Society continually evolves based on factors ranging from politics to education levels. As values shift, so do family circumstances and personal behavior. People’s opinions about marriage and divorce have changed dramatically over the last few decades. Many couples now choose to forgo marriage or wait far longer to get married. They may have children before getting married or without any intention of marrying.
Attitudes about divorce have also changed. It was once uncommon for older couples who spent decades together to divorce, but gray divorces have become relatively common. The social stigma associated with divorce has largely dissipated. People no longer judge and avoid those who divorce because it is a relatively common occurrence. Almost everyone knows a few people who have divorced, and some people even marry and divorce more than once.
Data about divorces can give people insight into how values and priorities have changed as time has passed. What do statistics say about divorce in Ohio over the last 30 years?
Divorce rates have shifted substantially
When looking at not the total number of cases but rather the number of divorces adjusted for population, it is clear that the number of divorces has changed dramatically in Ohio. When looking at data gathered in 1990 and 2021, there is a noticeable change in Ohio’s divorce rate, but it may not be what people expect.
In 1990, there were 4.7 divorces reported per 1,000 people living in Ohio. By 2021, that figure had dropped to 2.6 divorces per 1,000 people. That is a 44.7% decrease in the number of divorces. There are several explanations for that drastic downward move in divorce rates. One is that fewer couples marry, and so then fewer people divorce. Another is that delaying marriage might help couples better vet the people they eventually choose to marry. While divorce is less common now than it was 30 years ago, quite a few marriages still end in divorce every year.
People contemplating divorce may need help understanding what the end of a marriage might mean for their relationship with their children and their finances. Discussing the desire to divorce with a legal professional can help people evaluate their options and plan the best path forward given their current circumstances.
