Data from the

NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICSSYSTEM

Series 21

Number 22

Divorces:

Analysis of Changes

United States, 1969

Analysis of divorce statistics for 1968 and 1969, increases

of divorces in 1963-69 by characteristics of the divorcing

couples, and data on several variables for which information

was collected for the first time.

DHEW Publication No. (HSM) 73-1900

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

Public Health Service

Health Services and Mental Health Administration

National Center for Health Statistics

Rockville, Md. April 1973
.

Vital JIId HC,IIC}I St.lti\tlcs-Scrlcs 21-N(I. 22
NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS

THEODORE D. WOOLSEY, Director

EDWARD B. PERRIN, Ph. D., Deputy Director

PHILIP S. LAWRENCE, SC.D., Associate Director

OSWALD K. SAG EN, Ph. D., Assistant Director for Heakh Statistics Development

WALT R. SIMMONS, M. A., AssistantDirectorfor Research and Scientific Development

JOHN J. HANLON, M. D., Medical Advisor

JAMES E. KELLY, D. D. S., Dental Advisor

EDWARD E. MINTY, Executive Officer

ALICE HAYWOOD, Information Officer

DIVISION OF VITAL STATISTICS

ROBERT A. ISRAEL, M. S., Director

JOHN E. PATTERSON, Assistant Director for Demographic Affairs

ALICE M. HETZEL, Chiej Marriage and Divorce Statistics Branch

Vital and Health Statistics-Series 21 -No. 22

DHEW Publication No. (HSM) 73-1900

Library of Congress Catalog Curd Number 73-600051
CONTENTS

Page

National and State Data ------------------------------------------------

Increase in Divorces -----------------------------------------------

International Comparisons ------------------------------------------

Persons hvolved ti"bivorce -----------------------------------------

Regional Differences -----------------------------------------------

Divorce-Registration Area ------------------------------------------

Characteristics of Divorcing Husbands and Wives ------------------------

Age atTirne of Decree ----------------------------------------------

Age.at Marriage ---------------------------------------------------

Race --------------------------------------------------------------

Number of Times Spouses Had Been Married --------------------------

Number of Times SpcmsesHa dBeenWidowed and Divorced -------------

Education ----------------------------------------------------------

Children of Divorced Couples -------------------------------------------

Divorce Wtesby Numkrof Children Reported ------------------------

All Living Children and Children Under 18 Years of Age----------------

Children and Duration of Marriage -----------------------------------

Children Involved in Divorce ----------------------------------------

hration of Marriage --------------------------------------------------

Duration of Marriage to Divorce -------------------------------------

Separation ---------------------------------------------------------

List of Detailed Tables ------------------------------------------------

Appendix: Technical Notes ---------------------------------------------

1

1

2

2

2

4

5

5

7

11

13

13

13

16

16

17

17

18

21

21

23

25

54

iii
SYMBOLS

Data not available---------------------:-- ---

Category not applicable ------------------- . . .

Quantity zero ---------------------------- -

Quantity more than O but less than O.05---- 0.0

Figure doesnot meet standards of

reliabilityor precision ------------------

*

iv
DIVORCES: ANALYSIS OF CHANGES

Alexander A. Plateris, Ph. D., Division of Vital Statistics

NATIONAL AND STATE DATA

Increase in Divorces

The increase in divorces that began in 1963

accelerated considerably in 1968 and 1969 (figure

1). During the 2-year period the national total,

including the reported annulments, increased by

22 percent (from 523,000 in 1967 to 639,000 in

1969), the same percentage increase that occurred

during the preceding 4-year period (from 428,000

in 1963 to 523,000 in 1967).

The 1969 national divorce total was 5 percent

higher than the former all-time peak of 610,000 in

1946, which occurred during the unsettled conditions after World War II and was followed by an

abrupt decline. The provisional divorce totals for

1970, 1971, and 1972, 715,000, 768,000, and

839,000, respectively, indicate continued rapid

growth in the number of divorces. The rates

also grew substantially (table 1).

After a pronounced increase in the divorce

totals and rates due to World War 11and the postwar adjustments, rates declined and by 1955

reached a plateau, when the rate per 1,000 population varied only between 2.1 and 2.3. These approximately level rates lasted for 9 years,

1955-63. The lowest point was reached in 1958,

when the divorce total was 368,000, and the divorce

rate was 2.1 per 1,000 population and 8.9 per 1,000

married women. When compared with 1958 figures, divorces by 1969 had increased 74 percent

and the rates had increased a little over 50 percent.

The increases in the few last years are due

in part to two factors: (1) the increase of the popI

7BWL9

F@Jm 1. NUMBER OF DIVORCES 19S&71.

3wwa k

o-r I I I I I r I I I I I I I I I I

1954 1956 1956 1960 1%2 12s 1966 1964 1970

YEAR

ulation of the United States, particularly of the

married population, and (2) changes in the composition of the population in favor of subgroups

with high divorce rates, such as married persons

in their teens and twenties. Increases beyond this

must be attributed to mo’re obscure causes such

as changes in social, psychological, and attitudinal

variables.

