Last Updated on April 2024
The number of couples getting divorced in New York has not been changing drastically over the last few years, which is probably linked to different social and economic reasons. Laws about divorce in New York have been constantly changing and updating, which affects how couples decide to end their marriage. If we try to look at the divorce patterns that are repeating over and over, that can help us understand the bigger social issues happening in the state of New York.
Key Takeaways
- The statewide divorce rate in New York increased slightly from 5.62 per 1,000 in 2021 to 5.71 per 1,000 in 2022.
- Several counties had a notably higher percentage of their population that is divorced compared to the statewide rate, including:
- Ulster County (11.7%)
- Onondaga County (11.1%)
- Niagara County (11.2%)
- Erie County (10.9%)
- Saratoga County (10.6%)
- Monroe County (10.4%)
- The counties with the lowest percentages of divorced population were Rockland (7.0%) and Nassau (6.8%).
- Among the New York City borough counties, the Bronx had the highest divorced population percentage at 9.4%.
What is the Divorce Rate in Texas?
So, based on recent numbers, around 2.2 out of every 1,000 people in New York get divorced, and this rate is much lower than the nationwide average of about 3.4 divorces per 1,000 people. New York’s divorce rate has stayed relatively stable over the past few years, actually going down from 3.2 out of 1,000 people in 1990. In 2020, the rate was 2.4 divorces per 1,000 people, which is a small drop from 2.5 per 1,000 in 2019. Even despite that, New York ranks around 29th from the bottom among all states for divorce rates, putting it roughly in the middle compared to other states.
What is the Divorce Rate Nationwide?
The nationwide divorce rate in the United States is around 2.9 per 1,000 population as of 2021, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There is a few additional details that you must know about Nationwide divorce rate to compare it with New York state:
- The divorce rate has been steadily declining since hitting a peak of around 5 divorces per 1,000 population in the early 1980s.
- Divorce rates tend to be higher in the South and lower in the Northeast compared to other regions of the country.
- Around 39% of marriages in the U.S. are estimated to end in divorce or separation.
- The rate is lower for couples with higher education levels compared to those with less education.
- The average age for a first divorce is around 30 years old.
- Divorce rates are typically higher for second or higher-order marriages compared to first marriages.
Just like in New York state, the overall divorce rate nationwide has declined over recent decades to under 3 divorces per 1,000 people as of the latest data.
What Factors Affect New York Divorce Rates?
There are actually a several reasons that can affect how many people get a divorce in New York State:
- Money Situations: When the economy is doing poorly, money problems may cause more fights between married couples and lead to more divorces. But when the economy is doing well, couples may feel more financially stable, which could result in fewer divorces.
- Cultural Views: How society views marriage, divorce, and family plays a big role. If divorce becomes more accepted, or if views on marriage change, it can impact divorce rates.
- Education and Jobs: People with higher education levels and steady jobs tend to have lower divorce rates. Education helps with communication and problem-solving, while stable jobs provide financial security.
- Age at Marriage: Getting married at a younger age is often linked to higher divorce rates, possibly because younger couples may lack maturity, money skills, and life experience.
- Laws and Policies: The laws in New York about divorce, child custody, alimony, and dividing property can influence how many couples decide to divorce.
- Living Together Before Marriage: Couples who live together before getting married may have different relationship dynamics that could impact how stable their marriage is.
- Religion: For some religious groups, strong beliefs about marriage and family values may lead to lower divorce rates among their members.
What are Common Reasons for Divorce in New York?
As we’ve discussed in article about grounds for divorce, there are many typical reasons why married couples in New York choose to get divorced. Money problems and stress about finances are probably one of the biggest factors that can cause a lot of arguing and lead to split. Troubles in communication and growing apart over the years also often contribute to marriages ending early. And sometimes, people simply fall out of love and feel that divorce is the best way forward.
Rafael Hebert is an experienced writer specializing in such topics as infidelity in marriage and divorce. His works can be seen on popular blogs like Marriage.com and Divorce Magazine. Having background in relationship counseling, Rafael is dedicated to helping individuals with emotional issues surrounding infidelity and educating them on their divorce options. In his free time, Rafael enjoys watching documentaries and visiting film festivals in different states.