2
Marriage rate compared to national average: 5% higher
5 / 46
#42. Maryland
Divorce rate per thousand: 2.6
Divorce rate compared to national average: 16% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.2
Marriage rate compared to national average: 10% lower
You may also like: 9 currencies that no longer exist
6 / 46
#41. Wisconsin
Divorce rate per thousand: 2.6
Divorce rate compared to national average: 16% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.2
Marriage rate compared to national average: 10% lower
7 / 46
#40. South Dakota
Divorce rate per thousand: 2.6
Divorce rate compared to national average: 15% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 7.2
Marriage rate compared to national average: 5% higher
8 / 46
#39. Pennsylvania
Divorce rate per thousand: 2.6
Divorce rate compared to national average: 15% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 5.7
Marriage rate compared to national average: 18% lower
9 / 46
#38. New York
Divorce rate per thousand: 2.7
Divorce rate compared to national average: 13% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 7.1
Marriage rate compared to national average: 2% higher
10 / 46
#37. Louisiana
Divorce rate per thousand: 2.8
Divorce rate compared to national average: 11% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.8
Marriage rate compared to national average: 2% lower
You may also like: Post-pandemic car pricing remains high, but shifts in the market may bring prices down in 2024
11 / 46
#36. South Carolina
Divorce rate per thousand: 2.8
Divorce rate compared to national average: 11% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 7.5
Marriage rate compared to national average: 9% higher
12 / 46
#35. New Jersey
Divorce rate per thousand: 2.8
Divorce rate compared to national average: 9% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 5.6
Marriage rate compared to national average: 19% lower
13 / 46
#34. Kansas
Divorce rate per thousand: 2.8
Divorce rate compared to national average: 9% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 5.9
Marriage rate compared to national average: 14% lower
14 / 46
#33. District of Columbia
Divorce rate per thousand: 2.8
Divorce rate compared to national average: 9% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 8.2
Marriage rate compared to national average: 19% higher
15 / 46
#32. North Dakota
Divorce rate per thousand: 2.8
Divorce rate compared to national average: 8% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.2
Marriage rate compared to national average: 11% lower
You may also like: Rice, whole chicken, and other groceries that rose in price in the West last month
16 / 46
#31. Rhode Island
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.0
Divorce rate compared to national average: 3% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.4
Marriage rate compared to national average: 8% lower
17 / 46
#30. Michigan
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.0
Divorce rate compared to national average: 2% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.0
Marriage rate compared to national average: 13% lower
18 / 46
#29. Ohio
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.1
Divorce rate compared to national average: 1% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 5.9
Marriage rate compared to national average: 14% lower
19 / 46
#28. Vermont
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.1
Divorce rate compared to national average: 1% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 8.1
Marriage rate compared to national average: 18% higher
20 / 46
#27. North Carolina
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.1
Divorce rate compared to national average: 1% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 7.0
Marriage rate compared to national average: 1% higher
You may also like: These used car brands saw the biggest drop in value since the pandemic's peak
21 / 46
#26. Delaware
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.1
Divorce rate compared to national average: 0% lower
Marriage rate per thousand: 5.7
Marriage rate compared to national average: 17% lower
22 / 46
#25. Connecticut
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.1
Divorce rate compared to national average: 1% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 5.3
Marriage rate compared to national average: 23% lower
23 / 46
#24. Missouri
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.2
Divorce rate compared to national average: 2% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.2
Marriage rate compared to national average: 10% lower
24 / 46
#23. Nebraska
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.2
Divorce rate compared to national average: 3% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.4
Marriage rate compared to national average: 8% lower
25 / 46
#22. New Mexico
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.3
Divorce rate compared to national average: 6% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.2
Marriage rate compared to national average: 11% lower
You may also like: The states where people pay the most in car insurance premiums
26 / 46
#21. Virginia
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.3
Divorce rate compared to national average: 6% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 7.0
Marriage rate compared to national average: 1% higher
27 / 46
#20. New Hampshire
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.3
Divorce rate compared to national average: 7% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.9
Marriage rate compared to national average: 1% higher
28 / 46
#19. Mississippi
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.4
Divorce rate compared to national average: 9% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 7.0
Marriage rate compared to national average: 1% higher
29 / 46
#18. Washington
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.4
Divorce rate compared to national average: 9% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.2
Marriage rate compared to national average: 10% lower
30 / 46
#17. Oregon
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.4
Divorce rate compared to national average: 10% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.9
Marriage rate compared to national average: 0% lower
You may also like: 10 most commonly stolen car models in every state
31 / 46
#16. Montana
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.4
Divorce rate compared to national average: 10% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 8.0
Marriage rate compared to national average: 15% higher
32 / 46
#15. Maine
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.4
Divorce rate compared to national average: 11% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 7.6
Marriage rate compared to national average: 10% higher
33 / 46
#14. Utah
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.6
Divorce rate compared to national average: 15% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 8.1
Marriage rate compared to national average: 17% higher
34 / 46
#13. Arizona
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.6
Divorce rate compared to national average: 15% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 5.9
Marriage rate compared to national average: 14% lower
35 / 46
#12. Tennessee
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.7
Divorce rate compared to national average: 19% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 8.5
Marriage rate compared to national average: 23% higher
You may also like: These 25 counties have the most debt in collections in the US
36 / 46
#11. Kentucky
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.7
Divorce rate compared to national average: 19% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 7.2
Marriage rate compared to national average: 4% higher
37 / 46
#10. Colorado
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.7
Divorce rate compared to national average: 20% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.8
Marriage rate compared to national average: 2% lower
38 / 46
#9. Alabama
Divorce rate per thousand: 3.9
Divorce rate compared to national average: 24% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 7.4
Marriage rate compared to national average: 7% higher
39 / 46
#8. Florida
Divorce rate per thousand: 4.0
Divorce rate compared to national average: 28% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 8.2
Marriage rate compared to national average: 19% higher
40 / 46
#7. West Virginia
Divorce rate per thousand: 4.0
Divorce rate compared to national average: 28% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 6.6
Marriage rate compared to national average: 5% lower
You may also like: Companies of all sizes have expanded retirement benefits—here's why
41 / 46
#6. Idaho
Divorce rate per thousand: 4.1
Divorce rate compared to national average: 33% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 8.2
Marriage rate compared to national average: 18% higher
42 / 46
#5. Alaska
Divorce rate per thousand: 4.1
Divorce rate compared to national average: 33% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 7.4
Marriage rate compared to national average: 7% higher
43 / 46
#4. Wyoming
Divorce rate per thousand: 4.1
Divorce rate compared to national average: 34% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 7.3
Marriage rate compared to national average: 6% higher
44 / 46
#3. Oklahoma
Divorce rate per thousand: 4.4
Divorce rate compared to national average: 41% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 7.4
Marriage rate compared to national average: 8% higher
45 / 46
#2. Nevada
Divorce rate per thousand: 4.6
Divorce rate compared to national average: 50% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 31.0
Marriage rate compared to national average: 350% higher
You may also like: When Pride comes to town: The economic impact of Pride events
46 / 46
#1. Arkansas
Divorce rate per thousand: 4.8
Divorce rate compared to national average: 56% higher
Marriage rate per thousand: 10.0
Marriage rate compared to national average: 46% higher
