General Relationship DiscussionAlthough anyone can post anywhere on Talk About Marriage, this section is for people interested in general relationship and marriage advice.
They myth about the "50% of all marriages end in divorce" statistic
I read a story in a magazine recently (can't find an online version) that found that the way they calculate divorce rates and come up with the "50%" is pretty screwy.
The article said that only 1 in 3 "first" marriages end in divorce, so about 33%.
That means that two thirds or 67% of all people who get married never get a divorce at all.
Its the 1/3 that do that sometimes have 2 or 3 or more divorces over time that make the overall numbers get near the "50%" figure.
I found one article that said the highest the real divorce rate (% of people who have been through a divorce who have been married) is about 41% but typically is 33-40%.
So, 2/3rds of us who get married never go through a divorce. Its those that do get divorced and end up getting multiple divorces that "inflate" the numbers
Again, here's an article about the subject, its not the one I read in the magazine, its one that is similar though.
Re: They myth about the "50% of all marriages end in divorce" statistic
Quote:
Originally Posted by reidqa
Both wrong,
Its time versus marriage, its now about 72% over a ten year span.
So 100 couples married today, about 72% will be divorced in 2019.
Link?
Statistics show that only about 33-35% of people who get married ever get even 1 divorce, that about 65% of people who ever get married NEVER get divorced.
Now, its that 33-35% that typically have multiple divorces that push the numbers up to 50+%.
I have a hard time believing that if 65% of people who get married never go through a divorce that 72% of marriages don't last 10 years...
Oh wait, I guess I actually just ran the numbers and I can "see it".
If the 33% that do have divorces just "average" 2.2 divorces (most have 2, some have 3, very few only have the one) then its possible the numbers you mention are correct.
I still think the fact that 2/3 of the people who ever get married never get divorced, they actually go through with the "til death do us part" is a lot more encouraging than the "well, 50/50 chance you'll get divorced" which is not true at all.
Re: They myth about the "50% of all marriages end in divorce" statistic
Husband.
All you need to do is run a search in a major metro area on marriage license with names from 1990-1991, now run the same names for divorce in 2000-2001.
Re: They myth about the "50% of all marriages end in divorce" statistic
Quote:
Originally Posted by reidqa
Husband.
All you need to do is run a search in a major metro area on marriage license with names from 1990-1991, now run the same names for divorce in 2000-2001.
You will be shocked.
I probably wouldn't be shocked, and I probably would find out that the vast majority of the divorces were not the peoples' first divorces.
Like I said, 66% of all people who get married never have a divorce, its the 33% that do have at least one divorce, that end up with multiple to get the "divorce rate" to 50-70% for all marriages.
Re: They myth about the "50% of all marriages end in divorce" statistic
Quote:
Originally Posted by revitalizedhusband
I read a story in a magazine recently (can't find an online version) that found that the way they calculate divorce rates and come up with the "50%" is pretty screwy.
The article said that only 1 in 3 "first" marriages end in divorce, so about 33%.
That means that two thirds or 67% of all people who get married never get a divorce at all.
Its the 1/3 that do that sometimes have 2 or 3 or more divorces over time that make the overall numbers get near the "50%" figure.
I found one article that said the highest the real divorce rate (% of people who have been through a divorce who have been married) is about 41% but typically is 33-40%.
So, 2/3rds of us who get married never go through a divorce. Its those that do get divorced and end up getting multiple divorces that "inflate" the numbers
Again, here's an article about the subject, its not the one I read in the magazine, its one that is similar though.
I doubt it's a "myth" as you claim...they sure got those stats from somewhere. Most of it is true. I know tons of supposedly "happy couples" who arent "happy" at all, they're miserable.
Re: They myth about the "50% of all marriages end in divorce" statistic
Quote:
Originally Posted by reidqa
Big,
Sad fact.
Unhappy many couples after damaging event stay to just to feel good, they should be broken up.
You're not kidding. IMHO, this is one of the biggest reasons why so many marriages fail(besides the obvious reasons). I know it's hard for some who are married to move on and all, but it's really quite simple: if you're unhappy in any way w/your marriage than:
A) why did you get married to that person in the 1st place? Why didn't you think things through? you are afterall, going to spend the rest of your life with this person.
B) if you're unhappy....LEAVE!!!! Get your stuff, and get out. It's easier than some think. I want no toxicity in my relationships. I dont understand why so many feel they have to stay, or want to? This person isn;t right for you, you made a bad decision, it happens. Chalk it up to being a "life lesson" and move on. You're not a bad person since you've gotten a divorce, you know? you dont have cooties, you're not strange, it happens. Just think things through completely next time.
They myth about the "50% of all marriages end in divorce" statistic 
