Arkansas's divorce rate consistently ranks among the highest in the nation. A recent family profile from Bowling Green State University's National Center for Family & Marriage Research (NCFMR) confirms this, placing Arkansas at the top for 2022. This data, coupled with other demographic information, offers a statistical glimpse into marriage and divorce trends within the state.
Arkansas's Divorce Ranking and National Context
The NCFMR data reveals that Arkansas led the nation in divorce rates in 2022. While the overall U.S. divorce rate saw a slight increase that year, it remains below pre-pandemic levels. Arkansas's rate, however, stands out as significantly elevated.
Arkansas Compared to Other States: A Regional Perspective
While Arkansas's divorce rate is high, it's not entirely isolated. Other Southern states often exhibit higher divorce rates compared to other regions of the U.S. However, Arkansas frequently surpasses these neighboring states, suggesting potentially stronger contributing factors within the state. This contrasts sharply with Northeastern states, which typically have lower divorce rates.
Age at First Marriage in Arkansas
An interesting demographic factor to consider is age at first marriage. In Arkansas, the median age at first marriage for men is 28.1, notably younger than the U.S. average of 30.6. In fact, Arkansas men marry younger than men in 44 other states. For women in Arkansas, the median age at first marriage is 26.0, also younger than the U.S. average of 28.7. Only Utah has a younger median age at first marriage for women (including Washington D.C. in the data). This trend of younger first marriages in Arkansas may be a statistical factor worth considering alongside the state's high divorce rate.
