Any engaged couple has likely heard that half of all marriages end in divorce—whether from a well-meaning friend hoping they’re making a well-considered decision or someone with more mean-spirited intentions. While that fact is true when it comes to first marriages, the true picture of divorce rates is a bit more complicated.

Regionally, the average rate of divorce was highest in the American West (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, and Oregon) at 3.15 per 1000 people. It was the lowest in the Northeast (Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island) with 2.29 divorces per 1,000 people.

To dig deeper into the state-by-state data, Stacker used divorce statistics from the CDC/National Center for Health Statistics to determine how divorce rates in every state have changed since 1990. The states are listed here alphabetically, and their changing divorce rates are represented as percent changes from 1990 to 2021 (the most recent year of data available). California, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, and New Mexico are not included as divorce rates were not provided for 1990 and 2021.

Rates are based on provisional counts of divorces by the state of occurrence. Rates are per 1,000 people residing in the area. The population listed is current as of April 1 for 1990, 2000, and 2010 and estimated as of July 1 for all other years. Keep reading to discover whether divorce rates have trended up or down in your state.A woman enjoys the view while standing under the archway of a natural rock formation.

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Alabama

– 1990 divorce rate: 6.1 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 3.6 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 41%
– #31 biggest decrease among states with dataKayakers explore calm waters in Alaska.

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Alaska

– 1990 divorce rate: 5.5 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 3.1 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 43.6%
– #25 biggest decrease among states with dataA scenic view of the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

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Arizona

– 1990 divorce rate: 6.9 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.7 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 60.9%
– #6 biggest decrease among states with dataTwo men get a bird's-eye view of a lake.

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Arkansas

– 1990 divorce rate: 6.9 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 3.6 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 47.8%
– #15 biggest decrease among states with dataThe Colorado flag flies in front of Pikes Peak.

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Colorado

– 1990 divorce rate: 5.5 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 3 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 45.5%
– #20 biggest decrease among states with dataA view of the Hartford skyline at sunset.

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Connecticut

– 1990 divorce rate: 3.2 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.5 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 21.9%
– #44 biggest decrease among states with dataAerial view of downtown Wilmington, Delaware.

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Delaware

– 1990 divorce rate: 4.4 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.6 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 40.9%
– #32 biggest decrease among states with dataThe Washington Monument in Washington D.C.

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District of Columbia

– 1990 divorce rate: 4.5 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.6 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 42.2%
– #28 biggest decrease among states with dataTwo people watching the sun go down from a Florida beach.

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Florida

– 1990 divorce rate: 6.3 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 3.4 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 46%
– #19 biggest decrease among states with dataA woman looks at the Atlanta skyline.

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Georgia

– 1990 divorce rate: 5.5 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.2 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 60%
– #7 biggest decrease among states with dataThe Idaho State Capitol building in Boise at dusk.

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Idaho

– 1990 divorce rate: 6.5 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 3.4 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 47.7%
– #16 biggest decrease among states with dataAerial view of downtown Chicago.

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Illinois

– 1990 divorce rate: 3.8 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 1.3 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 65.8%
– #2 biggest decrease among states with dataThe skyline of Des Moines, Iowa.

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Iowa

– 1990 divorce rate: 3.9 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.3 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 41%
– #30 biggest decrease among states with dataAerial view of the historic First Presbyterian Church in Topeka, Kansas.

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Kansas

– 1990 divorce rate: 5 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 1.9 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 62%
– #5 biggest decrease among states with dataA couple walks down a street in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Kentucky

– 1990 divorce rate: 5.8 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 3.3 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 43.1%
– #27 biggest decrease among states with dataA couple watching the sunset in Maine.

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Maine

– 1990 divorce rate: 4.3 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.7 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 37.2%
– #35 biggest decrease among states with dataAerial view of Baltimore's downtown and Inner Harbor.

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Maryland

– 1990 divorce rate: 3.4 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 1.6 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 52.9%
– #8 biggest decrease among states with dataAerial view of Fenway Park, foreground, and downtown Boston.

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Massachusetts

– 1990 divorce rate: 2.8 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 1 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 64.3%
– #3 biggest decrease among states with dataSunny skies over downtown Detroit and surrounding area.

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Michigan

– 1990 divorce rate: 4.3 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.3 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 46.5%
– #18 biggest decrease among states with dataThe Mississippi State Capitol building in Jackson.

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Mississippi

– 1990 divorce rate: 5.5 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 3.3 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 40%
– #33 biggest decrease among states with dataAerial view of the Old Courthouse and Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

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Missouri

– 1990 divorce rate: 5.1 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.9 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 43.1%
– #26 biggest decrease among states with dataScenic view of snowy Billings, Montana.

