Introduction
Divorce rates in the United States have been on the rise for over four decades. The average divorce rate is estimated to be around 14.9 divorces per 1000 marriages, which was recorded in the 2019 American Community Survey. Divorces among same-sex couples have also increased significantly since 2015 when they became legally recognized across all 50 states in the US; such couples account for an estimated 0.4 percent of all dissolutions nationwide each year during the past five years combined. Financial problems are a common cause of marital disruption; studies show that couples who do not manage their money well are twice as likely to get divorced than those who handle their finances effectively and efficiently together as a couple. Unhappiness is another key factor often cited by couples who decide to part ways; according to recent surveys conducted by mental health professionals, 67% of couples seeking counseling report feeling unhappy or dissatisfied with their marriages before initiating divorce proceedings.
| # | State | Divorce Rate | Common Law Marriage Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 11.84% | Not Allowed |
| 2 | Nevada | 11.27% | Not Allowed |
| 3 | West Virginia | 11% | Not Allowed |
| 4 | Florida | 10.81% | Previously Allowed |
| 5 | New Mexico | 10.79% | Not Allowed |
| 6 | Kentucky | 10.62% | Not Allowed |
| 7 | Vermont | 10.61% | Not Allowed |
| 8 | Oregon | 10.6% | Not Allowed |
| 9 | Arkansas | 10.51% | Not Allowed |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 10.49% | Not Allowed |
| 11 | Montana | 10.48% | Allowed |
| 12 | Alabama | 10.04% | Previously Allowed |
| 13 | Tennessee | 9.97% | Not Allowed |
| 14 | Indiana | 9.96% | Previously Allowed |
| 15 | Wyoming | 9.89% | Not Allowed |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 9.88% | Allowed |
| 17 | Missouri | 9.84% | Not Allowed |
| 18 | Ohio | 9.81% | Previously Allowed |
| 19 | Arizona | 9.79% | Not Allowed |
| 20 | Colorado | 9.65% | Allowed |
| 21 | Idaho | 9.52% | Not Allowed |
| 22 | Michigan | 9.52% | Not Allowed |
| 23 | Washington | 9.33% | Not Allowed |
| 24 | Louisiana | 9.3% | Not Allowed |
| 25 | Rhode Island | 9.26% | Not Allowed |
| 26 | Delaware | 9.24% | Not Allowed |
| 27 | Mississippi | 9.21% | Not Allowed |
| 28 | Alaska | 8.98% | Not Allowed |
| 29 | Kansas | 8.96% | Allowed |
| 30 | Georgia | 8.95% | Previously Allowed |
| 31 | Wisconsin | 8.91% | Not Allowed |
| 32 | North Carolina | 8.84% | Not Allowed |
| 33 | Connecticut | 8.81% | Not Allowed |
| 34 | South Carolina | 8.75% | Allowed |
| 35 | Iowa | 8.68% | Allowed |
| 36 | South Dakota | 8.55% | Not Allowed |
| 37 | Minnesota | 8.25% | Not Allowed |
| 38 | Virginia | 8.23% | Not Allowed |
| 39 | Texas | 8.22% | Allowed |
| 40 | Nebraska | 8.16% | Not Allowed |
| 41 | Maryland | 8.09% | Not Allowed |
| 42 | Pennsylvania | 8.02% | Previously Allowed |
| 43 | Illinois | 7.85% | Not Allowed |
| 44 | Massachusetts | 7.84% | Not Allowed |
| 45 | California | 7.45% | Not Allowed |
| 46 | North Dakota | 7.43% | Not Allowed |
| 47 | Hawaii | 7.31% | Not Allowed |
| 48 | New York | 7.28% | Not Allowed |
| 49 | New Jersey | 7.03% | Not Allowed |
| 50 | District of Columbia | 6.98% | |
| 51 | Utah | 6.78% | Allowed |
Divorce Rate by State
Alabama
Divorce Rate
10.04%
Ranked in the US
#12
Common Law Marriage Status
Previously Allowed
Alaska
Divorce Rate
8.98%
Ranked in the US
#28
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Arizona
Divorce Rate
9.79%
Ranked in the US
#19
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Arkansas
Divorce Rate
10.51%
Ranked in the US
#9
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
California
Divorce Rate
7.45%
Ranked in the US
#45
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Colorado
Divorce Rate
9.65%
Ranked in the US
#20
Common Law Marriage Status
Allowed
Connecticut
Divorce Rate
8.81%
Ranked in the US
#33
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Delaware
Divorce Rate
9.24%
Ranked in the US
#26
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
District of Columbia
Divorce Rate
6.98%
Ranked in the US
#50
Florida
Divorce Rate
