South Carolina
Divorce Statistics
According to CDC statistics, there were nearly two million marriages in the United States in 2021. In that same year, 689,308 divorces and annulments occurred.
While couples enter into a marriage with the intention of a forever romance, statistics make it clear that many marriages end in divorce every year in South Carolina and across the nation as a whole. Understanding that divorce is far from unlikely should help separating spouses understand that they are not alone in the process.
Millions of other marriages have ended in divorce as well, and while the circumstances of the divorce may differ, taking a look at divorce data can help destigmatize the notion of a divorce. Census data shows that divorce rates can and do vary by state, year, and gender, but understanding and grappling with these numbers can be helpful for all parties involved.
To this end, this webpage provides the latest national marriage and divorce statistics and the divorce statistics for the nation as well as South Carolina, providing a comprehensive statistical overview of both national and local divorce.
South Carolina Divorce Rates
Note: 2020 is the most recently available statistic for South Carolina.
- According to the latest official statistics available (2020), there were 10,261 divorces in South Carolina, representing a divorce rate of 2.5%.
- These statistics place South Carolina as the 25th state in the number of divorces and the 21st highest in divorce rate, with 5.70 divorces per thousand people.
- On average, there were 28 divorces per day. The average duration of current marriages in South Carolina stands at 20.8 years.
National Marriage and Divorce Rates 2017-2021
2017 Marriage and Divorce rates
- In 2017, there were 2,236,496 recorded marriages.
- The 2017 marriage rate was 6.9 per 1,000 American citizens.
- In 2017, there were also 787,251 divorces and annulments.
- The 2017 divorce rate was 2.9 per 1,000 members of the population.
2018 Marriage and Divorce rates
- In 2018, the number of marriages slightly decreased to 2,132,853,
- The 2018 marriage rate dropped to 6.5 per 1,000 citizens.
- The number of divorces also marginally declined to 782,038, maintaining a divorce rate of 2.9.
2019 Marriage and Divorce rates
- In 2019, there were 2,015,603 recorded marriages, reducing the marriage rate to 6.1.
- The number of divorces also fell to 746,971, leading to a divorce rate of 2.7.
2020 Marriage and Divorce rates
- In 2020, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could be seen with a significant drop in marriages to 1,676,911,
- The 2020 marriage rate fell to 5.1 per 1,000 American citizens.
- Divorces also saw a substantial decrease to 630,505, lowering the divorce rate to 2.3.
2021 Marriage and Divorce rates
- In 2021, there was a recovery with 1,985,072 marriages.
- The 2021 marriage rate rose to 6.0 per 1,000 American citizens.
- Divorces increased to 689,308, giving a divorce rate of 2.5.
National Divorce Data Trends
- Between 2000 and 2021, both the marriage and divorce rates in the United States have experienced a significant decline.
- The marriage rate dropped from 8.2 per 1,000 population in 2000 to 6.0 in 2021. Similarly, the divorce rate decreased from 4.00 per 1,000 population to 2.5.
- In terms of absolute numbers, there were 944,000 divorces and annulments in 2000, which had fallen to 689,308 by 2021. This decrease aligns with the CDC's findings, which show a nearly 20% decline in the United States divorce rates over the last decade.
South Carolina Divorce Trends
- In South Carolina, the trend followed the national pattern, with the divorce rate averaging 2.4 per 1,000 people in 2021. This figure is a decrease from 1990 when the divorce rate stood at 4.5 divorces for every 1,000 inhabitants in the state.
In conclusion, while there's a general trend towards fewer marriages and divorces in the United States and South Carolina, the numbers still represent a significant portion of the population experiencing these life events yearly.
