Maryland Divorce Rates

When people think about getting married, they usually don't spend much time worrying about divorce. However, understanding divorce rates can help us see how marriages are changing in Maryland and across the United States. Maryland divorce rates tell us how many marriages end in divorce each year, and these numbers have been changing over time. This guide will explain everything you need to know about divorce rates in Maryland, how they compare to other states, and what factors might be influencing these numbers.

What Are Divorce Rates and How Are They Measured?

Divorce rates are statistics that show how common divorce is in a particular area during a specific time period. Understanding how these rates are calculated helps us make sense of what the numbers really mean.

The most common way to measure divorce rates is to count the number of divorces per 1,000 people in the population. For example, if a state has a divorce rate of 2.4 per 1,000, that means for every 1,000 people living in that state, about 2.4 divorces happened that year. However, experts often use a more specific measurement that looks at divorces per 1,000 married women aged 15 and above. This method is more accurate because it only counts people who could actually get divorced (those who are already married).

The Census Bureau collects this information through surveys and reports from state health departments and court systems. These numbers help researchers, lawmakers, and people like you understand marriage and divorce trends across the country.

Maryland's Current Divorce Rate

According to recent data from the Census Bureau, Maryland has a divorce rate that falls somewhere in the middle compared to other states in the United States. In 2022, Maryland recorded a divorce rate of 8.4 per 1,000 women aged 15 and above. This means that out of every 1,000 women in Maryland who were 15 years old or older, about 8.4 got divorced that year.

To put this in perspective, Maryland ranks as having the 15th highest divorce rate among all U.S. states. While this might sound high, it actually means that Maryland has a lower divorce rate than 14 other states and a higher rate than 35 states. Maryland is neither among the states with the highest divorce rates nor among those with the lowest divorce rate.

The Centers for Disease Control has also reported that Maryland's divorce rate was 2.4 for every 1,000 inhabitants in 2022. This represents an increase from 2020 when the figure was 1.7 per 1,000. These changes show that divorce rates can go up and down from year to year based on various factors.

How Maryland Compares to Other States

When we look at divorce rates across the United States, we see that some states have much higher rates than others. Understanding where Maryland fits in this picture helps us see the bigger context.

States with the Highest Divorce Rates

The states with the highest divorce rates in America tend to be in the South and West regions of the country. According to 2022 data, Arkansas has the highest divorce rate in the United States at 23.27 divorces per 1,000 married women. This is almost three times higher than Maryland's rate.

Other states with very high divorce rates include:

Top Five States:

• Arkansas: 23.27 per 1,000 married women
• New Mexico: 20.56 per 1,000 married women
• Wyoming: 19.96 per 1,000 married women
• Kentucky: 19.52 per 1,000 married women
• West Virginia: 19.33 per 1,000 married women

These states consistently rank among those with the highest divorce rates in the nation. Researchers have found that states in the South tend to have higher divorce rates overall compared to other regions.

States with the Lowest Divorce Rate

On the other end of the spectrum, some states have much lower divorce rates than Maryland. Vermont reported the lowest divorce rate in the United States in 2022 at just 9.2 divorces per 1,000 married women. Other states with low divorce rates include:

• New Jersey: 10.41 per 1,000 married women
• Alaska: 10.49 per 1,000 married women
• Maryland: 10.91 per 1,000 married women
• Wisconsin: 11.70 per 1,000 married women

Northeastern states, in particular, tend to have lower divorce rates. This regional pattern has remained fairly consistent over the years, though researchers are still studying why these differences exist.

Maryland's Position

Maryland sits comfortably in the middle range when compared to all states. With a rate of 8.4 per 1,000 women aged 15 and above, Maryland has what statisticians would call a moderate divorce rate. The state has the 24th lowest divorce rate in the United States, which means it's doing better than many states but not as well as others in keeping marriages together.

National Divorce Rate Trends

To understand Maryland divorce rates better, it's helpful to know what's happening with divorce rates across the entire United States. The national picture shows some interesting patterns and changes over the past several decades.

The national divorce rate was recorded at 6.9 in 2021 according to the Census Bureau. This indicates that 6.9 American women got divorced per 1,000 women aged 15 and above. Looking at married women specifically, the national rate was 14.56 divorces per 1,000 married women in 2022.

