Ranked: The 10 U.S. States with the Highest Divorce Rates
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Key Takeaways
The figures represent state averages calculated from 2019 to 2023 data.
- Nevada leads with the highest average divorce rate at 3.88 per 1,000 people
- 8 of the 10 states with the highest divorce rates are in the South or Mountain West
- Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Arkansas follow closely, all exceeding 3.54 per 1,000
- Utah’s presence at #7 is surprising given its strong religious and family-oriented culture
- Higher divorce rates in these states correlate with younger marriage ages, lower incomes, and limited access to counseling services
The geography of divorce in America is anything but random. The states topping this list share a common thread. They tend to have higher rates of young marriage, lower median incomes, and fewer mental health and counseling resources. Marrying young is one of the strongest predictors of divorce, and states like Arkansas, Idaho, and Tennessee consistently report lower median marriage ages than the national average.
Nevada’s #1 ranking carries an asterisk worth noting. The state has historically had permissive divorce laws and has long been a destination for out-of-state residents seeking quick legal separations, which inflates its divorce rate relative to others.
Utah at #7 is the most interesting outlier. Despite a culture strongly centered on family and faith, economic pressure on young couples and early marriage ages appear to outweigh those protective factors.
Data Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics.