Divorce Statistics and Studies Blog

Marriages and Divorces by State, 1990-2006

The 2009 Statistical Abstract: Marriages and Divorces by State, 1990-2006.

Virginia divorce stats broken down by number of kids, region, county

You can get these for:
2006 at http://www.vdh.state.va.us/HealthStats/DivCC06.pdf
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000

Nothing for '07 yet as of mid-June, 2008.
If these links quit working at some point, check the main page at http://www.vdh.state.va.us/HealthStats/stats.asp or http://www.vdh.state.va.us/

That page also has population numbers and detailed breakdowns of marriage statistics as well as all kinds of other vital stats.

The Demographics of Divorce-United States

Robert Hughes, Jr., Ph.D., The Demographics of Divorce -- United States and Missouri.

This clearly-written article explains what the different divorce rates do and don't mean, and suggests some less "newsy" but more substantial stats that indicate what the "true" divorce rate may be. It's an excellent demystification of divorce rates nationwide, but also contains a demographic overview of divorce in Missouri.

NY Times on divorce in red & blue states

Old but good: "To Avoid Divorce, Move to Massachusetts"
By PAM BELLUCK
11/14/04
Interviews many experts on various reasons behind variations in divorce between states.

Additional info on topics of divorce rates and correlations with other factors

Divorce Rates: U.S. | International | State & Local | Why they increased | When children present | Change Over Time/Historical | Length of marriage before divorce |  Military | Understanding divorce rates
Correlations with Other Factors: Age | Alcoholic parents | Children of Divorce Getting Divorced
| Cohabitation | Current Events| Gender of Children | Laws |  Marriage education programs | Occupation | Poverty | Race | Region | Religion |  Smoking | Unrealistic Expectations 

Latest state-by-state divorce rates

The latest listing of all states' divorce rates, from the Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics, only has rates through 2004. The same information appears in the Vital Statistics Section of the 2006 Statistical Abstract of the U.S. (It is p. 68 , No. 111.) Future Statistical Abstracts, hopefully with updated information on this, will be available at http://www.census.gov/statab/www/

Americans for Divorce Reform has incorporated this 2004 information into its study and charts comparing states' waiting periods and other aspects of divorce law with their divorce rates. It found that long waiting periods -- 18 or 24 months, with substantial reductions in the waiting period when both spouses consent to the divorce -- correlate with substantially lower divorce rates.