New Hampshire Divorce Rates

New Hampshire divorce rates provide insight into marriage stability patterns within the state and how the Granite State compares to national trends. Understanding divorce statistics, historical patterns, and the factors influencing dissolution rates helps residents, policymakers, and researchers comprehend the state of marriages in New Hampshire. This comprehensive analysis examines current divorce rates, historical trends, geographic variations, and the demographic factors shaping New Hampshire's position among states with the lowest divorce rates in the United States.

Current New Hampshire Divorce Rates

Recent divorce data shows New Hampshire consistently ranks among states with the lowest divorce rates in the nation, though recent years have shown some variation.

2021: Nation's Lowest Divorce Rate

In 2021, New Hampshire achieved the distinction of having the lowest divorce rate in the United States. The state recorded 4.3 divorces per 1,000 women aged 15 and older, significantly below the national average of 6.9 divorces per 1,000 women for the same year.

This represented a remarkable achievement in marriage stability, with New Hampshire's rate approximately 38% lower than the national average. The state's position at the bottom of divorce rankings reflected strong marriage stability among New Hampshire residents.

2022: Shift in Rankings

By 2022, New Hampshire was no longer present in the bottom five states for divorce rates. Vermont took over as the state with the lowest divorce rate at 9.2 divorces per 1,000 married women, while New Hampshire's rate increased. The National Center for Health Statistics and census data indicated this shift represented changing patterns in the state's divorce trends.

Despite no longer holding the lowest position, New Hampshire remained in the lower quartile of states, maintaining its reputation as a state with relatively stable marriages compared to most of the United States.

Divorce Rate Calculations

Divorce rates are typically calculated as the number of divorces per 1,000 women aged 15 and older, or alternatively per 1,000 married women. Each divorce is counted in the state in which the marriage was legally ended or legally petitioned to end. Annulments are counted as divorces when calculating the divorce rate.

This methodology provides standardized comparison across states, though it's important to note that not all states report divorce data to the National Vital Statistics System, making complete nationwide comparisons challenging.

National Divorce Rate Context

Understanding New Hampshire's divorce rates requires context from national trends and patterns affecting marriages throughout the United States.

National Trends

The adjusted divorce rate in the United States peaked in 1979 at 22.6 divorces per 1,000 married women. Since then, the general trend has been one of decline. The national divorce rate dropped from 9.7 per 1,000 women in 2011 to 6.9 in 2021, representing a significant 27% decrease over the decade.

After reaching a 40-year record low in both 2020 and 2021 at 14.0 divorces per 1,000 married women, the national rate rose slightly in 2022 to 14.56 divorces per 1,000 married women. Despite this modest increase, the overall trend since 2008 has remained downward, with the 2022 rate still below pre-pandemic levels.

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the United States saw a 12% reduction in administrative counts of divorces from 35 reporting states. The American Community Survey showed a parallel trend with a nearly 10% decline in the adjusted divorce rate from 15.5 in 2019 to 14.0 in 2020.

The divorce rate in 2021 remained stable at 14 divorces per 1,000 married women, suggesting pandemic-related factors influenced divorce patterns, though researchers continue analyzing whether these changes represent temporary disruptions or longer-term shifts.

States with Highest and Lowest Divorce Rates

Comparing New Hampshire to other states provides valuable perspective on regional and state-level variations in divorce patterns.

States with Highest Divorce Rates

For 2022, Arkansas remained the state with the highest divorce rate in the United States with 23.27 women divorcing per 1,000 married women, or 11.9 per 1,000 women aged 15 and older. No other state approached Arkansas's elevated rate.

Other states in the top five for highest divorce rates included New Mexico (20.56 divorces per 1,000 married women), Wyoming (19.96), Kentucky (19.52), and West Virginia (19.33). Nevada, known for its accommodating marriage and divorce laws, posted a rate of 4.2 divorces per 1,000 females aged 15 and older in 2021.

The 13 states in the top quartile had rates of at least 17.77 divorces per 1,000 married women in 2022, significantly higher than New Hampshire's historical rates.

States with Lowest Divorce Rates

Vermont reported the lowest divorce rate in the United States for 2022 at 9.2 divorces per 1,000 married women. Other states with particularly low rates included New Jersey (10.41), Alaska (10.49), Minnesota (10.91), and Wisconsin (11.70).

The 13 states in the bottom quartile had 12.82 or fewer divorces per 1,000 married women in 2022. New Hampshire has historically been positioned within this bottom quartile, though specific year-to-year variations occur.

Regional Patterns in Divorce Rates

Geographic location significantly influences divorce rates, with distinct regional patterns emerging across the United States.

Southern States: Higher Divorce Rates

The South contained 10 out of 14 states in the top quartile for divorce rates in 2022, with no Southern states in the bottom quartile. Six of the 10 states with the highest divorce rates were located in the South.

This regional concentration of higher divorce rates reflects various factors, including younger marriage ages, lower educational attainment levels, economic challenges, and cultural differences affecting marriage stability in Southern states.

