Divorce Rate by Country 2026: Global Ranking

Divorce rates have changed significantly around the world over the past few decades. As laws have become more flexible and social attitudes toward marriage have evolved, many countries have seen a rise in the number of divorces. 

Divorce rates increased rapidly from the 1970s through the 1990s, particularly after the introduction of no-fault divorce laws in many developed countries. Since then, the trend has become more mixed, with several high-income countries reporting stable or declining divorce rates, while some developing countries continue to see gradual increases.

The latest available data also show large differences in divorce rates between countries. Chile currently has the highest crude divorce rate, with 3.6 divorces per 1,000 people, followed by Latvia (2.8), Costa Rica (2.7), and Lithuania (2.6).

In this article, we are going to take a look at divorce rates by country in 2026, including the countries with the highest and lowest divorce rates, global divorce trends, and more. 

Divorce Rate by Country 2026

Divorce rates are not the same around the world. The latest available data show that Chile has the highest crude divorce rate at 3.6 divorces per 1,000 people, followed by Latvia (2.8), Costa Rica (2.7), and Lithuania (2.6). 

The United States reports a rate of 2.4, while Sweden (2.1) and Türkiye (2.0) also record relatively high divorce rates. Many developed countries, including Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Czechia, Australia, and South Korea, report rates between 1.8 and 1.9 divorces per 1,000 people.

Source: OECD Family Database

Several European countries, such as Belgium, Germany, Spain, Poland, Austria, Norway, and Portugal, fall within the 1.5 to 1.7 range. Lower divorce rates are seen in Italy, the Netherlands, Mexico, Croatia, Romania, Canada, and Slovenia, with rates between 1.1 and 1.3, while Malta (0.8) and Colombia (0.5) report some of the lowest rates among countries with available data.

Highest Divorce Rate Countries

Chile has the highest crude divorce rate, recording 3.6 divorces per 1,000 people according to the latest official data. It is followed by Latvia (2.8), Costa Rica (2.7), and Lithuania (2.6). Several other countries, including the United States, Sweden, and Türkiye, also report relatively high divorce rates compared with the international average.

Source: OECD Family Database

Over the past few decades, the list of countries with the highest divorce rates has changed as marriage patterns, divorce laws, and social attitudes have evolved. In earlier years, countries such as Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Georgia frequently ranked among those with the highest divorce rates. However, their positions have shifted over time as new data have become available and divorce trends have changed.

Countries with higher divorce rates often share several social, economic, and legal characteristics. These commonly include:

• No-fault divorce laws, which allow couples to end a marriage without proving fault.
• Higher female labor force participation, giving individuals greater financial security.
• Greater financial independence, making it easier for spouses to live independently after divorce.
• More liberal social attitudes and fewer religious or cultural restrictions surrounding divorce.
• Later ages at first marriage, which are associated with different relationship and family patterns and can influence overall divorce trends.

Lowest Divorce Rates by Country

Countries with the lowest officially reported divorce rates include India, Colombia, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Canada, Italy, Mexico, and the Netherlands. India has the lowest estimated divorce rate at around 0.1 divorces per 1,000 people, followed by Colombia at 0.5 and Malta at 0.8. 

Slovenia reports 1.1 divorces per 1,000 people, while Croatia, Romania, and Canada each record 1.2. Italy, Mexico, and the Netherlands each report a crude divorce rate of 1.3 divorces per 1,000 people, which is below the OECD-29 average of 1.6.

Several factors contribute to these lower divorce rates, including stronger religious and cultural values surrounding marriage, stricter divorce laws, greater social stigma associated with divorce, and the support provided by extended family networks. 

However, a low divorce rate does not necessarily mean that marriages are more stable or happier. In some countries, legal restrictions, financial dependence, and social or cultural pressures may discourage or delay divorce, resulting in lower reported rates even when marital relationships have broken down.

Crude vs Refined Divorce Rate

When comparing divorce statistics, it is important to understand the difference between the crude divorce rate (CDR) and the refined divorce rate (RDR). These two measures are calculated differently and serve different purposes. Using them interchangeably can lead to misleading comparisons, especially when evaluating divorce rates across countries.

Crude Divorce Rate (CDR)

The crude divorce rate (CDR) measures the number of divorces that occur in a year for every 1,000 people in the total population. It is calculated using the following formula:

Crude Divorce Rate = (Number of Divorces ÷ Total Population) × 1,000

Because it uses the entire population including children, unmarried adults, and older people who may not be at risk of divorce the crude divorce rate provides a broad measure of divorce within a country. It is easy to calculate, widely available, and reported consistently by most national statistical agencies and international organizations. For this reason, it is the standard measure used in global comparisons of divorce rates.