Historical Changes in Divorce Rates

Divorce rates in America have changed dramatically over the past 50 years. The divorce rate peaked in 1979 when it reached 22.6 divorces per 1,000 married women. Since then, the general trend has been downward. In 2019, Maryland and the United States as a whole saw divorce rates reach a 50-year low.

Between 2011 and 2021, Maryland's divorce rate dropped by 3.5 per 1,000 women. This decline mirrors what's happening nationally. The overall trend shows that while divorces are still common, they're becoming less frequent than they were in previous generations.

Recent Changes During the Pandemic

Something interesting happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2019 and 2020, the United States saw a nearly 10% decline in the divorce rate. Some people thought being stuck at home together during lockdowns would increase divorces, but the opposite happened initially. The divorce rate dropped from 15.5 per 1,000 married women in 2019 to 14.0 in 2020.

However, in 2022, the divorce rate increased slightly to 14.56, suggesting that some divorces may have been delayed during the pandemic rather than prevented entirely. The number of divorces reported in the United States in 2022 was 673,989, while the number of marriages was 2,065,905.

Why Divorce Rates Matter

Understanding divorce rates isn't just about numbers and statistics. These rates tell us important things about how society is changing and how people approach marriage and family life.

Divorce rates help researchers and policymakers understand social trends. When divorce rates go up or down, it can indicate changes in how people view marriage, economic conditions, cultural attitudes, and legal policies. For example, the fact that divorce rates have been declining since their peak in 1979 suggests that people might be approaching marriage more carefully or that marriages are becoming stronger.

For individuals, knowing about divorce rates can provide context if you're going through a divorce yourself. Understanding that divorce is relatively common can help reduce feelings of shame or failure. These statistics also help lawyers, therapists, and other professionals better serve people going through divorces.

Factors That Influence Divorce Rates

Many different factors affect whether marriages end in divorce. Understanding these factors helps explain why some states, like Maryland, have moderate divorce rates while others have much higher or lower rates.

Economic Factors

Financial problems are one of the major causes of divorce. According to research from the National Library of Medicine, 37% of divorced individuals cited financial problems as a reason for their divorce. States with higher poverty rates or economic instability often see higher divorce rates.

The cost of divorce itself can also be a factor. The median cost of a divorce in the United States in 2024 is as high as $7,000. Uncontested divorces, where couples agree on everything, can cost as little as $200, but contested divorces involving disputes over property or child custody can cost as much as $100,000. These high costs might actually prevent some people from divorcing, even if they want to.

Age at Marriage

Research consistently shows that people who get married very young are more likely to divorce. According to divorce statistics, 45% of people mentioned getting married too young as a factor leading to divorce. In recent years, Americans have been waiting longer to get married. In 2017, the median age for first marriage reached an all-time high of 27.4 years for women and 29.5 years for men.

This trend of marrying later might be one reason why divorce rates have been declining. When people wait until they're more mature and financially stable before getting married, their marriages tend to be stronger and last longer.

Cultural and Religious Factors

Cultural attitudes and religious beliefs play a significant role in divorce rates. States with strong religious communities that discourage divorce often have lower divorce rates. For example, Utah has areas with very low divorce rates, partly because of the Mormon population's religious views on marriage.

Maryland has a diverse population with people from many different cultural and religious backgrounds. This diversity contributes to the state's moderate divorce rate, as different groups within the state have different attitudes toward marriage and divorce.

Education and Employment

People with higher education levels tend to have lower divorce rates. College-educated individuals often marry later, have more financial stability, and may have better communication and problem-solving skills that help them navigate marital challenges.

Employment status also matters. Couples where both partners are employed tend to have more stable marriages, though financial stress from either unemployment or overwork can strain relationships.

Common Reasons for Divorce

Understanding why people get divorced helps explain the divorce rate statistics we see in Maryland and across the country. The National Library of Medicine has identified the most common reasons people cite for getting divorced.

