Divorce is more common in some parts of the United States than others, and the numbers can be surprising. Researchers measure divorce rates per 1,000 people, giving us a clear picture of where marriages are most likely to end.
Understanding these trends can help communities, policymakers, and families think about what support systems might make a difference. Here is a look at the 15 states with the highest divorce rates in the country.
1. Oklahoma
Oklahoma sits at the top of this list with a divorce rate of 20.7 per 1,000 people, the highest in the nation. That number is significantly above the national average, making it a state researchers and sociologists pay close attention to.
Several factors contribute to this trend. Oklahoma has a younger average age at first marriage compared to many other states, and research consistently shows that marrying young increases the risk of divorce.
Economic pressures, lower household incomes, and limited access to marriage counseling also play a role.
Community programs aimed at strengthening relationships have been introduced in Oklahoma over the years, but the rate remains stubbornly high. Understanding these root causes is the first step toward building stronger families across the state.
2. Nevada
Nevada’s divorce rate of 19.9 per 1,000 people comes as little surprise to many observers. The state has long been known as an easy place to get a quick divorce, with relatively simple legal requirements and short residency rules that historically attracted couples from across the country.
Las Vegas, in particular, has a reputation for fast marriages and, sometimes, equally fast separations. The entertainment-focused culture and transient population in Nevada’s cities can make long-term commitment more challenging for some couples.
Beyond the legal ease, Nevada also has high rates of gambling addiction and financial instability, both of which are well-documented stressors on marriages. Couples dealing with debt or job instability are statistically more likely to divorce, and Nevada’s economy creates those pressures for many residents.
3. Mississippi
With a divorce rate of 19.2 per 1,000 people, Mississippi ranks third on this list. The state faces a combination of socioeconomic challenges that researchers link directly to higher divorce rates, including high poverty levels, limited educational opportunities, and fewer well-paying jobs.
Mississippi also has one of the youngest average ages at first marriage in the country. Couples who marry before they are financially or emotionally ready often face tremendous pressure that strains the relationship over time.
Interestingly, Mississippi is part of what sociologists call the “Bible Belt,” where marriage is culturally valued and divorce can carry social stigma. Yet the data shows that cultural expectations alone do not protect marriages without adequate economic and emotional support.
Access to affordable counseling and financial literacy programs could help reduce these numbers over time.
4. Wyoming
Wyoming’s divorce rate of 18.7 per 1,000 people is notable for a state with such a small population. Because Wyoming has fewer than 600,000 residents, even a modest number of divorces translates into a high rate per 1,000 people.
Rural isolation is a significant factor in Wyoming’s numbers. Couples living in remote areas often have limited access to relationship counseling, mental health services, and community support networks.
When problems arise, there are fewer resources available to help work through them.
The state’s economy, heavily tied to energy industries like coal and oil, also creates boom-and-bust financial cycles. Financial stress during downturns puts enormous strain on marriages.
Wyoming’s wide-open spaces are beautiful, but the challenges of rural life and economic uncertainty make maintaining strong relationships particularly demanding for many families living there.
5. Alabama
Alabama’s divorce rate stands at 18.0 per 1,000 people, placing it fifth on this list. Like several other Southern states, Alabama sees high divorce rates tied closely to younger marriage ages and economic hardship across many communities.
The state has a median household income below the national average, and financial disagreements are one of the leading causes of divorce in America. When couples struggle to pay bills or manage debt, tension builds quickly and can become impossible to resolve without outside help.
Alabama does have strong religious and community ties that encourage marriage, but those values are not always paired with accessible counseling or financial education programs. Experts suggest that investing in pre-marital education and affordable therapy services could meaningfully lower divorce rates in states like Alabama over the coming years.
6. Arkansas
At 17.9 per 1,000 people, Arkansas has one of the highest divorce rates in the South. The state consistently ranks near the top of these lists, and researchers point to a familiar set of contributing factors: early marriage, poverty, and limited access to mental health services.
Arkansas has one of the lowest median household incomes in the country. Financial strain is a known relationship killer, and when couples face constant money worries, the emotional toll can be overwhelming.
Add in limited access to professional counseling in rural areas, and the challenges multiply.
On a more hopeful note, Arkansas has launched community-based programs to encourage healthy relationships and provide marriage education to young couples. These efforts show promise, but changing deeply rooted social patterns takes time, sustained funding, and broad community participation to make a lasting difference.
7. Alaska
Alaska’s divorce rate of 17.6 per 1,000 people reflects the unique pressures of life in the far north. The state is known for its breathtaking landscapes, but living there comes with serious challenges that can test even the strongest relationships.
Long, dark winters contribute to higher rates of depression and seasonal mood disorders, which affect how people relate to their partners. Isolation is another major factor.
Many Alaskan communities are accessible only by plane or boat, making it hard to seek outside support when a marriage hits a rough patch.
Alaska also has high rates of alcohol use, which is a well-documented risk factor for marital conflict and divorce. The combination of geographic isolation, mental health challenges, and substance use creates a particularly difficult environment for couples trying to keep their relationships healthy and strong.
8. Oregon
Oregon sits at a divorce rate of 17.1 per 1,000 people, which might surprise some given the state’s reputation for progressive values and access to social services. However, Oregon’s high divorce rate is tied to several specific demographic and economic factors worth examining closely.
