Divorce Rates Are Declining, But Does That Tell The Full Story?

For generations, you’ve heard the statistic that half of all marriages end in divorce. It turns out that this statistic is no longer true – and divorce rates have dropped to their lowest in fifty years. Data shows that approximately 2.4 in 1,000 people get divorced nowadays, and that 41% of first marriages end in divorce, down from the usual 50%. These statistics paint a promising picture, but do they tell the full story? 

It turns out that divorces are still highly common, though a few additional factors contribute to the falling rates. 

Marriage Rates Are Also Declining

Fewer couples are getting divorced because fewer couples make it all the way to marriage. This has to do with changing attitudes towards marriage, in general. USAFacts has a fantastic graphic that shows the gradual decline in marriage rates since the 1950s. Back then, nearly 80% of households were headed by married couples – today, that figure has dropped to around 47%. 

Experts believe this is down to the decline in religious influences in modern society, which means many people don’t feel the need to get married as their ancestors did. Some couples are comfortable living together without committing to marriage, and if they split up, then this won’t be added to the divorce statistics. 

Furthermore, people are now more aware of the consequences of divorce. It’s no longer a secret that divorce cases are challenging and complex, often leading to drawn-out processes and lots of money being spent. Some couples simply don’t want to take the risk, especially as they don’t necessarily gain anything from marriage anyway. And so, fewer people get married, which means a lot of would-be divorcees never make the statistics. 

Marriage Ages Are Increasing

Consult any divorce lawyer, and they will reveal a fascinating trend that tells you a lot about marriage and divorce. When they deal with cases, they’re mostly dealing with first marriage divorces between young couples in the early-to-mid twenties. This is the main demographic when it comes to divorce – people get married young, realize their mistake, and are single again before they reach 30. 

What’s interesting about this is that the general age of marriage is increasing. A government census from 2025 revealed this perfectly, demonstrating that the average age at first marriage is currently: 

• 31 for men
• 28.5 for women

By comparison, if we take that back to 1990, then the figures drop to 26 for men and 24 for women. Go back even further to the 1970s, and most men were getting married at 23, while women were married by 21. 

This, more than anything else, gives context behind the statistic that divorce rates are declining. People are getting married much later in life than they used to, which means a couple of things are happening: 

• Individuals are being pickier about who they marry
• Couples are more mature when they eventually get married

So, what’s happening is that couples don’t dive straight into marriage anymore, but think through the decision a lot longer than in generations past. This means, when people do get married, they’re slightly more mature – which also means they’re more likely to make a smart decision. That’s reflected in the general decline in divorce rates, even though they’re still pretty high if you narrow it down to young couples. 

You need only look at the statistics to back this claim up. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics found that: 

• Couples who marry before the age of 25 have a 48% divorce rate within the first decade of marriage
• Couples who marry after the age of 25 have a 25% divorce rate within the first decade of marriage

Couples Stay Together For Longer Before Marriage

If you’re reading this and are aged 25 or above, then ask your parents how long they were together before they got married. Back in the day, it was extremely common for couples to only spend a year or two together before tying the knot. In some cases, it was even less than this. This goes back to the idea about how society’s perception of marriage has changed – generations ago, you had to get married, and it was always seen as this social end goal. As such, many couples rushed into it after barely being together for that long, hence the low average marriage age. 

Right now, reports suggest that couples will wait five years or more before getting married, hence the increase in average marriage ages. Waiting longer, yet still being in a couple, contributes to the decline in divorce rates. In the past, you may not have even lived with someone before marrying them. That was the traditional thing to do – and then couples would end up spending so much more time together, which created friction they never experienced before. 

Instead, that five-year period of dating lets couples experience what it’s like to truly be a couple. The transition to marriage feels less intense, which could be why fewer people are getting divorced. It’s like they’re having trial runs before deciding whether or not to go ahead with anything. 

The Truth About Divorce Rates

When you read the headline that divorce rates are declining, it makes you wonder why everyone goes on about it. However, after some research, you can see that the headline doesn’t paint the clearest picture. Yes, divorce rates are down to their lowest in 50 years – but the average age of marriage is also up to its highest. 

That’s where the new figures come from. People are getting married far older than they used to, which means a higher percentage of marriages are formed between people in their late twenties/early thirties. These individuals have always had a lower divorce rate, so it makes sense that the overall divorce rate comes down. 

The best demonstration of this is the 48% divorce rate in couples who are aged 25 or under. That’s a lot closer to the 50% rate that everyone quotes – and that rate was taken when the average age of marriage was closer to 25 or under. 

So, it’s maybe not so much that fewer couples are getting divorced and more that couples aren’t getting married as early as they used to. Those that do still end up with a divorce rate that touches 50%.