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Which States Have the Highest Divorce Rates?

Texas Has One of the Highest Divorce Rates in the Country

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the crude divorce rate for the state in 2016 is 4.2 per 1,000 residents. When hearing this figure, many people wonder, what does this number actually mean? Without significantly more information, it is difficult to put that type of number into the proper perspective.

In this article, our Pearland, TX family law attorneys offer some useful guidance on how divorce in Texas stacks up against the rest of the country. We highlight the states with the highest divorce rates, the states with the lowest divorce rates, and take a look at the latest trends for divorce in Texas.

The States With the Highest and Lowest Divorce Rates

The best state-level divorce data comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . The data referenced here is for the year 2016, and it is listed on divorce per 1,000 residents basis. According to the CDC, the U.S. states with the highest and lowest divorce rates are as follows:

The States With the Highest Divorce Rate

  1. Oklahoma (4.4)

  2. Nevada (4.3)

  3. Texas (4.2)

  4. Wyoming (4.2)

  5. Idaho (4.0)

The States With the Lowest Divorce Rate

  1. Iowa (1.3)

  2. Illinois (2.0)

  3. Massachusetts (2.3)

  4. South Carolina (2.5)

  5. New Jersey (2.6)

Notably, the states with the lowest and highest divorce rates can change relatively quickly. In 2016, Texas had the third highest divorce rate in the entire country. However, a few years ago, Texas was closer to the middle of the pack. At the same time, certain states, such as Iowa, have consistently maintained a divorce rate that is far below the national average. Whereas other states, including Oklahoma, have consistently been one of the highest divorcing states.

The Long-Term Divorce Rate in Texas is Falling

It is worth mentioning that, after decades of increasing, the long-term divorce rate in Texas is beginning to reverse. The most comprehensive data we have regarding Texas divorces comes for the Annual Statistical Reports for the Texas Judiciary . Among many other things, this report provides information regarding divorce filings in Texas for every year from 1989 through 2014. Over this 25 year span, the number of divorces being filed in our state is remarkably stable:

This is a major drop in the divorce rate. While divorce filings are stable, the Texas population has increased by nearly 80%. There are nearly 13 million more people living in Texas than there was 25 years ago.

Do You Need Help From a Texas Divorce Lawyer?

Our legal team is here for you. At John Powell III, P.C. , our top-rated Texas divorce attorney has been Board-Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. To get immediate family law help, please do not hesitate to contact our law firm for a fully confidential, no obligation initial consultation.