Statistics show the prevalence of divorce

You likely have many different issues to think about if you decide to get a divorce. Whether you worry about issues involving children (such as custody and support) or the division of your finances, you should remember that you are not alone.

Going over statistics on how widespread divorce is in the U.S. should serve as a source of confidence and a reminder that many other people decide to end their marriage every year.

Looking at data on divorce

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that more than 630,500 divorces and annulments took place in the U.S. during 2020, based on provisional data. Moreover, this does not include divorce data from five states. To look at this information in another way, 2.3 per 1,000 people got a divorce or annulment over the course of 2020. In 2019, even more people ended their marriage in these states (746,971 annulments and divorces, or 2.7 for every 1,000 people).

It is also important to note that fewer marriages have taken place in recent years. In 2020, 5.1 out of every 1,000 people got married in the U.S. (over 1.6 million marriages), while 6.1 per 1,000 people got married in 2019 (over 2 million marriages) and 8.2 out of every 1,000 tied the knot in 2000 (more than 2.3 million marriages).

Moving forward with your divorce

Unfortunately, some people choose to stay in toxic marriages as a result of unwarranted fears. If you have hesitation about divorce because you worry that other people will blame you for your marriage falling apart or look down on you, it is important to focus on yourself and the steps you need to take to work toward a brighter future.