The statistic that half of all marriages end in divorce may not be true after all, according to a 2014 American Community Survey. In fact, findings report that of all the people surveyed, no group surpassed the 45 percent chance of divorce. An interactive chart provides information about who is more likely to divorce based on factors including employment status, race, and level of education.
Statistician Nathan Yau developed the chart by compiling data from the American Community Survey from 2009 to 2014. When you enter your employment status, race, and level of education, you can find out the likelihood that you will divorce based on age. One statistic that Yau found surprising was the fact that the most significant difference in divorce rates between men and women had to do with employment status and whether each partner had an advanced degree.
According to The New York Times, there has been a steady decline in divorce rates over the past thirty years, which is partly due to people tending to get married later in life. The widely believed myth that half of all marriages end in divorce comes from dividing the divorce rate by the marriage rate, which Yau calls naive. He explains that the problem with this calculation is that the people who marry now are different from people who divorce now.
Divorce Rates at a Glance
The following are examples of divorce rates for a range of populations based on Yau’s findings:
- By age 60, employed females had a divorce rate of 32%, whereas the divorce rate of employed males was 26%. The divorce rate for unemployed females was 38% and unemployed males had a rate of 36%.
- At age 70, there was a higher rate of divorce among males and females who received a high school education or less (33% and 30%, respectively) compared to those who received a bachelor’s degree (24% and 26%).
- Native Americans had the highest rate of divorce, whereas Asians had the lowest rate of divorce.
- In all population groups, the divorce rate increased with age.
Towson Divorce Lawyers at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC Help Clients Through Every Stage of the Divorce Process
If you find yourself contemplating a divorce, our Towson divorce lawyers at Huesman, Jones, & Miles, LLC will help you through the process with as little stress and anxiety as possible. Our experienced and compassionate team will work hard to help you reach an agreeable settlement so that you can get on with your life. For a confidential consultation, call us today at 443-589-0150 or contact us online. Our offices are located in Hunt Valley, Pikesville, and Towson where we serve clients throughout Maryland.