However, the crude divorce rate has some limitations. Since it includes people who are not married, it does not directly measure the likelihood of divorce among married couples. Countries with younger populations or lower marriage rates may appear to have lower divorce rates even if the risk of divorce among married people is relatively high.

Refined Divorce Rate (RDR)

The refined divorce rate (RDR) measures the number of divorces per 1,000 married people (or, in some countries, 1,000 married women) during a given year. It is calculated as:

Refined Divorce Rate = (Number of Divorces ÷ Married Population) × 1,000

Because it focuses only on people who are married, the refined divorce rate provides a more accurate picture of the risk of divorce within the married population. Demographers and social researchers often prefer this measure when studying marital stability, family trends, and the factors that influence divorce.

Despite its advantages, the refined divorce rate is not widely used for international comparisons. Calculating it requires detailed and up-to-date information on the married population, which is not collected or published consistently across all countries. As a result, comparable refined divorce rate data are unavailable for many nations.

Global Divorce Trends Over Time

Divorce rates have changed significantly over the past five decades as countries have introduced legal reforms, social attitudes toward marriage have evolved, and economic conditions have improved. While many countries experienced a rapid increase in divorces during the late twentieth century, more recent data show that divorce rates have stabilized or declined in several high-income nations.

1970s: Divorce Was Relatively Uncommon

During the 1970s, divorce rates were relatively low in most parts of the world. Many countries had strict divorce laws that required one spouse to prove fault, such as adultery, abandonment, or cruelty, before a marriage could legally end. Social and religious attitudes also discouraged divorce, making it less common than it is today.

1980s: Divorce Rates Began to Rise

The 1980s marked a major turning point in many developed countries. Several nations in North America and Europe introduced no-fault divorce laws, allowing couples to divorce without proving wrongdoing by either spouse. As legal barriers were removed and public attitudes became more accepting, divorce rates increased rapidly across many countries.

1990s: Divorce Rates Reached Their Peak in Many Countries

By the 1990s, many developed countries recorded their highest divorce rates on record. According to historical data compiled by Our World in Data, countries such as the United Kingdom, Norway, and South Korea experienced divorce rates that were more than three times higher than those recorded a few decades earlier. Rising female employment, greater financial independence, delayed marriage, and changing views on family life all contributed to this increase.

2000 to 2015: Growth Began to Slow

Between 2000 and 2015, the rapid rise in divorce rates started to level off in many high-income countries. Although divorces remained common, annual divorce rates became more stable, and several countries began reporting gradual declines. 

Researchers attribute this shift to changing marriage patterns, including later ages at first marriage, lower overall marriage rates, and an increase in couples living together without marrying.

2015 – Present: Mixed Trends Across Countries

Recent data show that divorce trends now vary across regions. Many countries in Western Europe have reported stable or declining divorce rates, while some Eastern European and developing countries continue to experience increases as divorce becomes more socially accepted and legal procedures become more accessible. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries recorded a temporary decline in divorces because courts closed, legal proceedings were delayed, and administrative services were disrupted. In many cases, divorce filings rebounded once these restrictions were lifted.

Overall, the long-term pattern shows that global divorce rates increased sharply during the second half of the twentieth century, particularly after the introduction of no-fault divorce laws. In recent years, however, this growth has slowed, with many high-income countries reporting stable or gradually declining divorce rates, while trends remain more varied in emerging economies.

Divorce Rates by U.S. State

Divorce rates vary considerably across the United States, with noticeable differences between states. Based on the latest available data, Nevada has the highest divorce rate at 3.8 divorces per 1,000 people, followed by Idaho and Wyoming at 3.4, and Oklahoma at 3.3. Alaska and Utah each report 3.1 divorces per 1,000 people. 

Several Southern states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia, also record relatively high divorce rates of 2.9 to 3.0 per 1,000 people. In contrast, Louisiana has the lowest reported divorce rate at 0.9, followed by Illinois (1.2), Kansas (1.7), and Massachusetts (1.8).

Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics

These differences are influenced by a combination of factors such as age at first marriage, education levels, household income, employment, population mobility, and state-specific social and demographic characteristics. Some states did not report recent divorce data, including California, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota, and New Mexico.

Why Do Divorce Rates Differ Between Countries?

Divorce rates vary widely across countries because marriage and family life are shaped by a combination of legal, social, economic, cultural, and demographic factors. While no single factor determines whether a couple divorces, these influences help explain why some countries consistently report higher divorce rates than others.

1. Divorce Laws

The legal process for ending a marriage is one of the biggest factors affecting divorce rates. Countries that allow no-fault divorce, where couples can divorce without proving wrongdoing by either spouse, generally report higher divorce rates because the process is faster and less complicated. 