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Montana

– 1990 divorce rate: 5.1 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.5 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 51%
– #9 biggest decrease among states with dataAerial view of downtown Omaha, Nebraska.

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Nebraska

– 1990 divorce rate: 4 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.6 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 35%
– #37 biggest decrease among states with dataBlue skies and sunshine over the Las Vegas Strip.

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Nevada

– 1990 divorce rate: 11.4 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 4.2 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 63.2%
– #4 biggest decrease among states with dataAerial view of the Spinnaker Tower and Portsmouth's waterfront.

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New Hampshire

– 1990 divorce rate: 4.7 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.6 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 44.7%
– #22 (tied) biggest decrease among states with dataFall colors are on display across New Jersey.

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New Jersey

– 1990 divorce rate: 3 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.2 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 26.7%
– #43 biggest decrease among states with dataOne World Trade Center and other skyscrapers in New York City.

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New York

– 1990 divorce rate: 3.2 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.2 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 31.3%
– #39 biggest decrease among states with dataAerial view of downtown in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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North Carolina

– 1990 divorce rate: 5.1 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 3.2 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 37.3%
– #34 biggest decrease among states with dataAerial view of Grand Forks, North Dakota.

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North Dakota

– 1990 divorce rate: 3.6 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.9 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 19.4%
– #45 biggest decrease among states with dataDowntown Columbus, Ohio, with blue skies overhead.

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Ohio

– 1990 divorce rate: 4.7 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.6 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 44.7%
– #22 (tied) biggest decrease among states with dataThe Tulsa, Oklahoma, skyline at dusk.

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Oklahoma

– 1990 divorce rate: 7.7 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 3.8 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 50.6%
– #12 biggest decrease among states with dataAerial view of Portland, Oregon, with Mt. Hood towering in the distance.

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Oregon

– 1990 divorce rate: 5.5 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.7 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 50.9%
– #10 biggest decrease among states with dataA glimpse of Philadelphia's historic City Hall from a nearby street.

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Pennsylvania

– 1990 divorce rate: 3.3 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.4 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 27.3%
– #41 biggest decrease among states with dataThe waterfront and city skyline of Providence, Rhode Island.

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Rhode Island

– 1990 divorce rate: 3.7 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.7 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 27%
– #42 biggest decrease among states with dataThe steeple of St. Philip's Church towers over Charleston, South Carolina.

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South Carolina

– 1990 divorce rate: 4.5 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.4 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 46.7%
– #17 biggest decrease among states with dataA view of rolling green hills in South Dakota.

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South Dakota

– 1990 divorce rate: 3.7 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.5 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 32.4%
– #38 biggest decrease among states with dataAerial view of downtown Nashville, Tennessee.

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Tennessee

– 1990 divorce rate: 6.5 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 3.3 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 49.2%
– #13 biggest decrease among states with dataA woman jogging in a downtown area.

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Texas

– 1990 divorce rate: 5.5 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 1.4 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 74.5%
– #1 biggest decrease among states with dataA man walks across the street in Utah.

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Utah

– 1990 divorce rate: 5.1 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 3.3 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 35.3%
– #36 biggest decrease among states with dataTwighlight settles over Montpellier, Vermont.

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Vermont

– 1990 divorce rate: 4.5 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.3 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 48.9%
– #14 biggest decrease among states with dataTwo women watch the fading light from a high point.

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Virginia

– 1990 divorce rate: 4.4 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 3.1 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 29.5%
– #40 biggest decrease among states with data

.Fall sunshine bathes the Smith Tower in Seattle.

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Washington

– 1990 divorce rate: 5.9 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.9 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 50.8%
– #11 biggest decrease among states with dataAerial view of a neighborhood street in West Virginia.

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West Virginia

– 1990 divorce rate: 5.3 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.9 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 45.3%
– #21 biggest decrease among states with dataA man on a boat looks back to land.

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Wisconsin

– 1990 divorce rate: 3.6 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 2.1 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 41.7%
– #29 biggest decrease among states with dataA scenic view of Jackson, Wyoming.

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Wyoming

– 1990 divorce rate: 6.6 per 1,000 people
– 2021 divorce rate: 3.7 per 1,000 people
– Change in divorce rate: 43.9%
– #24 biggest decrease among states with data

Data reporting by Lucas Hicks. Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. 

Stacker

Stacker is a news organization that produces and distributes data journalism to the world’s news organizations. Founded in 2017, Stacker combines data analysis with rich editorial context, drawing on authoritative sources and subject matter experts to drive storytelling. This article has been republished pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.