If the 1963 rate of 2.3 divorces per 1,000

total population had remained in effect, the 1969

1
national total would have been 464,000 and the increase would have been 36,000, only 17 percent

of the actual increase of 211,000. To estimate the

impact of the changes in the size and age composition of the married population on the increase

of the divorce totals, a set of estimated age-specific divorce rates based on 1965 data was applied

to the married female population estimated annually by the Bureau of the Census. In that manner,

hypothetical divorce totals were obtained, determined exclusively by the size and composition of

the married population, with a constant agespecific likelihood of divorce. Annual changes in

these data were subtracted from the observed

changes in order to estimate the amount due to

causes other than the population (table 2). Since

1963, the highest proportion of the total annual

increase in divorces which may be attributed to

changes in the size and composition of the population was estimated to be 35 percent, and for

most years this proportion varied from 20 to 27

percent. Conversely, the proportion of increase

attributed to other factors was estimated to vary

for most years from 73 to 80 percent. The whole

increase from 1963 to 1969 amounted to 211,000

decrees, or 49 percent of the total for 1963. Over

80 percent of this number was not accounted for

by changes in population.

International Comparisons

Since 1962 or 1963 the divorce rate increased

not only in the United States, but also in most

other countries that report divorce data to the

Statistical Office of the United Nations. A selection from rates published by that office (table 3)

indicates increases in almost all countries shown

in the table, with particularly pronounced increases in the U.S.S.R. and in Scotland where

rates doubled. The rate did not increase in four

countries out of 25: it declined in Portugal,

Egypt, Israel, and Romania. Despite those few

exceptions, the increase in divorce was practically worldwide.

Persons Involved in Divorce

Family disruption by judicial decree is usually measured by numbers of decrees granted

and by rates based on them. Another approach is

to use the number of persons directly and intimately involved. Each divorce or annulment

involves at least two persons, the husband and

the wife. In addition, most divorces involve children of the couple, particularly minor children

living with the couple before separation. The sum

of these three categories—husbands, wives, and

children—represents the total number of persons

involved (table 4).

The number of persons involved has almost

doubled since 1953, from 1,110,000 to 2,118,000.

It was over 1 million for all years since 1953

and reached 1!+million in 1964 and 2 million in

1969. The rate of persons involved per 1,000 total

population varied from 6.5 to 7.3 for the years

1953-62, but increased to 9.8 in 1968 and 10.5 in

1969.

Regional Differences

During the last few years the number ot

divorces increased in all regions and divisions and

in practically all States. Some of the increases

may be due to improved methods of registration.

From 1967 to 1968 only North Dakota showed a

decline and from 1968 to 1969 only Indiana and

Texas. From 1967 to 1969, divorces tripled in

New York, where the divorce laws were liberalized, and increased 74 percent in Delaware,

61 percent in Hawaii, 52 percent in South Carolina,

51 percent in Massachusetts, 44 percent i.n New

Jersey, 31 percent in Washington, and 30 percent

in Indiana (table 5). Most of these States ilad

divorce rates well below the national level. Greatest increases of the divorce totals were found in

the Middle Atlantic (61 percent), New England (34

percent), and East North Central Divisions (24

percent).

The divorce situation in individual States or

other areas can best be described and comparisons can be made by use of percents of increase.

However, from the national viewpoint, the amount

of increase that contributes to the national increase is important. From 1967 to 1968 the

national divorce total increased by 61,000 and

from 1968 to 1969 by 55,000, a combined increase of 116,000. To this increase, the Northeast contributed 26,000; the North Central, 33,000;

the South, 31,000; and the West, 25,000.

2
The increase in New York is of particular interest, as rarely if ever has such a rapid increase in divorce taken place. The divorce law

was changed in 1966 introducing new legal grounds

for decree, making it easier to obtain a divorce,

and declaring invalid divorces of State residents

thereafter granted in Mexico. This law became

effective in September 1967, and the number of

divorces and annulments doubled from 7,136 in

1967 to 14,861 in 1968 and tripled to 21,184 in

1969. The rate grew accordingly from 0.4 to 0.8

to 1.2. Thus, in spite of the exceptional increase,

the New York rate for 1969 was less than onehalf of the national rate. The increase in New

York did not result in comparable declines in

Nevada or other States where, reputedly, many

New York couples divorced before the reform,

though data on Mexican divorces are unavailable.

It seems that the 14,000 increase in New York

represented an addition to the national total rather

than a change in its geographic distribution. In

1967 and earlier years more than one-third of

all divorces and annulments granted in New York

were annulments. It could be anticipated that after

the reform the number of amulments would decline, but in 1968 it increased. The number declined in 1969, however, resulting in a 1967-69

decline of 13 percent. In spite of this decline and

of the increase in divorces, in 1969 the annulments

represented 10 percent of total divorces and annulments combined, the highest such State percentage in the Nation.

During the period 1967-69, divorce rates increased in all regions, divisions, and States, for

which rates could be computed, except Texas,

where the rate was the same for both years (figure 2 and table 6). The rate was not computed for

one division and for two States. In all four regions,

Figure 2. DIVORCE RATES: UNITED STATES AND EACH REGION, 1963 AND 1969.

