Statistics about Marriage and Divorce

State with the lowest divorce rate: (1997) Massachusetts. Rate per 1,000 population:

2.4

State with the highest divorce rate: Nevada. Rate per 1,000 population: (1997)

Maryland was the 9^th lowest at 3.5%

9.0

Median age at divorce: (1997)

Males: 35.6
Females: 33.2 

Median duration of marriages that end in divorce: (1997)

7.2 years

Percentage of weddings which are remarriages for at least one partner in 1997: 

43%

Percentage of first marriages that end in divorce in 1997:

50%

Percentage of remarriages that end in divorce in 1997:

60%

Estimated average length of divorce proceedings in 1997:

1 year

Adults married and living with one another in 1998:

110.6 million (56%) 

Percentage of households occupied by one person: 

25.5%

In 1996, children of divorce were 50% more likely than their counterparts from intact families to divorce.

In 19 states reporting custody in 1997: 72% of custody were awarded to the wife, 9% were awarded to the husband. In 16% joint custody was awarded. Parents who are awarded and receive child support have higher incomes. 

Fatherless homes account for 63% of youth suicides, 90% of homeless/runaway children, 85% of children with behavior problems, 71% of high school dropouts, 85% of youths in prison, well over 50% of teen mothers.

Percentage of smokers who had been divorced in 1997:

49

Percentage of nonsmokers who had been divorced in 1997:

32%

The National Institute of Mental Health found that women in cohabiting relationships had much greater rates of depression than women in married relationships (second only to those twice divorced). The numbers fall as follows (annual rate of incident of depression per 100):

Married (never divorced) 1.5
Never married 2.4
Divorced once 4.1
Divorced twice 5.8
Cohabiting 5.1