Divorce and marriage rates by state
Nevada had the highest divorce rate in 2024, 3.8 per 1,000 residents, followed by Arkansas and Oklahoma (3.3 per 1,000 residents each); Louisiana had the lowest (0.8 per 1,000 residents). Nevada also leads on marriages, 24.8 per 1,000 residents, ahead of Utah (13.4 per 1,000 residents), and Louisiana again has the lowest rate (3.7 per 1,000 residents). The national rates were 2.3 per 1,000 residents for divorce and 6.3 per 1,000 residents1 for marriage.
Data as of October 29, 2026 (newest release used on this page).
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Marriage rates by State; Census Bureau, 2024 Cartographic Boundary Files. Darker states are higher; DC is the dot. Period: 2024. Hatched: no data for California, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota and New Mexico.
Highest divorce rates: Nevada, then Arkansas and Oklahoma
Nevada recorded 3.8 per 1,000 residents in 2024, the highest of the 45 states and DC with published data and 65% above the US figure (2.3 per 1,000 residents). Its rate is higher than every bordering state (Arizona, Idaho, Oregon and Utah). Arkansas and Oklahoma share second place at 3.3 per 1,000 residents, and Idaho and Wyoming share fourth at 3.2 per 1,000 residents. Alaska (3.1 per 1,000 residents) and Utah (3.0 per 1,000 residents1) complete the top seven.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Marriage rates by State. Period: 2024.
Show the numbers
| State | Divorces per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Nevada | 3.8 |
| Arkansas | 3.3 |
| Oklahoma | 3.3 |
| Idaho | 3.2 |
| Wyoming | 3.2 |
| Alaska | 3.1 |
| Utah | 3.0 |
| Alabama | 2.9 |
| Colorado | 2.9 |
| Kentucky | 2.9 |
| Florida | 2.8 |
| Maryland | 2.8 |
| United States | 2.3 |
Every state in the top ten, ties included, is in the West or the South. 26 of the reporting states are above the national rate, 141, counting DC, are below it, and the rest match it exactly at one decimal place.
Lowest divorce rates: Louisiana, Illinois and Massachusetts
Louisiana reported 0.8 per 1,000 residents, the lowest of the 45 states and DC with published data and 65% below the US figure (2.3 per 1,000 residents). Illinois (1.3 per 1,000 residents) and Massachusetts (1.5 per 1,000 residents) come next, followed by Kansas (1.7 per 1,000 residents) and Iowa (1.8 per 1,000 residents). The three lowest are each below all of their neighbors: Illinois is lower than every bordering state (Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin), and Massachusetts is lower than every bordering state (Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont)1.
NCHS publishes no divorce rate for California, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota or New Mexico. The ranking therefore has 461 places, counting the District of Columbia, and the national rate leaves those five states out as well, according to the NCHS national divorce table, whose 2024 rate is computed on a smaller population than the US total. Their residents still appear in the survey figures further down this page.
| 1 | Nevada | 24.8 | Higher | 3.8 | 12.5% | 35.7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Utah | 13.4 | Higher | 3.0 | 8.3% | 33.3% |
| 3 | Hawaii | 12.4 | Higher | – | 9.7% | 34.8% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | 10.1 | Higher | 2.1 | 8.1% | 55.0% |
| 5 | Montana | 9.2 | Higher | 1.9 | 11.6% | 30.1% |
| 6 | Colorado | 8.1 | Higher | 2.9 | 10.1% | 34.1% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 7.9 | Higher | 3.3 | 12.4% | 28.8% |
| =8 | Tennessee | 7.6 | Higher | 2.7 | 11.2% | 31.5% |