6.0 —

5.0 —

4.0

3.0

2.0 -

1.0’ -

0.0 L

United States Northeast North Central South West
in six divisions, in 29 States, and in the District

of Columbia the rate increased by 0.5 per 1,000,

or more. From 1967 to 1968 the rate increased

in all States for which it was computed, except

North Carolina and North Dakota where it did not

change; from 1968 to 1969 there were 44 increases,

three declines (in Indiana, Kentucky, and Texas),

and no change in two States (South Dakota and Vermont).

The number of annual increases of State divorce rates more than doubled during the 1960’s:

from 1960 to 1961 increases were found in 21

States and from 1961 to 1962, in 19 States, as

compared with 47 increases from 1967 to 1968

and 44 increases from 1968 to 1969 (table A).

Divorce-Registration Area

Statistical information other than annual totals

is obtained from a limited number of States known

as the divorce-registration area (DRA) (figure 3).

The DRA was organized in 1958 when it included

14 States and three outlying areas. It grew to 22

States and the Virgin Islands in 1963 (Alaska and

Hawaii, admitted to the DRA as outlying areas, had

become States). The DRA did not change for 5

years, 1963-67, but since 1967 several important

additions have taken place. Four States were added

in 1968 (California, Connecticut, Illinois, and Vermont), and two States in 1969 (Kentucky and New

York, including New York City). As the result of

this growth, divorces and annulments granted in

the DRA represented 54 percent of the national

total in 1968 and 59 percent in 1969. This percentage was about 20 in 1958 and about 35 in the years

1963-67.

It is difficult to determine how representative

DRA data are of national data, as no parallel figures for the two areas exist, except the crude

divorce rates and a few figures for 1960. The

divorce rate for the DRA was slightly lower (by

0.1 or 0.2) than that for the United States for the

years 1958-67, but both rates became identical in

1968 and in 1969. The 1960 figures on characteristics indicate that values for the DRA were not

very different from those for the Nation. The

median duration of marriage at divorce was slightly lower for the DRA than for the Nation (7.1 and

7.2 years, respectively). On the other hand, the

Table A. Number of increases and declines

of State divorce rates from preceding

year: the 50 States and District of Columbia, 1960-69

Year

1968 -69--

1967 -68--

1966 -67--

1965 -66--

1964 -65--

1963 -64--

1962 -63--

1961 -62--

1960 -61--

Divorce rate-

=

Number of States

44

47

37

33

24

32

25

19

21

3

2

10

9

3

8

13

9

2

2

10

6

16

14

17

18

18

2

2

2

2

2

2

1

1

3

proportion of divorced couples reporting children

was higher in the DRA (60.1 and 56.7 percent, respectively), and so was the mean number of children per decree (1.20 and 1.18, respectively). The

percentages of couples married and divorced in

the same State were 56.9 for the DRA and 57.5

for the United States. The addition of the new States

since 1960 may have heightened the similarity

between the two sets of data.

One of the criteria for the admission of a

State to the DRA is a statistical report form conforming closely in content to the Standard Certificate of Absolute Divorce or Annulment recommended by the Public Health Service. As of 1968

several new statistical items were included in the

Standard Certificate. These are: (1) living children—total number, (2) approximate date couple

separated, (3) if previously married, how many

marriages ended by death, or divorce or annulment, and (4) education— specify highest grade

completed. By 1969 a number of States had revised their divorce certificate forms to conform

to the new standard, but the quality of reporting of

the new items varied considerably among these

States. Some information on the new items is presented in this report.
FiIIUrO 3. DIVORCE-REGISTRATION AREAt 1967-69

Fiz? W’ mA::I” m%,’”

V4

HAWAII

CHARACTER! ST!CS OF DIVORCING

HUSBANDS AND WIVES

Age at Time of Decree

The 1969 data on age of husband and wife are

more complete than those for earlier years. A

slow improvement of the reporting in many States

that have been in the DRA for several years and

the addition of six States with satisfactory reporting helped to raise the level of completeness

of age reporting in the DRA from 54 percent in

1963 to 76 percent in 1969. Detailed information

on this subject is given in the technical notes of

the appendix.

The percentage distribution of divorces and

annulments by age of husbands and wives was

computed for the DRA and 20 States with satisfactory reporting (figure 4 and table 7). The modal

age groups at time of divorce were 25-29 years “

for husbands and 20-24 years for wives. These

two groups included, respectively, 22 and 24 percent of all decrees granted in the DRA. For husbands the modal age group was the same as that

for the DRA in all States except one (Kentucky),

but in six States (California, Connecticut, Hawaii,

New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont) wives in

the age group 25-29 years were more numerous

than those in the age group 20-24 years.

After the modal group, percentages of divorces declined with increasing age for both husbands and wives, but small numbers, about 2 percent of divorcing husbands and 1percent of wives,

were 65 years and older. On the other extreme of

the age distribution, 1 percent of husbands and 4

percent of wives who divorced were still in their

teens.

