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Can The Institution of Marriage Withstand The High Divorce Rates?

Available American divorce rate statistics do not paint a flattering picture about Americans in general, since it appears from these figures that over one third of all marriages end in divorce in this country. These numbers should sound a warning bell in the minds of Americans to do something to stop this alarming rate of divorce. Also, those who are serving in the armed forces seem to be the victims of an even higher divorce statistic, increasing the concerns over marital stability even further.

Many More Divorces in the Army than in Civilian Life

The divorce rate statistics for the Army are serious enough to warrant counseling for the spouses of those who are serving overseas. Military divorces are not quite the same as a typical divorce, since civilians usually will have stopped communicating with one another at a particular point during their marriages. In many of the army divorces, communication between couples can take place in many ways. With husbands being away on military service, the risk of infidelity rises, thus contributing to higher divorce rate statistics as well.

Which States Have the Highest and Lowest Rates of Divorce? 

That divorce is an area of concern among Americans can be seen with clarity when one looks at some of the divorce rate statistics available. It is believed that there were over a million divorces granted in 1997, and that there was a 4.1 percent rate of divorce per thousand people in the year 1999. Of all the states having divorce rate statistics available, Massachusetts had the lowest instance of divorce, with a mere 2.4 percent of the divorces being reported in the year 1997.

According to divorce rate statistics available, the state with the highest divorce rate is Nevada, which has a nine percent rate of divorce per thousand people. Such are the alarming results of the United States divorce rate statistics, which indicate the increasing numbers that will marry today and divorce tomorrow. It is believed that there are well over a million children in the United States that will be affected by a divorce.

What Do These Statistics Bode For the Future of Marriage?

Will these high divorce rates eventually lead Americans to reconsider marriage itself? The answer is thankfully negative, since walking down the aisle is still a popular routine among most Americans. In fact, it was found in a recent poll that almost all college students were considering getting married, or was already married. This in spite of the fact that, according to divorce rate statistics, almost one in every four Americans aged eighteen and over has been divorced.

It only underscores the fact that high divorce rate statistics notwithstanding, the institution of marriage is still alive and living in the hearts and minds of most Americans. However, the question remains, will it continue to stand the test of time in the years to come?