Falling Fast: What You Know About the 50% Divorce Rate Is Wrong

It is an often-cited statistic that the divorce rate in America is 50%. That is, nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. But, like much of the alternative facts in the world that get repeated as though they are gospel, what we know about the divorce rate may not be very factual after all.The breaking news is that the divorce rate is actually falling. Not only is this good news for all you out there that are smitten with your high-school sweetheart, but the declining divorce rate is a positive sign for the generations to come, as a healthy, stable marriage helps reduce the risk of emotional and physical trauma in children, a fact attested to by local divorce attorney in Scottsdale, Arizona.Falling Further StillA recent report on divorce states that the probability of a first marriage lasting at least a decade was 70% for men and 68% for women. The probability of a first marriage lasting at least 20 years was 56% for men and 52% for women. While this number is closer to that of the infamous “half” statistic, it is still a healthy improvement. So, where does the dubious 50% statisticcome from? Well, divorce rates peaked in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s and have been on the decline ever since. This led some researchers to forecast that this statistic would continue to either increase or hover around that same number. But it is highly probable that the 50% number was an anomaly, as it came on the heels of the progressive feminist movement, which threw classic gender roles off balance and disrupted the then normal family make-up of a breadwinning male and a homemaking wife.Why the Drop?One reason that appears to be gaining some traction for the steady decline of divorce rates is the recent delay in marriage. In 1890, the average marriage age was 26 for men and 22 for women. In the 1950’s, the age dropped to 22 for men and 20 for women. However, that number jumped back up in 2004, this time to 27 for men and 26 for women. Later marriages canhelp prevent a number of stressesin young couples, fromthose who experience financial concerns, emotional immaturity, and lack of a shared, common goal.The falling divorce rate by no means implies that marriages are thriving in all areas. In fact, divorce rates among those of lower-income households are still quite high. But, the steady decline of the divorce rate does look promising, and it speaks to a growing maturity in many young couples; a desire to come together in a manner that is capable of supporting themselves both financially and emotionally.