5
Figure 4. PERCENT DISTRIBUTION OF DIVORCES BY AGE OF HUSBAND AND WIFE AT TIME OF DECREE AND AT

TIME OF MARRIAGE: DIVORCE-REGISTRATION AREA, 1969.

,!—.

Age at time of decree

UX.mD Husband

-r= W fe

Age at time of marriage

■ = -- Husband

~ Wife

urraer

20 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65

and over

AGE IN YEARS

Divorces of husbands and wives in their twenties increased more than those of any other age

group (figure 5 and table B). The percent increases from 1963 to 1969 were estimated to be

67 for the husbands and wives 20-24 years old

and over 70 for those 25-29 years old, as compared with an overall increase of 46 percent.

Smallest changes were experienced by the teenagers. All percentages refer to the total of 22

States that participated in the DRA in both 1963

and 1969.

Increases in divorce affected the age-specific

divorce rates as estimated for 1969 for the United

States (table C). For both men and women the

rate was highest in the early twenties (34.0 and

30.7 per 1,000, respectively) and declined with age

to 1.9 and 1.4, respectively, for persons 65 years

and older. The rates for the teenagers (19.0 and

28.2, respectively) were lower than for the age

group 20-24 years old, and the difference was very

pronounced for men. The 1969 rates were higher

than those estimated for 19651 for all age groups,

except the teenagers.

In 1968 the median age at decree for the DRA

was 33.9 years for husbands and 30.5 years for

wives. In 1969 it was slightly lower: 33.5 years

for husbands and 30.1 years for wives (table 8).

In 1969 the median age for individual reporting

States varied for husbands from 31.4 (in Kansas

and Kentucky) to 35.7 years (in New York) and

for wives from 28.5 (in Kansas and Iowa) to 32.6

years (in New York). There seems to be a geographic factor in this variation, with high medians

in the reporting States in the New England, Middle

Atlantic, and Pacific Divisions and low medians

in reporting States in the West North Central,

East South Central, and Mountain Divisions.

1Na~io~~l center for Health s~atis~ics: Divorce ~~a~i$tic~

analysis, United States, 1964 and 1965. Vital and Health

.Stafisfics. PHS Pub. No. 1000-Series 21-No. 17. I?ublicHealth

Service. Washington. U.S. Government Printing Office, Oct.

1969. table 8.

6
Figure 5. DIVORCES BY AGE OF HUSBAND AND WIFE AT TIME OF DECREE: TOTAL OF 22 STATES, 1963 AND 1969.

I I I I I I I I I I 1

50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000

HUSBAND

Median ages at divorce indicate a tendency

toward younger ages since the present increase

began. Medians for the DRA as a whole declined

for husbands from 34.8 years in 1963 to 33.5 years

in 1969 and for wives from 31.3 to 30.1 years.

These declines occurred despite the high medians

in some of the newly added States, particularly

California, New York, and Connecticut. For individual States there were many more annual declines than annual increases, and, when 1969

medians are compared with those for 1963, out of

22 such comparisons, there were 18 declines for

both husbands and wives.

Age at Marriage

Almost one-fifth of all men and almost onehalf of all women who were divorced in the DRA

in 1969 had married while in their teens, and a

WIFE

further 40 percent of men and 30 percent of women

had married in their early twenties (figure 4 and

table 9). Thus, about 60 percent of divorced men

were married when under 25 years of age, about

30 percent while in the age group 25-39 years, and

less than 10 percent when 40 years old and older;

for women the comparable percentages were 75,

20, and 6, respectively. In the years 1963-69, numbers of divorcing husbands and wives who were

under 25 years old at time of marriage increased

more than those of persons who were older. The

percent increases for husbands were 57 and 29

and for wives 51 and 30, respectively (figure 6

and table D).

The likelihood of divorce by age at marriage

is difficult to determine from registration data,

as the distribution of the total married population

by age at current marriage is unknown and rates

7
Table B. Percent increases in divorces,

by age of husband and wife at time of

decree: total of 22 States in the divorce-registration area in 1963-69

Percent

increase

Age at time of decree

Husband Wife

Under

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

Total --------------

20 years -----------

years --------------

years --------------

years --------------

years --------------

years --------------

-0.5 14.2

67.1 66.5

71.6 76.3

54.0 39.0

28.7 25.0

29.8 29.0

45-49 +ears -------------- 37.1 35.3

50-54 years -------------- 27.1 20.0

55 years and over -------- 16.7 34.4

cannotbe computed. Asourceofinformationabout

age atmarriage in thepopulationcan be foundin

the annuallyprepared age distributionof brides

and grooms married in a uniform group of 22

States,coveringtheyears 1954-69.About threefourths of all couples divorced in 1969 were

married during that period. If the pattern of the

age at marriage of the rnarriedpopulation in the

DRA was similar to that which would have resulted from the ages of brides and grooms married in the 22 States during the 16-year period,

1954-69, the highest and the lowest annual percentages for each age group represent the range

into which a given age-at-marriage category

could be expected to fall.

