Updated: January 2024 – the most recent data available has been added below
Divorce isn’t just about the end of a partnership between two people. Divorce is a difficult and emotionally traumatic process for everyone involved. The dissolution of a marriage affects children and step-children, in-laws, and other family and friends. Unfortunately, it’s also a fact of life or will be, for many Florida families.
Through 2022 and beyond, more and more couples are expected to file for divorce. Florida’s divorce rates have taken a step back in recent years, but a look at statewide statistics shows that there are still many Sunshine State families facing the tough decisions that divorce requires.
Florida Divorce Rates
Experts used to say that around half of all marriages end in divorce, but more recent estimates put divorce rates at somewhere between 40 to 50 percent in the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks divorce data for each state each year. They broke down divorce rates over five years by averaging out new divorces per 1,000 Florida residents. For instance, in 2021, 3.4 people got divorced per 1,000 people in Florida. That placed our state with the sixth-highest divorce rate in the nation.
2020 saw a sharp drop in Florida divorce cases. The pandemic that began that year obviously affected all data collected for the period. People’s ability to access divorce resources was hampered. In some cases, the quarantine due to COVID-19 made it harder to complete the legal steps required for divorce in Florida.
In 2021 (We await official 2022 and 2023 statistics to be released) we saw a return to pre-pandemic divorce rates in the Sunshine State.
By comparison, Nevada was first on the list of divorce rates for the U.S. The state had a 4.2% divorce rate followed by Oklahoma, Wyoming, Alabama, and Arkansas. Again, Florida’s rank placed it sixth.
Illinois (1.3) and Massachusetts (1.0) had the lowest divorce rates across all 50 states among the states that submitted data.
U.S. Divorce Rates for 2024
The CDC documented 1,985,072 marriages across the United States in 2021 and a rate of 6.0 marriages per 1,000 people. There were 689,308 divorces recorded over the same year, although data from 5 states was not included in the research. 1,676,911 in 2020. 2021 was the last year figures were reported by the CDC on divorce. We await updates for 2022 and 2023.
Overall, Florida’s divorce rates over the past few years were much higher than the average rate for couples across the United States.
Florida Marriages and Divorce Statistics Over a Decade
The U.S. Census provides a broader view of divorce rates in Florida. They tabulated divorce numbers over a decade to note the changes.
Their figures are drawn from the number of women newly divorced in the included years per 1,000 women.
The good news is that while marriage rates have held steady over the 10-year period, divorce rates have dropped significantly from 2008 and 2009 statistics when held against statistics from recent years.
For instance, according to census figures, in 2008, 10 women out of 1,000 in Florida went through a divorce. Fast forward to 2019 and that number had dropped to around 8 women per 1,000.
Other Divorce Facts for Florida and the United States
According to Bride.com research, the typical U.S. marriage that ends in divorce lasts an average of eight years.
Business Insider found that 30 is the average age of people filing for divorce. Zippia.com decided to examine the number of 30-year-olds in each state who were divorced. They found that Florida was near the middle of the pack as far as 30-year-olds.
Among Florida’s 30-year-old residents, 11% had a prior divorce. That compared with the top state in the rankings, Arkansas. The state recorded almost 20% of their 30-year-old population had experienced a divorce.
Divorce for Older Florida Residents and Those in a Second Marriage
Business insider also notes something known as the “grey divorce” phenomena. Divorce cases for people over 50 has doubled in the past three decades. Florida certainly has its share of older residents who may have to consider divorce in 2022 and beyond. This may be their first experience with the divorce process or they may want freedom from a second or third marriage.
Researchers estimate that second marriages stand a 60 percent of ending in divorce. What’s more, third marriages only stand a 65% chance of lasting.
The good news is that some marriages do last a lifetime. In fact, according to Bowling Green researchers, around 40% of married couples will remain together for 25 years or more.
More National and Global Divorce Statistics
According to a study from the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), the US has the 6th highest divorce rate worldwide, with Cyprus, Hungary, Turkey, Latvia, and Lithuania leading the way.
According to a 2022 study from divorce.com, the states with the highest divorce rates (per thousand) include Arkansas (10.7), Oklahoma (10.4), Nevada (10.2) , New Mexico (10.2), and Kentucky (10.1). Conversely, the states with the lowest rates include Maine (4.8), District of Columbia (48), South Dakota (6.0), Pennsylvania (6.1), and New York (6.1).
Interestingly, Florida is among the top 10 states for the lowest marriage rates, at 46%.
Going Through Divorce in Tampa, Florida
If you live in Florida and are considering filing for divorce, it’s worth talking to a skilled local divorce attorney in your area. Even when divorces are friendly and partners want the best for each other, there are still pitfalls to avoid when forced to comply with Florida law and Florida divorce courts.
Speak with an experienced attorney to make absolutely sure you will have the best chance to rebuild your life after a divorce.
If you live in Tampa or the surrounding area, contact Robert Sparks Attorneys for a free consultation. It’s a no-risk opportunity to speak with our divorce attorneys and go over your options before you sign away important benefits in an unfair divorce settlement.
