(NEXSTAR) — Divorce is becoming less common in the U.S., with the national divorce rate declining 28% between 2012 and 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Factors such as marrying later, following different life paths than previous generations, and the high costs of marriage and divorce may be contributing to the trend.
However, 14 states still have divorce rates significantly higher than the national average, particularly in the South. In 2022, the national divorce rate was 7.1 divorces per 1,000 women, while Arkansas led with 12 divorces per 1,000 women. Kentucky and Tennessee were among the states with elevated rates, at 9.9 and 9.1 per 1,000 women, respectively.
The states with significantly higher divorce rates include:
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Arkansas – 11.9
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Wyoming – 11
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Kentucky – 9.9
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West Virginia – 9.7
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Oklahoma – 9.3
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Idaho – 9.2
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Tennessee – 9.1
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Alabama – 9.1
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Indiana – 9
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Georgia – 8.7
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Colorado – 8.5
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Louisiana – 8.5
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Maryland – 8.4
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North Carolina – 8.2
In contrast, 10 states, along with D.C. and Puerto Rico, reported significantly lower divorce rates, including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
While divorces are declining nationally, the marriage rate has remained steady since 2012, with a temporary dip in 2021 likely due to COVID-19 pandemic-related delays in weddings.
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