The percent distribution of husbands divorced during 1969 in the DRA by age at marriage falls within the range provided by thegroup

of 22 Statesin all cases, except for the youngest

age group, men married in their teens, who are

overrepresented among the divorced,and’forthe

oldest age group, men married when 45 years

Table C. Estimated number of divorces and divorce rates, by age of husband and wife

at time of decree: United States, 1969

[Rates computed per 1,000 married population in each age-sex group. For estimating procedures, see appendix]

Age at time of decree

Under

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

Total ----------------------------------

20 years -------------------------------

years ----------------------------------

years ----------------------------------

years ----------------------------------

years ----------------------------------

veals ----------------------------------

45-54 Gears ----------------------------------

55-64 years ----------------------------------

65 years and over ----------------------------

Husband

Number

of

divorces

639,000

5,800

102,000

139,800

102,700

81,600

73,300

90,600

32,100

11,200

Divorce

rate

13.8

19.0

34.0

27.7

21.8

17.0

14.1

;::

1.9

Wife

Number

of

divorces

639,000

27,900

153,700

136,200

89,800

73,700

63,200

68,800

20,200

5,500

Divorce

rate

13.4

28.2

30.7

24.3

17.8 .

14.6

11.7

7.1
Figure 6. DIVORCES BY AGE OF HUSBAND AND WIFE AT MARRIAGE: TOTAL OF 22 STATES, 1963 AND 1969.

D= 1963

..........

Increase

1963-69

I I I I I I I I I I I

100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0

HUSBAND

Table D. Percent increases in divorces,

by age of husband and wife at marriage:

total of 22 States in the divorce-registration area in 1963-69

Age at marriage k

Husband Wife

Total --------------

w

Under 20 years -----------

20-24 years ---------------

25-29 years --------------

30-34 years --------------

35-39 years --------------

40-44 years --------------

45 years and over --------

59.0

56.1

37.1

20.8

26.8

35:5

19.8

49.5

54.8

35.3

27.9

24.3

25.6

26.1

20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000

WIFE

Under 20

old and older, who are underrepresented (table

E). Thus, the likelihood ofdivorce is above average for those who marry very young, is below

average for those who marry in their middle

forties or later, and does not differ significantly

from the average for the very broad group, those

married at ages 20 through 44, who represent

about 75 percent ofall men who divorcedin 1969.

For women the situation is less clear cut: those

msrried in their teensareoverrepresented, while

those married at ages 20-24, 35-44, and45 and

over are underrepresented. Thus thelikelihoodof

divorce seems to be above average when the

bride is very young, but below average when she

is in her early twenties or35yearsold and older.

The fact that the oldest age group ofbrides and

grooms is underrepresented among those who

divorce may be due in part to higher death rates

for older people, which tend to lower their proportion in the married population.
Table E. Percent distribution of divorces in 1969 and highest and lowest annual per.

centages of marriages during 1954-69 by age at marriage of men and women: di.vorceregistration area for divorces and a uniform group of 22 States for marriages

[States incIuded in the uniform group reporting marriages are listed in the appendix]

Age at marriage

Total------------------

Under 20 years---------------

20-24 years------------------

25-29 years------------------

30-34 years------------------

35-44 years------------------

45 years and over------------

Divorces

100.0

Men

Marriages

Highest

percentage

.0.

15.6

46.9

20.1

%?!

9.8

Lowest

percentag

. . .

11.0

42.0

15.2

6.5

:::

Women

Divorces

100.0

Marriages

Hi,ghest

percentage

.*.

41.6

39.8

10.9

6.0

;::

Lowest

percentage

...

32.5

31.9

:::

2:;

A publicationoftheU.S.BureauoftheCensus tree),the differencebetween’thehighestandthe

basedon dataobtainedfrom aSurvey,ofEconomic

Opportunitypresentsaverageannualprobabilities

ofdivorceper 1,000marriedpersons14-69years

old,married once,by age atfirstmarriage,and

othercharacteristics. From thesedatatheinferenceismade that“personswho marry when they

are relativelyyoung are abouttwiceas likelyto

obtaina divorceas personswho marry whenthey

areolder.”2

For theDRAin 1969,themedianageatmarriagewas 23.6years fordivorcedhusbandsand

20.7years fordivorcedwives,andin 1968,23.7

and20.7years,respectively(table10).Thevariationin the Statemedian ages at marriage is

narrow, much narrower thancomparablevariationforage attimeofdecree.When Alaskaand

Hawaii areexcluded(boththeseStateshavevery

highmedian ages at marriageandattimeof deZu,s.Bu~eaUof the Cen5u5: Social and economic

variations in marriage, divorce, and remarriage: 1967. Current

Poptdutiofi Reports, Series P-20, No. 223. Washington. U.S.

Government Printing Office, Oct. 7,1971. p. 1,

lowestStatemedianagesatmarriag;in1969was

1.8yearsfordivorcedhusbandsand2.5yearsfor

divorcedwives,whilecomparabledifferencesfor

median ages at time of decreewere 5.7and4.5

years. b

From 1963 to1969,median age atmarriage

of both husbandsand wives showed a tendency

towarddeclinethatwasstrongerforhusbandsthan

for wives.This tendencycan be observed in

medians forindividualStatesratherthaninDRA

medians. Statemedians for consecutiveyears

were compared,and 136 comparisonswereobtained.For husbandstherewere39 increases,74

declines,and23 caseswheretherewasnochange.

