Youth Indicators 1996 / Indicator 4

Indicator 4. Divorce

Number and rate of divorces and number and percent of children under 18 involved annually in divorces: 1950 to 1993

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                          Number of      Median     Children under 18
            Number of   divorces per    years of   involved in divorce
   Year     divorces,   1,000 married   marriage     each year
           in thousands    women,       before
                        15 years old    divorce    In thousands   Percent
                         and over\1\
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1950 ......        385          10.3          5.8          299         0.6
1955 ......        377           9.3          6.4          347         0.6
1960 ......        393           9.2          7.1          463         0.7
1965 ......        479          10.6          7.2          630         0.9
1970 ......        708          14.9          6.7          870         1.2
1975 ......      1,036          20.3          6.5        1,123         1.7
1976 ......      1,083          21.1          6.5        1,117         1.7
1977 ......      1,091          21.1          6.6        1,095         1.7
1978 ......      1,130          21.9          6.6        1,147         1.8
1979 ......      1,181          22.8          6.8        1,181         1.8
1980 ......      1,189          22.6          6.8        1,174         1.8
1981 ......      1,213          22.6          7.0        1,180         1.9
1982 ......      1,170          21.7          7.0        1,108         1.8
1983 ......      1,158          21.3          7.0        1,091         1.7
1984 ......      1,169          21.5          6.9        1,081         1.7
1985 ......      1,190          21.7          6.8        1,091         1.7
1986 ......      1,178          21.2          6.9        1,064         1.7
1987 ......      1,166          20.8          7.0        1,038         1.6
1988 ......      1,167          20.7          7.1        1,044         1.6
1989 ......      1,163          20.7          ---          ---         ---
1990 ......      1,175          20.7          ---          ---         ---
1991 ......      1,187          20.9          ---          ---         ---
1992 ......      1,215          21.2          ---          ---         ---
1993.......      1,187          20.5          ---          ---         ---
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---Data not available.

/1/Rates for 1975 to 1979 are based on population estimates that were not revised in accordance with the 1980 Census results.

NOTE: Cumulative numbers of children involved in/affected by divorce are not available.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States, various years; Historical Statistics of the United States to 1975; and Current Population Reports, Series P-25, Population Estimates and Projections, nos. 311, 519, 917, and 1000. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, Monthly Vital Statistics Report, various years; and Vital Statistics of the United States, various years.

Indicator chart and text.

[Indicator 3. Marriage] [Indicator 5. Marriage and Divorce Rates]