There are a lot of different factors that can impact an individual’s divorce odds. For example, if your parents got divorced, then there are higher odds that you will also get divorced. Additionally, baby boomers have the highest divorce rate, so simply being a member of this age group may mean that divorce is more likely for you than it is for a younger individual.
What about the age at which you get married? This is also something that has changed dramatically over the years in the United States. For the last few decades, the average marriage age has been steadily moving toward the 30s, with far fewer marriages involving those who are teenagers or in their early 20s.
Studies have identified an optimal marriage age
Naturally, every relationship is unique. But it is possible to track divorce statistics and determine when divorce is most likely. As a result, it’s possible to identify an optimal age to get married in order to have the lowest possible divorce odds. That age may be a bit older than you might expect. Some studies have set it at 32 years old. They found that divorce odds started quite high at 18, but then they dropped consistently all the way until someone was 32. Every year that someone waited made it less likely that they would get divorced.
At 32 years old, the trend begins to flip. Part of this may be due to the rising divorce rates among older generations. Some of these individuals are on their second marriages, which likely began when each spouse was at a more advanced age. For whatever reason(s), it is clear that the odds of divorce start to go back up again when people wait until they are older than 32 to get married.
Considering your options during a divorce
As noted, marriage age is certainly not the only factor that influences your divorce odds. Financial stress, children, hectic schedules, infidelity and many additional factors can influence the likelihood that you’ll eventually divorce your spouse. If you and your spouse decide to end your marriage, be sure you know about all of the legal options you can utilize to protect your interests, no matter when you decide to terminate your union.
