How Long Does the Average Marriage Last?

You got married in 2010. It was a wonderful day, and you have the pictures to prove it. Are you likely to still be married?

The average length of a first marriage in the United States clocks in at seven years. Most of those people get married for a second time, which can also end in divorce. Second marriages have a 60% chance of ending, and third marriages have a 73% chance of divorce. The odds increase the more marriages someone has.

While seven years is the national average, looking at things on a more local level shows you that some areas are outliers. For instance, Oklahoma has the highest divorce rate at 65%, while Hawaii has the lowest rate at 20%.

Why Do Marriages End After Seven Years?

Many factors can affect a marriage ending, including:

• Some states have higher marriages rates
• A couple was a poor match and makes a wiser choice later
• Kids are old enough to understand the divorce
• A spouse goes to jail or prison
• Infidelity
• Financial strain or excessive debt

Statistically, most people divorce at age 30, and the highest age range for divorce is 25-39.

How Many Marriages End?

Statistics say almost half of all marriages will end in divorce. Some studies claim this trend is changing in the 21st century, possibly because:

• People get married later (allowing time to consider partners carefully)
• Marriage is less of a social or religious need
• Domestic partnerships and long-term partners have legal rights that do not require marriage anymore

Divorce and You

No matter where you live, statistics show that your marriage could end far before you assumed it would on your wedding day. When divorce is on the horizon, you need to know your legal rights.