In contrast, countries with stricter legal requirements, lengthy waiting periods, or limited grounds for divorce often record lower divorce rates, as obtaining a divorce can be more difficult and time-consuming.

2. Religion and Cultural Values

Religious beliefs and cultural traditions continue to play an important role in marriage and divorce. In many countries where religious institutions strongly influence family life, divorce is less socially accepted and may carry significant social or cultural stigma. 

These societies often have lower reported divorce rates and, in some cases, introduced legal divorce reforms later than more secular countries.

3. Economic Independence

Financial independence can affect a person’s ability to leave an unhappy marriage. Higher levels of employment, particularly among women, and greater earning opportunities make it easier for individuals to support themselves after divorce. 

As a result, countries with higher female labor force participation and stronger economic opportunities often report higher divorce rates than countries where financial dependence remains common.

4. Age at Marriage

The age at which people marry is closely linked to the likelihood of divorce. Research has shown that people who marry at older ages generally have a lower risk of divorce than those who marry very young. 

Delaying marriage often allows individuals to complete their education, establish stable careers, achieve financial security, and make more informed decisions about long-term relationships.

5. Education

Educational attainment is another factor associated with divorce rates. Studies have consistently found that people with higher levels of education, particularly college graduates, tend to have lower divorce rates than those with less education. 

Higher education is often linked to greater financial stability, better employment opportunities, stronger communication skills, and later ages at marriage, all of which are associated with more stable relationships.

6. Urbanization

Divorce rates are often higher in urban areas than in rural communities. Large cities typically offer greater economic opportunities, increased financial independence, and more accessible legal services. 

Urban populations also tend to have more diverse social networks and changing attitudes toward marriage and family life, which can make divorce more socially acceptable than in traditional rural settings.

7. Social Acceptance of Divorce

Public attitudes toward divorce have changed considerably over the past several decades. In countries where divorce is widely accepted as a normal response to an unsuccessful marriage, couples may be more willing to end their relationships rather than remain together because of social expectations. 

By contrast, societies where divorce is strongly discouraged often report lower divorce rates, even though marital dissatisfaction may still exist. As a result, a lower divorce rate does not always indicate stronger or happier marriages; it may also reflect legal, cultural, or social barriers that make divorce less common.

FAQs

1. Which country has the highest divorce rate?

Based on the latest available official data, Chile has the highest crude divorce rate, recording 3.6 divorces per 1,000 people. It is followed by Latvia (2.8), Costa Rica (2.7), and Lithuania (2.6).

2. Which country has the lowest divorce rate?

India is widely recognized as having one of the world’s lowest divorce rates, with an estimated 0.1 divorces per 1,000 people. Colombia also reports a very low crude divorce rate of 0.5 per 1,000 people. However, comparisons should be made carefully because not all countries use the same data collection methods or publish statistics every year.

3. Is the global divorce rate increasing?

The long-term trend shows that divorce rates increased significantly from the 1970s through the 1990s, largely because many countries introduced no-fault divorce laws and social attitudes toward divorce became more accepting. In recent years, divorce rates have remained stable or declined in many high-income countries, while some emerging economies continue to report gradual increases.

4. At what age are people most likely to get divorced?

Divorce can occur at any age, but it is most common among couples in their 30s and 40s, as many divorces occur within the first 5 to 15 years of marriage. The exact age varies by country and depends on factors such as the average age at marriage and local demographic trends.

5. Does education affect divorce rates?

Yes, studies have consistently found that people with higher levels of education, particularly college graduates, tend to have lower divorce rates than those with lower educational attainment. Education is often linked to higher income, stable employment, and later marriage, all of which are associated with more stable relationships.

6. What is the difference between crude and refined divorce rates?

The crude divorce rate measures the number of divorces per 1,000 people in the total population, making it the standard measure for international comparisons. The refined divorce rate measures divorces per 1,000 married people (or, in some countries, married women), providing a more accurate estimate of divorce risk among married couples.

Wrapping Up

Divorce rates continue to vary significantly across countries, reflecting differences in legal systems, cultural traditions, economic conditions, and social attitudes toward marriage. The latest official statistics show that Chile has the highest crude divorce rate, while countries such as India and Colombia report some of the lowest rates. 

Over the past five decades, divorce rates increased rapidly in many developed countries following legal reforms and changing societal norms. In recent years, however, this growth has slowed, with several high-income countries reporting stable or gradually declining divorce rates, while some developing nations continue to experience increases. These trends demonstrate that divorce is influenced by a wide range of factors rather than a single cause.