Top Reasons for Divorce:

• Lack of commitment (75% of respondents)
• Infidelity or extramarital affairs (60%)
• Too much conflict and arguing (58%)
• Getting married too young (45%)
• Financial problems (37%)
• Substance abuse (35%)
• Domestic violence (24%)
• Health problems (18%)
• Lack of family support (17%)
• Religious differences (13%)
• Little or no premarital education (13%)

As you can see, the most common reason for divorce is a lack of commitment, cited by three-quarters of divorced individuals. This suggests that many divorces happen not because of one dramatic event, but because one or both partners stopped being fully invested in the marriage.

Infidelity and constant arguing are also major factors. These issues often build up over time, and couples who don't address them early may find their marriages falling apart. Interestingly, getting married too young ranks fourth on the list, which supports the data showing that people who wait until they're older to marry have more stable relationships.

Emerging Divorce Trends in Maryland

Several interesting trends are changing the landscape of divorce in Maryland and across the United States. These trends help explain some of the changes we're seeing in divorce rates.

Gray Divorce: Divorces Among Older Adults

One of the most significant new trends is the rise of "gray divorces" – divorces among people who are 50 years old or older. This age group now represents about 25% of all divorces in Maryland. This is a big change from previous generations when divorce among older adults was much less common.

According to a study by the American Association of Retired People (AARP), several patterns emerge in gray divorces:

• 66% of female participants initiated the divorce
• 41% of male participants initiated the divorce
• 73% of participants divorced in their 40s
• 22% divorced in their 50s
• 4% divorced in their 60s or later

Why are more older adults getting divorced? The reduced social stigma around divorce plays a big role. Many couples who stayed together "for the kids" now feel comfortable divorcing once their children are grown and independent. Others find that they've grown apart over the years or that they no longer have much in common besides their shared history.

Gray divorces present unique challenges compared to divorces among younger couples. Older divorcing couples must deal with dividing retirement accounts, pensions, and other assets they've built up over decades of marriage. They also have less time to rebuild their financial security before retirement.

Women Initiating Most Divorces

Another interesting trend is that women now initiate about 70% of all divorces. This is much higher than it was 50 years ago and represents a major shift in how marriage and divorce work in America.

This trend is partly explained by women's increased financial independence. In the mid-1900s, many women depended on their husbands for financial support, which made divorce economically difficult or impossible. Today, more women have careers and can support themselves financially, giving them the freedom to leave unhappy marriages.

The reduced social stigma around divorce has also made it easier for women to initiate divorce without facing severe social consequences. In previous generations, divorced women often faced judgment and exclusion from their communities. Today, divorce is viewed more as a personal choice and less as a moral failing.

Declining Marriage Rates

While we're focusing on divorce rates, it's important to note that marriage rates are also declining. In 2019, 33 adults out of 1,000 got married compared to 86 out of 1,000 in 1970. This dramatic decrease means fewer people are getting married in the first place.

Adults are choosing to cohabit (live together without getting married) more often than previous generations did. This societal change affects divorce rates because people who never marry obviously can't get divorced. Some researchers believe the declining divorce rate is partly due to the fact that people who do choose to get married today are more committed to making their marriages work.

Mandatory Parent Education Classes

Maryland now requires all parents going through a divorce, separation, or custody case with minor children to complete a 6-hour parent education class. This trend toward requiring education for divorcing parents has spread across nearly all states, according to the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.

These classes teach parents how to help their children cope with divorce, communicate effectively with their co-parent, and put their children's needs first during the divorce process. The goal is to reduce the negative impact of divorce on children and help parents develop healthy co-parenting relationships.

Some researchers believe that offering these classes earlier in the separation process, before couples decide to divorce, might help some marriages survive by teaching better communication and conflict resolution skills.

Regional Differences in Divorce Rates

Divorce rates vary significantly across different regions of the United States, and understanding these regional patterns helps explain Maryland's moderate position.

The Southern States

The South has consistently higher divorce rates than other regions. Out of the 14 states in the top quartile (highest 25%) for divorce rates, 10 are Southern states. This includes states like Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, Alabama, and Tennessee, all of which have divorce rates significantly higher than Maryland's.

Researchers have proposed several explanations for the South's higher divorce rates, including younger average ages at marriage, lower income levels in some areas, and different cultural attitudes toward marriage and divorce.

