Divorce Rates in America

The rate at which people divorce varies from country to country. However, gathering of divorce statistics from different countries is difficult because some countries do not release their official records. Nevertheless, most divorce records show the figures three to four years ago, and despite this situation, it is possible to make comments on divorce rates in certain Western countries.

In the USA, it is generally accepted that up to 50% of all marriages fail compared to other countries such as Australia, the UK and Canada. There are different ways of looking at divorce statistics. For instance, you can read how many divorces occur per head of population. In the USA, the recent figures show that 8 people per 1000 of the population get divorced compared to the Western countries with 5 divorced people per 1000 members of the population.

In the US it is easier and more accurate to make your study on a state rather than a federal basis. Each state is required to keep marriage and divorce records and you can obtain relevant information via the appropriate government body in each particular state.

The rate of divorce has moved dramatically in some countries recently. In the UK, the rate of divorce has dropped by about 15% in recent years; Australia's divorce rate has increased considerably. Of course the statisticians provide the raw data and the commentators provide the opinions as to why this is so. In Australia for instance, the marked increase in the rate of divorce is likely to have occurred because of changes in federal law, making it much easier to obtain a divorce. By introducing the grounds of 'irreconcilable differences', couples wishing to divorce simply had to separate for a set minimum period and then list the grounds for divorce as irreconcilable differences.

Family law attorney, Eric M. Gansberg, Esq., is located on Staten Island, New York, and represents men and women with divorce, child support and family law throughout the New York City area, including Staten Island, Annadale, Arden Heights, Bay Terrace, Dongan Hills, Eltingville, Emerson Hill, Fort Wadsworth, Graniteville, Grant City, Grasmere, Great Kills, Greenridge, Grymes Hill, Heartland Village, Huguenot, Lighthouse Hill, Midland Beach, New Dorp, New Springville, Oakwood, Old Town NY, Pleasant Plains, Prince's Bay, Randall Manor, Richmond Valley Richmondtown, Rosebank, Rossville, Shore Acres, Silver Lake, South Beach, St. George, Tottenville Beach, Ward Hill, Westerleigh, Willowbrook, Woodrow, other areas of Staten Island, New York City, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, Long Island, Suffolk County, Nassau County, Westchester County, and Rockland County.