Posted on Sep 25, 2011
For the first time ever, the United States Census has released an analysis of marriage and divorce rates across the country, using data from their 2009 survey of three million homes. The findings showed that Western states, such as Washington, have both higher rates of marriage and higher rates of divorce than average.

Here are some interesting statistics from the report:

  • Marriage rates are at an all-time low, with only 52 percent of Americans over 18 tying the knot.

  • 46.3 percent of adults aged 25-34 remain unmarried - a larger number than divorced and widowed adults in the same age group.

  • In 2009, 19.1 marriages took place for every 1,000 men and 17.6 marriages took place for every 1,000 women.

  • In the same year, about 9 divorces took place per every 1,000 Americans.

  • Southern states led the country both in the number of divorces and in the number of marriages.

  • The Northeast had both the lowest marriage rates and the lowest divorce rates - probably because couples wait longer to marry in this region.

  • Recently divorced women raising children reported significantly higher poverty rates than other groups.

  • Over one million children experienced a divorce in their family in the year before 2009.

If you are considering divorce in Washington, contact a Seattle Family Law attorney today.

Molly B. Kenny
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Divorce and Child Custody Attorney Serving Bellevue and Seattle Washington