The Northeastern States

The Northeast region, where Maryland is located, tends to have lower divorce rates overall. Northeastern states like Vermont, New Jersey, and Connecticut consistently rank among states with the lowest divorce rates. No Northeastern state appears in the top quartile for divorce rates.

Maryland, sitting at the 15th highest rate, is actually on the higher end for a Northeastern state. This might be because Maryland has characteristics of both the Northeast and the South, given its location on the border between the two regions.

The Midwest and West

The Midwest and West regions show more variation, with some states having high divorce rates and others having low rates. For example, Wyoming and New Mexico in the West have high divorce rates, while Alaska has one of the lowest. Similarly, Indiana has a high rate among Midwestern states, while Wisconsin and Maryland have low rates.

The Financial Impact of Divorce

Divorce doesn't just affect people emotionally – it also has significant financial consequences that can influence whether people decide to divorce and how they handle the process.

The cost of getting divorced in America can be substantial. As mentioned earlier, the median cost is $7,000, but this can vary dramatically depending on whether the divorce is contested (the couple disagrees about important issues) or uncontested (they agree on everything).

Uncontested divorces are much cheaper, sometimes costing only a few hundred dollars if couples handle much of the paperwork themselves. However, contested divorces that involve battles over property division, child custody, or alimony can cost tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, court costs, and expert witness fees.

Beyond the immediate cost of getting divorced, there are long-term financial impacts. Divorce typically reduces the standard of living for both parties, at least initially, because maintaining two separate households costs more than maintaining one shared household. This is especially challenging for people going through gray divorces who have less time to rebuild their finances before retirement.

Children's Perspectives on Divorce

An interesting trend shows that children's attitudes toward divorce have changed significantly over the generations. Today's children increasingly see divorce as a solution to marital problems rather than as a shameful event.

In a recent study, nearly 75% of children with divorced parents thought divorce was an appropriate answer to dealing with serious marital conflict. This represents a major shift from previous generations when children often felt stigmatized by their parents' divorce.

This change in attitude might actually contribute to future divorce rates. If people grow up viewing divorce as an acceptable solution to marital problems, they might be more willing to divorce when facing difficulties in their own marriages. However, it could also mean that people are more realistic about marriage and better able to make healthy decisions about when to stay and when to leave.

What the Future Holds for Maryland Divorce Rates

Based on current trends, what can we expect for Maryland divorce rates in the coming years? While it's impossible to predict with certainty, several factors suggest the direction rates might go.

The overall downward trend in divorce rates that we've seen since 1979 will likely continue, at least in the near term. As people continue to wait longer to get married, have better access to relationship counseling and support, and approach marriage more seriously, we may see divorce rates stabilize at current levels or even decrease further.

However, the rise in gray divorces might partially offset declining divorce rates among younger people. As baby boomers continue to age and more people reach their 50s and 60s, we may see the percentage of older divorces continue to increase.

Economic factors will also play a role. If Maryland's economy remains strong and employment rates stay healthy, divorce rates may remain stable or decrease. However, economic downturns often lead to increases in divorce rates as financial stress strains marriages.

Understanding the Complete Picture

When we look at Maryland divorce rates, it's important to remember that statistics tell only part of the story. Behind every number is a family experiencing significant life changes, making difficult decisions, and working to build new lives.

Maryland's position as a state with a moderate divorce rate – ranking 15th highest or 24th lowest, depending on how you look at it – suggests that the state is fairly typical of national trends. The factors that influence divorce rates nationally, from economic conditions to cultural attitudes to age at marriage, all apply in Maryland as well.

The declining trend in divorce rates over the past several decades is generally positive news, suggesting that when people do choose to get married, their marriages are more likely to last than marriages from previous generations. However, the rise in gray divorces reminds us that divorce can happen at any age and that long marriages aren't immune to problems.

For people living in Maryland, understanding these statistics can provide valuable context, whether you're considering marriage, going through a divorce, or simply trying to understand social trends in your community. While no one gets married expecting to become part of the divorce statistics, knowing that divorce rates are moderate in Maryland and declining nationally can help people feel less alone if they do face this challenge.

The future of divorce rates in Maryland will depend on many factors, from economic conditions to changing social attitudes to how well couples are prepared for the challenges of marriage. By understanding current trends and the factors that influence divorce rates, we can better support marriages and families throughout the state.