Northeastern States: Lower Divorce Rates

The Northeast predominantly consisted of states in the bottom quartile for divorce rates, with no Northeastern states in the third or top quartiles. This regional pattern reflects New Hampshire's position within a broader New England trend toward marriage stability.

All New England states except Connecticut were in the bottom half nationally for divorce rates, demonstrating regional cultural, economic, and demographic factors supporting marriage longevity.

Midwest and Western Variation

The Midwest and West regions showed more variation in quartile representation, with each region containing at least one state in all four quartiles. This diversity reflects the heterogeneous nature of these regions, with different states exhibiting distinct marriage and divorce patterns.

Historical Trends in New Hampshire Divorce Rates

Examining changes over time provides insight into evolving marriage patterns within New Hampshire.

Long-Term Decline

Following national trends, New Hampshire has experienced a general decline in divorce rates over recent decades. The state's consistently low position in national rankings suggests stable marriage patterns reinforced by demographic, economic, and cultural factors.

While specific historical data for New Hampshire shows year-to-year fluctuations, the overall trajectory has aligned with national declines from peak divorce rates in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Recent Fluctuations

New Hampshire's shift from the lowest divorce rate in 2021 to outside the bottom five in 2022 represents notable year-over-year variation. Such fluctuations can result from demographic changes, economic conditions, methodological differences in data collection, or genuine shifts in marriage stability patterns.

Understanding whether this represents a temporary spike or the beginning of a longer-term trend requires continued monitoring of divorce data over subsequent years.

Factors Influencing New Hampshire's Low Divorce Rates

Multiple demographic, economic, and cultural factors contribute to New Hampshire's historically low divorce rates.

Educational Attainment

New Hampshire residents have higher-than-average educational attainment levels compared to the national population. Research consistently shows that couples with higher education levels have lower divorce rates, with those holding bachelor's or advanced degrees experiencing significantly more stable marriages.

The correlation between education and marriage stability operates through multiple mechanisms, including later marriage ages, better conflict resolution skills, higher incomes, and more careful partner selection.

Economic Factors

New Hampshire's above-average household incomes and relatively low poverty rates contribute to marriage stability. Financial stress represents one of the primary causes of divorce, with couples experiencing economic hardship facing elevated divorce risk.

Economic stability provides couples with resources to manage challenges, access marriage counseling when needed, and avoid the financial conflicts that frequently precipitate divorce.

Age at Marriage

Northeastern states, including New Hampshire, tend to have higher average ages at first marriage compared to Southern and Western states. Couples who marry after age 25 are 24% less likely to divorce than those marrying between ages 20-25, who face a 60% likelihood of divorce.

By delaying marriage until greater maturity, financial stability, and life experience are achieved, New Hampshire couples increase their chances of long-term marriage success.

Cultural and Religious Factors

Cultural attitudes toward marriage and divorce in New England emphasize commitment and may create social pressures supporting marriage continuation. While difficult to quantify precisely, regional cultural differences influence individual decisions about whether to pursue divorce or work through marital difficulties.

Religious beliefs also influence divorce rates, with couples holding strong religious convictions being 14% less likely to divorce. The religious composition of New Hampshire's population may contribute to lower divorce rates.

Gray Divorce Trends in New Hampshire

Gray divorce, defined as divorces occurring among individuals aged 60 and older, represents an evolving pattern affecting New Hampshire and the nation.

National Gray Divorce Trends

Nationwide, gray divorce rates have been rising significantly. Analysis of divorce data from 1990 to 2021 found that divorce rates among people 65 and older tripled, while divorce rates for those under 45 decreased.

This phenomenon appears unique to the baby boomer generation and results from society's evolving tolerance for divorce and women's growing financial independence. The increasing prevalence of later-life divorces creates unique legal and financial challenges.

New Hampshire Gray Divorce Rates

According to data from 2017, New Hampshire was in the bottom quartile for gray divorce rates. All New England states except Connecticut were in the bottom half nationally for gray divorce, suggesting regional patterns in later-life marriage stability.

Despite being below national averages, gray divorce in New Hampshire still affects a growing number of couples, requiring specialized legal and financial planning to address retirement accounts, social security benefits, healthcare coverage, and estate planning considerations.

Marriage Rates and Their Relationship to Divorce

Divorce rates cannot be fully understood without considering marriage rates, as states with fewer marriages will naturally have fewer potential divorces.

New Hampshire Marriage Rates

According to the United States Census Bureau, the national marriage rate for 2019 was 16.3 per 1,000 women aged 15 and older. While specific New Hampshire marriage rates vary by year, Northeastern states typically have lower marriage rates compared to Southern and Western states.

Massachusetts recorded a marriage rate of 11.8 in 2021, among the lowest in the nation, while states like Alaska (23.5) and Utah (22.3) had the highest rates. Regional patterns in marriage rates mirror divorce rate patterns, with the Northeast exhibiting both lower marriage and divorce rates.

Declining Marriage Rates

Both marriage and divorce rates are decreasing across the United States, driven largely by Millennials waiting longer before marrying or choosing cohabitation over formal marriage. This trend reduces the total number of potential divorces by decreasing the pool of married couples.