For wives,the comparablefigureswere55, 64,

and 17.For the22 Statesforwhichmediansare

availableforboth1963and 1969,the changebetweenthese2 years represented19 declinesfor

husbandsand 15 declinesforwives.Valuesfor

the totalDRA for 1968 and 1969 showed increaseswhen compared withthosefor1967and

1966,buttheseincreasesmay bedueto theinclusionof new States,withmedianshigherthan

10
thosefor the DRA as a whole. This was the case

of California and Illinois; these two States represented over one-third of all divorces for which

age atmarriage was known.

Race

For the 27 reporting States (Ohio does not

report the race of divorced spouses) about 90

percent of divorced husbands and wives were

white, almost 10 percent were Negro, and about

1 percent belonged to other races (table 11).

Divorces for white persons and for Negroes increased at a very similar rate from 1963 to 1969:

for men, 45 and 44 percent, respectively. The

percentage increase for other races was higher,

57 percent, but numbers were small. Similar

percentages were observed for women.

White persons accounted for over 90 percent

of divorcing persons in 13 States, between 80 and

90 percent in six States, and about 50 percent in

Hawaii; in eight States the reporting was incomplete. The States with less than 90 percent of

white persons were southern and border States

(Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri), States ~th large

industrial cities (New York, Illinois), and outlying

States (Alaska, Hawaii).

The percentage of Negroes among persons

granted divorces ranged from one+half of 1 percent in Idaho and Montana to 17 percent in Virginia. This percentage was over 10 in five States

(Illinois, Missouri, New York, Tennessee, and

Virginia) and between 5 and 10 percent in seven

States (California, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky,

Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin).

Persons of races other than white and Negro

comprise a very small proportion of divorced

husbands and wives in all States except Hawaii,

where about 50 percent of those who divorced belonged to the other races; Alaska, where this

percentage was over 10; and Montana, where it

was 5 percent.

Data are not available for national or nearnational divorce rates by race. However, it was

possible, by Using 1969 divorce data with 1970

cen’sus data, to compute approximations of crude

divorce rates by race for 16 States (table F).

These approximations were obtained by relating

the number of divorces in 1969 by race of husband to the total population in the respective racial

groups, without regard to sex or marital status

(see appendix). The sIight inaccuracy resulting

from use of the 1970 enumerated population with

the 1969 divorces does not affect the usefulness

of the rates in showing the relationship of the

divorce rates for the three racial groups-white,

Negro, and otherraces.Basingthedivorcerates

on the married population,however,would inTable F. Approximations of divorce rates,

by race of husband: 16 divorce-registration States, 1969

[For computation procedures, see appendix]

Area

Total, 16

States------

3 Northeastern

States--------

Connecticut--------

New york-----------

Vermont------------

6 North Central

States--------

Illinois-----------

Iowa---------------

Kansas-------------

Missouri-----------

Nebraska-----------

Wisconsin----------

3 Southern

States--------

Kentucky-----------

Tennessee----------

Virginia-----------

4 Western

States--------

Alaska-------------

California---------

Hawaii-------------

Montana------------

Rate per 1,000 population in racial

group

White

2.9

1.3

1.8

:::

2.9

3.2

2.5

::;

2.2

1.6

3.2

3.1

4.1

2.5

4.2

H

4.0

4.0

Negro

3.0

1.6

2.8

1;::

4.’2

4.1

5.8

:::

5.5

3.5

2.5

2.7

2.9

2.2

3.9

5.1

3.9

5*3

6.5

Xher

races

1.4

0.3

0.8

0.3

1.2

1.0

1.6

;:2

0.4

1.6

0.6

0.;

0.8

1.6

3.2

;:!

4.4

11’
crease the rates for Negro relatively more than

We rates for white, as a smaller proportion of

the Negro population is married.

In the 16 reporting States combined, rates

for white and Negro were almost equal, 2.9 and

3.0, respectively, per 1,000 population, but this

similarity is misleading, as differences between

the two rates were pronounced in each State included in the table. In all reporting States in the

two northern regions, the rates for white were

lower than those for Negro, while in the reporting

southern States the rates for Negro were uniformly lower than for white. In the South, the area

of their original settlement, Negroes had low

divorce rates when compared with white persons,

but when they moved to the northern cities the

situation was reversed. It must be noted that

the western States did not fit into this pattern,

since the California rate for white was higher

than that for Negro. The third racial group,

all other races combined, had lower divorce

rates, often very much lower, than those for

either white or Negro in all reporting States

except Montana.

In the DRA in 1968 and 1969, almost 90 percent of divorced couples were white; about 10

percent belonged to other races, including

Negroes; and 1 percent were interracial—one

spouse was white and the other was not (table G).