| =8 | Wyoming | 7.6 | Higher | 3.2 | 12.1% | 26.4% |
| 10 | Vermont | 7.4 | Higher | 2.3 | 12.4% | 31.1% |
| 11 | Idaho | 7.1 | Higher | 3.2 | 11.3% | 27.7% |
| =12 | Alabama | 7.0 | Higher | 2.9 | 11.8% | 32.3% |
| =12 | Florida | 7.0 | Higher | 2.8 | 11.7% | 32.1% |
| =12 | Kentucky | 7.0 | Higher | 2.9 | 12.2% | 30.6% |
| =15 | Connecticut | 6.9 | Higher | 2.5 | 10.3% | 36.5% |
| =15 | Maine | 6.9 | Higher | 2.5 | 12.2% | 30.3% |
| 17 | New York | 6.7 | Higher | 2.3 | 8.5% | 39.8% |
| 18 | Alaska | 6.6 | Higher | 3.1 | 11.3% | 34.8% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 6.5 | Higher | 2.5 | 11.6% | 30.2% |
| =20 | Indiana | 6.2 | Lower | – | 11.7% | 32.9% |
| =20 | South Carolina | 6.2 | Lower | 2.2 | 10.3% | 31.9% |
| =20 | South Dakota | 6.2 | Lower | 2.3 | 10.5% | 31.9% |
| 23 | North Carolina | 6.1 | Lower | 2.5 | 9.9% | 32.9% |
| =24 | Rhode Island | 6.0 | Lower | 2.3 | 10.3% | 38.8% |
| =24 | Virginia | 6.0 | Lower | 2.6 | 9.5% | 33.2% |
| =24 | West Virginia | 6.0 | Lower | 2.8 | 12.8% | 29.9% |
| =27 | Oklahoma | 5.9 | Lower | 3.3 | 12.1% | 31.8% |
| =27 | Oregon | 5.9 | Lower | 2.8 | 12.1% | 34.2% |
| =29 | Arizona | 5.8 | Lower | 2.1 | 11.2% | 34.7% |
| =29 | California | 5.8 | Lower | – | 8.5% | 39.0% |
| =29 | Georgia | 5.8 | Lower | 2.2 | 10.8% | 35.9% |
| =29 | Missouri | 5.8 | Lower | 2.4 | 11.5% | 31.8% |
| =29 | Texas | 5.8 | Lower | 1.9 | 9.8% | 34.7% |
| 34 | Washington | 5.7 | Lower | 2.5 | 11.0% | 33.4% |
| =35 | Kansas | 5.6 | Lower | 1.7 | 10.9% | 30.8% |
| =35 | Mississippi | 5.6 | Lower | 2.7 | 10.8% | 33.8% |
| =35 | Nebraska | 5.6 | Lower | 2.4 | 9.5% | 32.1% |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | 5.5 | Lower | 2.1 | 9.4% | 34.7% |
| =39 | Massachusetts | 5.4 | Lower | 1.5 | 9.0% | 38.5% |
| =39 | New Mexico | 5.4 | Lower | – | 13.1% | 35.8% |
| =41 | Iowa | 5.3 | Lower | 1.8 | 10.5% | 31.3% |
| =41 | Maryland | 5.3 | Lower | 2.8 | 9.4% | 36.9% |
| =43 | Illinois | 5.2 | Lower | 1.3 | 9.6% | 37.1% |
| =43 | North Dakota | 5.2 | Lower | 2.6 | 9.0% | 33.6% |
| =43 | Wisconsin | 5.2 | Lower | 2.0 | 10.4% | 33.1% |
| =46 | Michigan | 5.1 | Lower | 2.2 | 11.1% | 34.5% |
| =46 | Minnesota | 5.1 | Lower | – | 9.3% | 33.3% |
| 48 | New Jersey | 5.0 | Lower | 2.3 | 8.4% | 35.7% |
| =49 | Delaware | 4.9 | Lower | 2.4 | 10.7% | 32.9% |
| =49 | Ohio | 4.9 | Lower | 2.3 | 11.4% | 33.9% |
| 51 | Louisiana | 3.7 | Lower | 0.8 | 10.9% | 36.3% |
| United States | 6.3 | 2.3 | 10.2% | 34.8% |
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Marriage rates by State; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B12001. Period: 2024. "=" marks a tie at the displayed precision.
Marriage rates: Nevada far ahead of every other state
Nevada's marriage rate of 24.8 per 1,000 residents is 294% above the US figure (6.3 per 1,000 residents), close to double the next state, Utah (13.4 per 1,000 residents). Hawaii (12.4 per 1,000 residents), the District of Columbia (10.1 per 1,000 residents) and Montana (9.2 per 1,000 residents) follow. At the other end, Louisiana (3.7 per 1,000 residents) is 41% below the US figure (6.3 per 1,000 residents), with Ohio and Delaware next at 4.9 per 1,000 residents1.
Below the top four, rates fall gradually from 9.2 per 1,000 residents in Montana to 4.9 per 1,000 residents in Ohio and Delaware, with Louisiana alone below that. The median state has 6.0 per 1,000 residents, under the national figure, and 32 states are below the national rate against 191, counting DC, above it.
Louisiana 3.7Nevada 24.8
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Marriage rates by State. Each dot is a state. Period: 2024.