Additionally, because divorce odds decrease as married couples age, delayed marriages are more likely to succeed, further reducing divorce rates among couples who do eventually marry.

Interpreting Divorce Rate Statistics

Understanding divorce statistics requires careful attention to measurement methodologies and common misinterpretations.

Divorce Rate vs. Divorce-to-Marriage Ratio

Divorce rates (divorces per 1,000 women or married women) differ fundamentally from the divorce-to-marriage ratio. Some sources incorrectly present the ratio of annual divorces to annual marriages as the "divorce rate," creating confusion.

For example, a state with 3.8 divorces per 1,000 females and 6.1 marriages per 1,000 yields a ratio of approximately 62%, but this does not mean 62% of marriages end in divorce. Rather, it reflects the relationship between that year's divorces and marriages, influenced by both rates.

Percentage Currently Divorced

The percentage of a state's population currently identified as divorced also differs from the divorce rate. This figure includes all divorced individuals regardless of when their divorce occurred and excludes those who remarried after divorce.

Data Collection Challenges

Comprehensive divorce data can be time-consuming and difficult to obtain. Not all states report divorce statistics to the National Vital Statistics System. The CDC maps and tables do not include rates for California, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota, and New Mexico due to non-reporting.

These data limitations complicate efforts to create comprehensive national comparisons and may affect year-to-year trend analyses.

Causes of Divorce

Understanding why marriages end provides context for interpreting divorce rate statistics.

Primary Reasons for Divorce

According to U.S. Census Bureau surveys, the top three reasons for divorce are incompatibility (43%), infidelity (28%), and money issues (22%). These factors transcend state boundaries but may manifest differently based on economic conditions, cultural attitudes, and demographic characteristics.

Other significant factors include lack of commitment (cited by 75% in some studies), excessive conflict (57.7%), substance abuse (34.6%), and domestic violence.

Demographic Risk Factors

Age at marriage represents one of the strongest predictors of divorce risk. Couples married between ages 20-25 face a 60% likelihood of divorce, while those waiting until after age 25 are 24% less likely to divorce.

Educational attainment significantly affects divorce probability, with higher education levels correlating with more stable marriages. Economic factors, including income levels and financial management skills, also substantially influence divorce likelihood.

Future Trends and Projections

Predicting future divorce rates requires considering evolving demographic, economic, and cultural factors.

Continued Decline Expected

Given declining marriage rates, increasing marriage ages, and higher educational attainment levels among younger generations, many demographers expect continued gradual declines in divorce rates nationally and in New Hampshire.

However, short-term fluctuations will occur based on economic conditions, social changes, and demographic shifts within the state.

Monitoring Year-to-Year Changes

New Hampshire's shift from the lowest divorce rate in 2021 to outside the bottom five in 2022 merits continued monitoring. Determining whether this represents a temporary fluctuation or the beginning of a sustained trend requires analyzing subsequent years' data.

Factors such as pandemic recovery, economic conditions, and demographic changes may influence near-term divorce patterns in ways difficult to predict with certainty.

Summing Up

New Hampshire divorce rates have consistently ranked among the lowest in the United States, reflecting strong marriage stability within the state. In 2021, New Hampshire achieved the nation's lowest divorce rate at 4.3 divorces per 1,000 women aged 15 and older, significantly below the national average of 6.9.

While the state's ranking shifted in 2022, with Vermont taking over as the state with the lowest divorce rate at 9.2 per 1,000 married women, New Hampshire remains positioned in the lower quartile nationally. This places the state well below the highest divorce rates found in Arkansas (23.27 per 1,000 married women), New Mexico, Wyoming, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

Regional patterns show the Northeast predominantly consists of states in the bottom quartile for divorce rates, with Southern states dominating the top quartile. This geographic variation reflects differences in average marriage age, educational attainment, economic conditions, and cultural attitudes toward marriage and divorce.

Factors contributing to New Hampshire's low divorce rates include higher educational attainment levels, above-average household incomes, later average marriage ages, and cultural factors supporting marriage stability. These demographic and economic advantages help New Hampshire couples build stronger, more resilient marriages.

National trends show divorce rates declining from a peak of 22.6 divorces per 1,000 married women in 1979 to 14.56 in 2022, representing a 27% decrease from 2011 levels. New Hampshire has participated in this broader national decline while maintaining its position among states with the most stable marriages.

Understanding divorce rate statistics requires attention to measurement methodologies, distinguishing between divorce rates, divorce-to-marriage ratios, and percentages of populations currently divorced. Data collection challenges, including non-reporting by some states to the National Center for Health Statistics, complicate comprehensive national comparisons.

As marriage patterns continue evolving, with Millennials delaying marriage or choosing cohabitation, divorce rates are expected to continue declining. However, gray divorce rates among those 60 and older have tripled since 1990, creating new patterns even as overall rates decline.

New Hampshire's consistently low divorce rates reflect the state's demographic strengths, economic stability, and cultural factors supporting marriage longevity. Monitoring future trends will reveal whether recent fluctuations represent temporary variations or more sustained shifts in the state's divorce patterns.