The number of reported interracial divorces

for the DRA increased from 585 in 1963 to 906 in

1967, to 2,457 in 1968, and to 2,815 in 1969. Part

of the increase from 1967 to 1969 was due to the

addition of new States to the DRA, but even withTable G. Number and percent distribution of divorces by race of husband and wife: divorce-regis tration area, Hawaii, and other States, 1968 and 1969

Race of husband and wife

Total ----------------------

Both white -----------------------

Both other than white ------------

Husband white, wife other than

white ---------------------------

Husband other than white, wi,fe

white ---------------------------

Race not stated for either or

both --------- -------------------

Totall -------- -------- .----

Both white -----------------------

Both other than white ------------

Husband white, wife other than

.

v~hxte ---------------------------

Husband other than white, wife

whit e---------------- -------- ---

I

1969 I

1968

DRA . . Other Other

‘awall States DRA . .

‘awall States

378,095

244,383

27,580

1,370

1,445

103,317

100.0

88.9

10.0

0.5

0.5

2,314

886

896

304

217

11

Number

v

243,497 198,121

26,684 21,749

1,066

1,228

103,306

1,124

1,333

93,630

100.0

38.5

38.9

13.2

9.4

Percent distribution

100.0

89.4

9.8

0.4

0.5

100.0

89.1

9.8

0.5

0.6

1,865

700

741

264

156

4

100.0

37.6

39.8

14.2

8.4

314,092

197,421

21,008

860

1,177

93,626

100.0

89.5

9.5

0.4

0.5

lRace not stated not included in total.

12
out the newly added States a decided increase was

evident (from the 906 in 1967 to 1,083 in 1968 and

1,284 in 1969). Thus, for this uniform group of 22

States that constituted the DRA in 1963 through

.1967, the number of interracial divorces more

than doubled from 1963 to 1969, grew by 42 percent from 1967 to 1969, and grew by 19 percent

from 1968 to 1969. Increases of similar size were

found also for interracial marriages reported

from States in the marriage-registration area:

these marriages more than doubled from 1963 to

1967 and increased 40 percent from 1967 to 1969.

The highest proportion of interracial divorces

and marriages in 1969 was found in Hawaii, about

20 percent in both cases. The largest number of

interracial divorces, 1,050, was reported from

California, followed by 521 in Hawaii. California

does not report race on marriage certificates,

but Hawaii does and in 1969 reported the largest

number of interracial marriages, 1,790.

Number of Times Spouses Had Been Married

Over 70 percent of the divorcing husbands and

wives about whom information is available had

been married only once, about 20 percent had been

married twice, and about 6 percent three times

or more. The variability among States was very

pronounced: the proportion of men married only

once ranged from 64 percent (in Idaho) to 86 per -

cent (in New York and Rhode Island); that of men

married twice ranged from 12 percent (in Rhode

Island) to 25 percent (in Oregon); and that of men

married three times or more ranged from 2 (in

Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia,

Rhode Island, and New York) to 12 percent (in

Alaska and Idaho). Similar variability is found

among wives (table 12).

The proportion of couples married only once

is slightly higher among divorcing husbands than

among wives, and it has a pronounced geographic

distribution. States of the Northeastern Region

have the highest proportions of couples married

once—in all five reporting States these represented above 80 percent for both husbands and

wives. States in the West Region have the lowest

proportions of couples married only once—less

than 70 percent in all reporting States except

Hawaii.

Divorces of husbands and wives who had

married only once increased from 1963 to 1969

at a higher proportion than those of persons

married twice, while divorces of persons married three times or more were affected least

by the increase.

Number of Times Spouses Had Been

Widowed and Divorced

Of all items newly included in the revised

Standard Certificate of Absolute Divorce or Annulment, the item “if previously married, how

many marriages ended by death and by divorce

or annulment” has been least well reported. This

item is applicable only to persons who have been

married more than once, comprising about onefourth of all divorced husbands and wives. In 1969,

12 DRA c*ates had not yet added the item to their

certificate forms, and the reporting was very incomplete in the States that had added the item,

except for California. The statistics for that State

are shown in table 13.

In California, many more divorcing husbands

and wives had been previously divorced than

widowed, the ratio for husbands being 8 formerly

divorced to 1 formerly widowed and for wives,

6 to 1. The numbers of persons who had been both

divorced and widowed are small, 4 percent for

husbands and 6 percent for wives. For about 6,500

cases information is available about former

divorces, but not about deaths of former spouses.

It seems likely that in many such cases husbands

and wives have never been widowed, as experience

with other variables indicates that a negative

answer is more likely not to be recorded than an

occurrence.

Education

In 1969, 16 of the 28 DRA States had the education item on their divorce certificates, but in

some States the reporting was incomplete. Median

years of school completed were prepared for 10

States (table 14). They showed very little variation, particularity for husbands, where they

varied from 12.2 to 12.5 years. For wives, the

variation was slightly more pronounced-from

11.9 to 12.5. Variations of quartiles are also small,

particularly for husbands.

13
Table H. Median years of school completed for men and women at time of marriage and at

time of divorce: 8 registration States, 1969

State

California-------------------------------------

Hawaii------------------------------------------

Illinois---------------------------------------

Kansas-----------------------------------------

Nebraska---------------------------------------

Rhode Island-----------------------------------

Utah-------------------------------------------

Vermont----------------------------------------

For eightStatesmedianyearsofschoolcompletedattimeofmarriagecouldbecomparedwith

median years of educationat time of divorce.

