Divorce Statistics for Washington State

In Western cultures, more than 90% of people marry by age 50, and 40-50% of those marriages end in divorce. Let’s take a look at some of divorce statistics nationwide, as well as in Washington State.

Marriage and Divorce in the United States

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show the following data nationwide for marriages and divorces.

• Number of marriages: 2,245,404.
• Marriage rate: 6.9 per 1,000 total population.
• Number of divorces: 824,261 (from 44 reporting states and Washington, D.C.).
• Divorce rate: 3.2 per 1,000 total population (from 44 reporting states and Washington, D.C.).

And here is some additional data, culled from several sources:

• Average length of a marriage that ends in divorce: 8 years.
• Both marriage and divorce rates in the U.S. are decreasing (as of 2016).
• Marriages that end in divorce: 41% of first marriages; 60% of second marriages; 73% of third marriages.
• Amount of same-sex couples that get divorced each year: about 1%.
• The United States has the sixth highest divorce rate in the world. Russia has the highest.
• Average amount of time before getting remarried after divorce: three years.
• 60% of all divorces involve individuals 25-39 years old.
• Wives file for divorce most often.

Washington State Divorce Statistics

The Washington State Department of Health collects information about each divorce, annulment, or legal separation that is finalized in Washington State. This data was last compiled for 2016.

• Married population in Washington State: 38.7%
• Divorced population in Washington State: 12.1%
• Total divorces and annulments: 24,499.
• Divorce rate: 3.5% per 1,000 total population.
• Most divorces involved individuals 30-44.
• The “divorce capital” of Washington State is Clarkston, where 25.7% of its population is divorced

Divorce Representation

If you’re unhappy in your marriage and are thinking about a divorce, the experienced family law attorneys at Steller Legal Group are ready to help you. We’re here to answer your questions and provide you with skilled, compassionate legal representation.

Contact us today to set up your free consultation.