Show the numbers
| State | Marriages per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Nevada | 24.8 |
| Utah | 13.4 |
| Hawaii | 12.4 |
| District of Columbia | 10.1 |
| Montana | 9.2 |
| Colorado | 8.1 |
| Arkansas | 7.9 |
| Tennessee | 7.6 |
| Wyoming | 7.6 |
| Vermont | 7.4 |
| Idaho | 7.1 |
| Alabama | 7.0 |
| Florida | 7.0 |
| Kentucky | 7.0 |
| Connecticut | 6.9 |
| Maine | 6.9 |
| New York | 6.7 |
| Alaska | 6.6 |
| New Hampshire | 6.5 |
| Indiana | 6.2 |
| South Carolina | 6.2 |
| South Dakota | 6.2 |
| North Carolina | 6.1 |
| Rhode Island | 6.0 |
| Virginia | 6.0 |
| West Virginia | 6.0 |
| Oklahoma | 5.9 |
| Oregon | 5.9 |
| Arizona | 5.8 |
| California | 5.8 |
| Georgia | 5.8 |
| Missouri | 5.8 |
| Texas | 5.8 |
| Washington | 5.7 |
| Kansas | 5.6 |
| Mississippi | 5.6 |
| Nebraska | 5.6 |
| Pennsylvania | 5.5 |
| Massachusetts | 5.4 |
| New Mexico | 5.4 |
| Iowa | 5.3 |
| Maryland | 5.3 |
| Illinois | 5.2 |
| North Dakota | 5.2 |
| Wisconsin | 5.2 |
| Michigan | 5.1 |
| Minnesota | 5.1 |
| New Jersey | 5.0 |
| Delaware | 4.9 |
| Ohio | 4.9 |
| Louisiana | 3.7 |
The regional split is sharp. No Midwestern state reaches the national rate; the highest in the region is Indiana at 6.2 per 1,000 residents, and the lowest is Ohio. In the Northeast, Vermont leads (7.4 per 1,000 residents) and New Jersey trails (5.0 per 1,000 residents1).
Where the wedding happens is not where the couple lives
NCHS counts marriages by place of occurrence. A couple from California who marry in Nevada add to Nevada's rate, not California's. This is one reason the marriage rate and the share of residents who are married can point in opposite directions.
Nevada is the clearest case. It has the highest marriage rate, yet the share of its residents 15 and older who are currently married, 46.4% (±0.7 percentage points) in the 2025 American Community Survey, is 3.0 percentage points below the US figure (49.4%). In Hawaii, third on marriages, the married share (50.0%) is not statistically different from the US figure (49.4%). The District of Columbia has the 4th highest1 marriage rate and also the largest share of people 15 and older who have never married, 55.0% (±1.4 percentage points), 20.2 percentage points above the US figure (34.8%)3.
Utah is different: its high marriage rate matches its residents. 54.8% of Utahns 15 and older are married, 5.4 percentage points above the US figure (49.4%). The smallest never-married shares are in the Mountain West: Wyoming has the lowest in the country (26.4%) and Idaho the second lowest (27.7%3).
| Nevada | 24.8 | 3.8 | 35.7% ±0.6 | 12.5% ±0.4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 13.4 | 3.0 | 33.3% ±0.5 | 8.3% ±0.3 |
| Hawaii | 12.4 | – | 34.8% ±0.7 | 9.7% ±0.5 |
| District of Columbia | 10.1 | 2.1 | 55.0% ±1.4 | 8.1% ±0.9 |
| Arkansas | 7.9 | 3.3 | 28.8% ±0.6 | 12.4% ±0.4 |
| Wyoming | 7.6 | 3.2 | 26.4% ±1.1 | 12.1% ±0.9 |
| Idaho | 7.1 | 3.2 | 27.7% ±0.5 | 11.3% ±0.4 |
| Louisiana | 3.7 | 0.8 | 36.3% ±0.5 | 10.9% ±0.3 |
| United States | 6.3 | 2.3 | 34.8% ±0.1 | 10.2% |
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Marriage rates by State; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B12001. ± is the 90% margin of error.
Arkansas and Wyoming: frequent weddings and frequent divorces
Two states rank high on marriages and divorces at once, and their residents are more often married or divorced, and less often never married, than Americans overall. Arkansas has the 7th highest marriage rate (7.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than every bordering state (Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas), and a divorce rate of 3.3 per 1,000 residents that is higher than Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas; the same as Oklahoma1. In the survey, 12.4% of Arkansans 15 and older are divorced, 2.2 percentage points above the US figure (10.2%), and only 28.8% have never married, the 3rd lowest share and lowest in the South3.
Wyoming is tied for 8th highest on marriages and shares fourth place on divorces (3.2 per 1,000 residents1). Its never-married share, 26.4% (±1.1 percentage points), is 8.4 percentage points below the US figure (34.8%) and lower than every bordering state (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Utah), while its divorced share (12.1%) is 1.9 percentage points above the US figure (10.2%)3. In both states, a larger part of the population 15 and older has been married at some point than in almost any other state.
