When Are Married Couples Most Likely to Get Divorced? (2024)

FAQs

When Are Married Couples Most Likely to Get Divorced? ›

While there are numerous divorce studies with conflicting statistics, the data points to two periods during a marriage when divorces are most common: years 1 – 2 and years 5 – 8. During those two high-risk timeframes, two years in particular that stand out as the most common years for divorce — years 7 and 8.

Most divorces happen between year three and year seven of marriage. Just 4% of couples divorce after 10 years of marriage.

Lack of commitment is the most common reason given by divorcing couples according to a recent national survey. Here are the reasons given and their percentages: Lack of commitment 73% Argue too much 56%

Of course, by the seven-year mark, partners are well past the honeymoon phase — and issues may have begun to arise. “With added time, marital struggles can include issues like poor communication and listening skills, a lack of empathy and partners having unrealistic expectations of one another,” Dr. Borland explains.

There's a term for this: walkaway wife syndrome. This term is sometimes used to describe instances where a spouse – often the wife – has felt alone, neglected, and resentful in a deteriorating marriage and decides it's time to end it.

The median ages for first marriages in the United States are 26.9 years old for men and 25.3 years old for women. On the other end, the average age for couples going through their first divorce is approximately 30 years old—30.5 for men, 29 for women.

In 2018, the median duration of marriage for individuals in a first marriage was 21 years. In other words, half of Americans in a first marriage in 2018 were married for at least 21 years.

While many couples see remarriage as a second chance at happiness, the statistics tell a different story. According to available Census data, the divorce rate for second marriages in the United States is over 60% compared to around 50% for first marriages.

When it comes to divorce, women are more likely to initiate divorce proceedings than men. According to various studies, approximately 70% of divorces are initiated by women. This may seem counterintuitive, especially in societies where men have historically been the decision-makers.

Which couples are most likely to divorce? ›

Several factors can make people more or less likely to divorce. These include age at the time of marriage, level of education, religious beliefs, and income level. Additionally, people who are more likely to divorce are those who marry young, have a lower level of education, are not religious, and have lower incomes.

Here's how the 777 Rule works: every seven days you go on a date, every seven weeks you go away for the night and every seven months the two of you head off on a romantic holiday. It might sound a tad prescriptive, and an à deux holiday almost twice a year could be one too many, but nevertheless we get the point.

The Goldilocks Theory

“The ideal age to get married, with the least likelihood of divorce in the first five years, is 28 to 32,” says Carrie Krawiec, a marriage and family therapist at Birmingham Maple Clinic in Troy, Michigan.

After all, almost 50% of first marriages, 60% of second marriages, and 73% of third marriages end in divorce. While there are countless divorce studies with conflicting statistics, the data points to two periods during a marriage when divorces are most common: years 1 – 2 and years 5 – 8.

The divorce rate fell from a historic high of 22.6 divorces per 1,000 married women in 1980 to 17.5 in 2007. In real terms, this means that slightly more than 40% of contemporary first marriages are likely to end in divorce, down from approximately 50% in 1980.

At the three, seven, 11 and 15-year marks

“When couples call it quits early on, such as [during] years two or three, they generally have not learned how to resolve conflict. The honeymoon phase has worn off, and past resentments start to overwhelm the relationship,” Polinder says.

Average Duration of a Marriage in the U.S.

According to the Census Bureau, the average length of a first marriage is eight years. Italy's is about double that. But the US doesn't win the title for the world's shortest marriage. Marriages in Qatar last an average of only five years.

What is the most common month for divorce? Divorce rates peak in March and August, making them the most common months for divorce. This could be due to people avoiding filing during winter holidays when family time is emphasized.