Pennsylvania Divorce Rates

Pennsylvania divorce rates reflect the prevalence of marriage dissolutions in the Commonwealth, measured as divorces per 1,000 people or divorces per 1,000 married women, with recent data showing Pennsylvania's divorce rate hovering around 2.3-2.6 per 1,000 population placing it in the moderate range compared to states with the highest divorce rates like Arkansas (23.27 per 1,000 married women) and states with the lowest rates like Vermont (9.2 per 1,000 married women).

Current Pennsylvania Divorce Rates

Pennsylvania's divorce rate has fluctuated over recent years, generally tracking downward national trends while maintaining rates moderate compared to other states.

Recent Statistics

According to Pennsylvania Department of Health data:

• 2021:  Pennsylvania saw more than 31,600 divorces and annulments
• 2020:  28,884 divorces and annulments occurred
• 2015:  33,600 people obtained annulments or divorces
• 2012:  36,345 divorces and annulments were granted

These figures represent statewide totals, with divorce occurrences counted in the county where marriages were legally ended rather than where parties resided.

Rate Per Population

When calculated as divorces per 1,000 people:

• 2020:  Pennsylvania's divorce rate was 2.3 per 1,000 people
• 2019:  The rate was 2.6 per 1,000 people

These rates place Pennsylvania in the moderate range nationally, higher than some states like New York (1.8 per 1,000) and Texas (1.5 per 1,000), but significantly lower than states with the highest divorce rates exceeding 3-4 per 1,000 people.

Rate Per Married Women

A more precise measurement calculates divorces per 1,000 married women rather than total population. While Pennsylvania-specific data using this methodology isn't consistently reported in state statistics, this measure provides clearer insight into divorce likelihood among married populations rather than including unmarried individuals in the denominator.

Historical Trends in Pennsylvania Divorce

Pennsylvania divorce rates have changed dramatically over the past seven decades, reflecting broader social, economic, and legal transformations.

Dramatic Increase Since 1950

Pennsylvania has experienced a remarkable 170% increase in divorces since 1950. This substantial rise reflects:

• Changing social attitudes reducing divorce stigma
• Legal reforms making divorce more accessible
• Economic changes enabling financial independence
• Evolving gender roles and expectations
• Increased life expectancy extending marriage duration
• Shifting priorities regarding marital satisfaction

Marriage Rate Decline

Interestingly, while divorces increased, marriages decreased more than 18% since 1950. This decline suggests:

• People marrying later in life or not at all
• Increased cohabitation without formal marriage
• Higher standards for entering marriage
• Economic factors delaying marriage
• Changing cultural views on marriage necessity

The combination of fewer marriages and more divorces creates complex demographic patterns affecting families and communities.

County-Level Variation

Pennsylvania divorce rates vary significantly by county, with some areas experiencing substantially higher dissolution rates than others.

High-Rate Counties

Cameron County has ranked particularly high, with nearly 1,500 divorces reported in 2017 alone, a striking figure for a county with a small population, suggesting the rate per capita is exceptionally elevated.

Other counties experiencing elevated divorce rates include those with:

• Urban centers with larger populations
• Economic instability and employment challenges
• Higher poverty rates
• Younger median ages
• Lower educational attainment levels

County-Specific Factors

Variations among Pennsylvania's 67 counties reflect:

Economic Conditions

Counties with economic distress, job losses, and financial instability often see higher divorce rates as financial stress strains marriages

Demographics

Counties with younger populations or those experiencing significant demographic shifts may have different divorce patterns than stable, older communities

Cultural and Religious Factors

Areas with strong religious communities emphasizing marriage permanence may have lower divorce rates

Access to Legal Resources

Counties with more family law attorneys and easier court access may process divorces more readily

National Comparison

Pennsylvania's divorce rate falls in the moderate range when compared to other states across the United States.