10.81%
Ranked in the US
#4
Common Law Marriage Status
Previously Allowed
Georgia
Divorce Rate
8.95%
Ranked in the US
#30
Common Law Marriage Status
Previously Allowed
Hawaii
Divorce Rate
7.31%
Ranked in the US
#47
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Idaho
Divorce Rate
9.52%
Ranked in the US
#21
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Illinois
Divorce Rate
7.85%
Ranked in the US
#43
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Indiana
Divorce Rate
9.96%
Ranked in the US
#14
Common Law Marriage Status
Previously Allowed
Iowa
Divorce Rate
8.68%
Ranked in the US
#35
Common Law Marriage Status
Allowed
Kansas
Divorce Rate
8.96%
Ranked in the US
#29
Common Law Marriage Status
Allowed
Kentucky
Divorce Rate
10.62%
Ranked in the US
#6
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Louisiana
Divorce Rate
9.3%
Ranked in the US
#24
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Maine
Divorce Rate
11.84%
Ranked in the US
#1
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Maryland
Divorce Rate
8.09%
Ranked in the US
#41
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Massachusetts
Divorce Rate
7.84%
Ranked in the US
#44
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Michigan
Divorce Rate
9.52%
Ranked in the US
#22
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Minnesota
Divorce Rate
8.25%
Ranked in the US
#37
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Mississippi
Divorce Rate
9.21%
Ranked in the US
#27
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Missouri
Divorce Rate
9.84%
Ranked in the US
#17
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Montana
Divorce Rate
10.48%
Ranked in the US
#11
Common Law Marriage Status
Allowed
Nebraska
Divorce Rate
8.16%
Ranked in the US
#40
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Nevada
Divorce Rate
11.27%
Ranked in the US
#2
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
New Hampshire
Divorce Rate
9.88%
Ranked in the US
#16
Common Law Marriage Status
Allowed
New Jersey
Divorce Rate
7.03%
Ranked in the US
#49
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
New Mexico
Divorce Rate
10.79%
Ranked in the US
#5
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
New York
Divorce Rate
7.28%
Ranked in the US
#48
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
North Carolina
Divorce Rate
8.84%
Ranked in the US
#32
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
North Dakota
Divorce Rate
7.43%
Ranked in the US
#46
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Ohio
Divorce Rate
9.81%
Ranked in the US
#18
Common Law Marriage Status
Previously Allowed
Oklahoma
Divorce Rate
10.49%
Ranked in the US
#10
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Oregon
Divorce Rate
10.6%
Ranked in the US
#8
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Pennsylvania
Divorce Rate
8.02%
Ranked in the US
#42
Common Law Marriage Status
Previously Allowed
Rhode Island
Divorce Rate
9.26%
Ranked in the US
#25
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
South Carolina
Divorce Rate
8.75%
Ranked in the US
#34
Common Law Marriage Status
Allowed
South Dakota
Divorce Rate
8.55%
Ranked in the US
#36
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Tennessee
Divorce Rate
9.97%
Ranked in the US
#13
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Texas
Divorce Rate
8.22%
Ranked in the US
#39
Common Law Marriage Status
Allowed
Utah
Divorce Rate
6.78%
Ranked in the US
#51
Common Law Marriage Status
Allowed
Vermont
Divorce Rate
10.61%
Ranked in the US
#7
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Virginia
Divorce Rate
8.23%
Ranked in the US
#38
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Washington
Divorce Rate
9.33%
Ranked in the US
#23
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
West Virginia
Divorce Rate
11%
Ranked in the US
#3
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Wisconsin
Divorce Rate
8.91%
Ranked in the US
#31
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
Wyoming
Divorce Rate
9.89%
Ranked in the US
#15
Common Law Marriage Status
Not Allowed
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