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What is behind the lower divorce rate?

On Behalf of | Jan 7, 2020 | Divorce |

A recent study showed that divorce rates in the U.S. are down, though Georgia was one of six states that did not provide enough marriage and divorce information to be included in the report. Still, the information is mostly good news overall. A closer look at the data reveals some interesting details about marriage and divorce in the nation. 

An article in Good Housekeeping Magazine looked at various sets of data about divorce in the U.S. As with any statistics, numerous perspectives exist to interpret the data. Overall, though, according to a recent study, the nation’s divorce rate declined by 18% from 2008 to 2016. This rate, according to the CDC, amounts to 3.2 people engaged in divorce per 1,000 people. A positive spin on the stats focuses on many young people getting married later in life when they have established a strong relationship. The fact that living together before marriage is also more common nowadays may play a positive role in the numbers as well. On the negative side, less people are getting married than before. This may self-select for more stable marriages, as those who do marry tend to have better jobs and higher incomes. 

Statistics for Georgia divorces are more difficult to obtain than in many states. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health the state office of vital records only has complete divorce data from 1952 to 1996. For the dates after 1996, the records of divorce are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce took place. This makes it more difficult to determine current trends in Georgia divorce rates.