Louisiana sits at the opposite end of both NCHS rankings, but not of the survey. It has the lowest marriage and divorce rates in the nation, yet its share of divorced residents (10.9%) is 0.7 percentage points above the US figure (10.2%), while its married share is 2.9 percentage points below the US figure (49.4%)3. Few weddings and divorces recorded in one year do not mean few divorced residents.
The share of residents who are divorced
The American Community Survey asks each person's current marital status. It answers a different question from the NCHS rates: not how many divorces were granted in a year, but how many people are divorced and not remarried at the time of the survey. Nationally, 10.2% of people 15 and older were divorced in 2025, down from 10.3% in 20243.
New Mexico has the highest share, 13.1% (±0.5 percentage points), and given the margins of error ranks between 1st and 5th. West Virginia (12.8%) and Nevada (12.5%3) follow. New Mexico is one of the states with no published divorce rate, so this survey figure is the only state-level divorce measure for it here.
The lowest shares are in the District of Columbia (8.1%), where many adults have never married, and in Utah (8.3%), lowest among the 50 states3. Utah's divorce rate is 7th highest1, yet its divorced share is near the bottom. The survey counts a person who divorces and remarries as married, so a state where many people remarry, or where the population is young, can have frequent divorces and a small divorced share at once.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B12001. Whiskers show the 90% margin of error; states whose whiskers overlap may not differ significantly. Period: 2025.
Show the numbers
| State | Divorced, share of people 15 and older | MOE |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | 13.1% | ±0.5 |
| West Virginia | 12.8% | ±0.5 |
| Nevada | 12.5% | ±0.4 |
| Arkansas | 12.4% | ±0.4 |
| Vermont | 12.4% | ±0.7 |
| Kentucky | 12.2% | ±0.3 |
| Maine | 12.2% | ±0.5 |
| Oklahoma | 12.1% | ±0.3 |
| Oregon | 12.1% | ±0.3 |
| Wyoming | 12.1% | ±0.9 |
| United States | 10.2% |
Of the 50 states and DC, 28 are significantly above the national share and 153, counting DC, significantly below it; the rest are not statistically different from it.
How to read these figures
- Two sources, two years. Marriage and divorce rates are 2024 counts reported by state vital records offices to NCHS, provisional at release; they have no margin of error. Marital status shares come from the 2025 American Community Survey, a sample survey with 90% margins of error.
- Rates per 1,000 residents of all ages. Both rates divide by the whole population, including children and people already married. A state with many children or many older residents can have a lower rate without any difference in how often adults marry or divorce.
- Ties at one decimal place. NCHS publishes rates to one decimal, so many states share a value and a rank. Tennessee and Wyoming, for example, are tied at 7.6 per 1,000 residents1.
- Divorces include annulments in the NCHS counts.
- Separated people count as married in the survey shares used on this page; only a final divorce moves a person into the divorced category.
- Marriage rates follow ceremonies, not couples. States where many visitors marry, Nevada and Hawaii above all, have rates that do not describe their own residents.
Questions about marriage and divorce by state
Which state has the highest divorce rate?
Nevada, with 3.8 per 1,000 residents in 2024, 65% above the US figure (2.3 per 1,000 residents). Arkansas and Oklahoma follow at 3.3 per 1,000 residents1. Rates are not published for California, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota and New Mexico, so they cannot be placed in this ranking.
Which state has the lowest divorce rate?
Louisiana, at 0.8 per 1,000 residents in 2024, then Illinois (1.3 per 1,000 residents) and Massachusetts (1.5 per 1,000 residents1). Each of the three has a lower rate than every state it borders.
Why is Nevada's marriage rate so high?
NCHS counts each marriage in the state where the ceremony takes place, not where the couple lives, so weddings of visitors raise Nevada's rate. Among Nevada's own residents, the share who are married (46.4%) is 3.0 percentage points below the US figure (49.4%)3.
Does the national divorce rate show what share of marriages end in divorce?
No. The national rate of 2.3 per 1,000 residents1 counts divorces in one year per 1,000 residents of all ages, married or not. It says nothing about how many marriages eventually end in divorce, and dividing it by the marriage rate of the same year does not give that share either.
Related rankings
Sources
- CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Marriage rates by State; 2024 provisional counts. www.cdc.gov
- Census Bureau, 2024 Cartographic Boundary Files; table cb_2024_us_state_20m; 2024; released April 10, 2025. www2.census.gov
- Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B12001; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
Margins of error (±) are at the 90% confidence level. A difference is called significant only when it passes the Census Bureau's test at that level. How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.