States With the Highest Divorce Rates

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data and American Community Survey analysis:

Arkansas:  Consistently ranks as the state with the highest divorce rate, 23.27 divorces per 1,000 married women in 2022

Wyoming:  Second-highest at approximately 19.96 per 1,000 married women

Kentucky:  Third-highest at 19.52 per 1,000 married women

New Mexico, West Virginia, Idaho, Delaware, Tennessee, and Utah:  All rank among states with elevated divorce rates exceeding 15 per 1,000 married women

States With the Lowest Divorce Rates

Vermont:  Lowest divorce rate nationally at 9.2 divorces per 1,000 married women

New Jersey:  Among the lowest at 10.41 per 1,000 married women

Wisconsin, Minnesota, Alaska, Massachusetts, and New York:  All maintain relatively low divorce rates under 12 per 1,000 married women

Pennsylvania's Position

Pennsylvania's moderate position, neither among states with the highest divorce rates nor the lowest, suggests balanced factors influencing marriage stability. The Commonwealth avoids the extreme dissolution rates seen in some Southern and Western states while not achieving the low rates of some Northeastern neighbors.

Factors Influencing Divorce Rates

Multiple interconnected factors influence why some states and communities experience higher divorce rates than others.

Socioeconomic Factors

Financial stress consistently correlates with higher divorce rates. Couples facing unemployment, debt, or economic insecurity divorce at higher rates than financially stable couples.

Higher educational attainment correlates with lower divorce rates. College-educated individuals tend to marry later and divorce less frequently than those with high school education or less.

Demographic Factors

Couples marrying younger divorce at significantly higher rates than those marrying in their late twenties or beyond. Early marriage before individuals fully mature increases divorce likelihood.

Divorce risk isn't uniform across marriage duration. Divorce rates peak in years 5-8 of marriage, with risks declining thereafter though rising again for "gray divorce" among couples over 50.

Second and subsequent marriages have higher divorce rates than first marriages, with approximately 60% of second marriages and 73% of third marriages ending in divorce.

Cultural and Legal Factors

Regular religious attendance and strong faith communities correlate with lower divorce rates, likely reflecting both values emphasizing marriage permanence and community support systems.

States with simpler, faster divorce processes may show higher divorce rates as barriers to dissolution are reduced.

Decreasing social stigma around divorce over past decades has contributed to rising divorce rates as individuals feel less constrained by community judgment.

National Divorce Trends

Pennsylvania's divorce patterns exist within broader national trends showing significant changes over recent decades.

Overall Decline Since Peak

The U.S. divorce rate peaked in 1979 at 22.6 divorces per 1,000 married women. Since then, the general trend has been decline, with the rate reaching 14.0 per 1,000 married women in 2020 and 2021, a 40-year low, before rising slightly to 14.56 in 2022.

This long-term decline reflects:

• Delayed age at first marriage
• Higher educational attainment
• Increased economic opportunities for women
• Reduced stigma allowing unhappy couples to divorce earlier rather than remaining in troubled marriages indefinitely
• Better relationship preparation and resources

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact

The pandemic produced notable effects on divorce rates:

Showed 12% reduction in divorces across 35 reporting states, likely reflecting court closures and processing delays rather than actual relationship improvements

American Community Survey data paralleled administrative counts with nearly 10% decline in adjusted divorce rate from 15.5 in 2019 to 14.0 in 2020

Slight increases in 2021 and 2022 suggest some pandemic-delayed divorces proceeded once courts fully reopened

Personal Perspectives

For individuals contemplating marriage or divorce:

• Divorce statistics provide context but shouldn't determine individual decisions
• Understanding risk factors helps couples strengthen marriages proactively
• Knowing divorce is common reduces stigma and isolation
• Statistics inform realistic expectations about marriage challenges

Pennsylvania divorce rates measured at 2.3-2.6 divorces per 1,000 people place the Commonwealth in the moderate range nationally, avoiding both the highest divorce rates seen in states like Arkansas (23.27 per 1,000 married women) and the lowest rates in states like Vermont (9.2 per 1,000 married women), with significant county-level variation reflecting local economic conditions, demographics, and cultural factors. While Pennsylvania has experienced a dramatic 170% increase in divorces since 1950, recent trends show stabilization consistent with national patterns of declining divorce rates from the 1979 peak of 22.6 per 1,000 married women to approximately 14.56 in 2022.