The state has a relatively high cost of living, especially in cities like Portland. Housing costs and financial pressure can push couples to a breaking point.
Oregon also has a younger median age in certain regions, and younger couples statistically face higher divorce risks during the early years of marriage.
Oregon’s more permissive social attitudes toward divorce may also make couples more comfortable ending unhappy marriages rather than staying together for external reasons. While that can be a healthy choice for individuals, it does contribute to the overall rate being higher than the national average.
9. Louisiana
Louisiana’s divorce rate of 17.0 per 1,000 people reflects a state with deep cultural traditions around family and marriage, yet persistent economic and social challenges that put those relationships under pressure. The contrast is striking and worth understanding in context.
Poverty rates in Louisiana are among the highest in the country. Financial instability creates stress that ripples through every part of a couple’s life, from daily decisions to long-term planning.
When money is consistently tight, arguments become more frequent and harder to resolve.
Louisiana also has a high rate of young marriages, particularly in rural parishes where cultural expectations around family formation remain strong. Younger couples often lack the emotional maturity or financial stability needed to navigate life’s inevitable challenges together.
Investing in education and economic opportunity for young adults could help shift these trends over time.
10. Kentucky
Kentucky’s divorce rate of 16.9 per 1,000 people places it tenth on this list. The state shares many characteristics with its neighbors in the South and Appalachian region, including high poverty rates, limited access to healthcare, and younger average marriage ages.
Appalachian communities in eastern Kentucky face some of the most severe economic hardships in the country. Job losses in the coal industry have devastated local economies, and financial ruin is one of the fastest paths to marital breakdown.
When a couple loses their primary income source, the strain can feel impossible to manage.
Mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety, are also more common in areas with high unemployment and limited opportunity. Kentucky has made efforts to expand mental health services, but rural access remains a significant barrier for many couples who could benefit from professional support.
11. Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s presence on this list at 16.7 per 1,000 people is a bit of an outlier. Unlike many other states on this list, Rhode Island is a small, densely populated New England state with a higher median income and better access to healthcare and social services.
Researchers point to Rhode Island’s high cost of living as a contributing factor. Even with better average incomes, housing costs and debt burdens can create significant financial pressure on couples.
The state also has a history of economic volatility tied to manufacturing industry declines.
Rhode Island has a notably high rate of cohabitation before marriage, and some studies suggest that certain patterns of pre-marital cohabitation can increase divorce risk. The state’s relatively small size means that even modest shifts in population behavior show up clearly in per-capita divorce statistics.
12. Tennessee
Tennessee’s divorce rate of 16.3 per 1,000 people reflects trends familiar across the South. The state has a culture that celebrates marriage and family, yet socioeconomic pressures continue to push divorce rates above the national average year after year.
Tennessee has a relatively low median household income, and financial stress remains a top reason couples cite when filing for divorce. The state also has significant regional variation, with rural areas facing more severe economic challenges than cities like Nashville or Memphis.
Nashville’s booming economy has brought new wealth to parts of the state, but that growth has not reached everyone equally. Couples in lower-income communities still face the same pressures that have driven Tennessee’s divorce rate for decades.
Expanding access to affordable counseling and financial education programs across all regions of the state could make a real difference.
13. Nebraska
Nebraska’s divorce rate of 16.2 per 1,000 people might come as a surprise to those who think of the Midwest as a region of stable, traditional family values. The state is largely rural, and many of the same isolation-related pressures that affect Wyoming and Alaska apply here as well.
Agriculture-dependent communities in Nebraska face financial unpredictability tied to crop prices and weather events. A single bad harvest can wipe out a family’s income, creating stress that is hard to overstate.
Farmers and their partners often work long hours with little time to invest in their relationship.
Limited mental health resources in rural Nebraska also mean that couples in crisis have fewer places to turn. Telehealth has expanded access in recent years, but not all rural residents have reliable internet access.
Bridging that gap could meaningfully help couples get the support they need.
14. South Dakota
South Dakota ties with Washington at 16.1 per 1,000 people, landing it in the fourteenth spot on this list. Like Nebraska, South Dakota is a largely rural state where geographic isolation and agricultural economics shape daily life in meaningful ways.
Native American communities in South Dakota face particularly high rates of poverty, unemployment, and historical trauma, all of which are linked to elevated divorce rates. These communities also often have limited access to culturally appropriate mental health and relationship support services.
South Dakota’s winters are long and harsh, and seasonal isolation can strain relationships in ways that are easy to underestimate. When couples spend months indoors with limited social outlets, small tensions can grow into larger conflicts.
Building stronger community support networks, especially in rural and reservation areas, remains an important goal for the state.
15. Washington
Washington state shares the fifteenth spot with South Dakota at 16.1 per 1,000 people. Washington is often seen as a prosperous, progressive state, and in many ways it is.
But prosperity does not automatically protect marriages from falling apart.
The Seattle metro area has one of the highest costs of living in the country. Tech industry wages have pushed housing prices to extreme levels, and many couples find themselves working multiple jobs or long hours just to afford rent.
That kind of schedule leaves little time or energy for nurturing a relationship.
Washington also has a high rate of people relocating for work, which can uproot social support networks that couples rely on during hard times. Being far from family and longtime friends makes it harder to get help when a marriage is struggling.
Building local community connections is something many Washington couples are still working to achieve.
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