Comparison of the two correspondingmedians

(tableH) shows thatmedianeducationof persons

who marry isslightlyhigherthanthatofpersons

who divorce.Though differencesbetweenmedians

are small,betweenO.1andl.lyears,thegeneralizationholdsfor bothmen andwomenin eachof

the eightStates,in spiteof the factthatmany

bridesandgrooms marry whileinschoolandtheir

yearsofschoolcompletedarelikelytoincrease.

Thus, the comparisonofmedianyearsofschool

completedof divorcingpersonswithanalogical

medians for brides and grooms indicatesthat

thosewho divorceare,on theaverage,lesseducated thanthosewho marry in the same year.

The greatmajorityofdivorcinghusbandsand

wives had high schooleducation,and in most

Statesover 40 percenthad finishedhighschool;

about20percenthad collegeeducation;andcomparativelyfew had only elementaryeducation

(table15).Persons witheducationoflessthanl

yearofelementaryschoolrepresentaninsignificantfractionof thedivorcingspouses,andinno

Statewas thepercentagemore than0.8.More

divorcinghusbands thanwives had highschool

Men

At time

of

marriage

12.7

12.8

12.6

12.8

12.8

12.7

13.5

12.6

At time

of

divorce

12.4

12.5

12.2

12.3

12.3

12.2

12.4

12.2

Women

At time

of

marriage

12.6

12.8

12.5

12.7

12.7

12.6

12.9

12.6

At time

of

divorce

12.5

12.5

12.2

12.3

12.3

12.1

12.5

11.9

education,and more wives than husbandshad

elementaryor collegeeducation.The percentage

ofhighschooleducatedhusbandsvaried,depending on theState,from 65 to73,andthatofwives

variedfrom 58t064; thusthehighestpercentage

forwives was lower thanthelowestpercentage

forhusbands.The differencesbetweenhusbands

and wives withelementaryandcollegeeducation

arelessdrasticbutalsoclearc!-!

The reportingNortheasterStates,Connecticut,New York, and Vermont, had among their

divorcingpopulationthehighestproportionsof

persons with elementaryeducationand lowest

proportionswithcollegeeducation,whileinthe

two reportingPacificStates,Californiaand

Hawaii,theoppositewastrue.Percentagesofpersons withhighschooleducationwere highestin

NebraskaandNew York.

The distributionby educationofhusbandsand

wives divorcedinthereportingStateswas compared with thatof thepopulationof the United

States,20-54yearsofage;3The agegroup20-54

was selectedbecauseonlyfew divorces(about8

3u.s. Bureau of the &.n~u~: Education] ~ttainment~,

March 1969. Curretz tPopulatio nReports, Series P-20, No. 194.

Washington. U.S. Government Printing Office, Feb. 19, 1970.

14
Table J. Percent distribution of the population of the United States aged 20-54 years

by years of school completed and lowest and highest State percentages for each education category formen and women divorced in 7 divorce-registration- States,l 1969

Education

MEN

Total ---.----..-.”--- -------- -------- --

Elementary school

O-7 years ..-----,--,- ~---s--- -------------------

8 years -------- b--b---- -------- ---------------

High school

1-3 years ---.---- -------- -------- ------------

4 years--------------------------------------

College

1-2 years ---------------- ---------------- ....

3-4 years --------------------------- ---------

5 years or more ------------------------------

WOMEN

Total -------- -------- -------- -------- --

Elementary school

O-7 years ------------------------ -------- ----

High school

1-3 years ---------------- ---------------- ----

4 years -------- ---------------- -------- ------

College

1-2 years------.- ------------------------- ---

3-4 years -------- ---------------- -------- ----

5 years or more-- -.----=--------------- -------

Percent distribution of U.S.

population aged

20-54 years%

100.0

8.9

8.4

16,7

35.7

12.0

11.7

6.6

100.0

7.2

7.1

18.4

45.4

10.4

9.1

2.4

State percentage for

divorced persons

Lowest

. . .

31.8

3.4

20.0

38.4

H

0.9

...

33.7

4.6

16.4

33.1

6.5

N

Highest

. . .

33.7

13.1

28.4

49.2

13.3

8.7

3.7

.0.

’36.4

20.7

25.4

44.5

12.9

10.4

6.0

jCalifornia, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Nebraska, New York, and Vermont.

“U.S. Bureau of the Census: Educational Attainments, March 1969. Current Population

Reports, Series P-20, No. 194. Washington. U.S. Government Printing Office, Feb. 19,

1970.

‘elementary school, 1-7 years.

15
percent) occur inthepopulationy oungerandolder

than this group. The comparison is valid only if

the married population in the reporting States age

group 20-54 has an education distribution similar

to that of the same age group in the entire population of the Nation, including the unmarried.

When national percentages of men, by education, were compared with the highest and lowest

State percentage for every educational category,

a well-defined pattern emerged (table J). For men

on both extremes of the distribution, those who

have not completed elementary school and those

with 3 years or more of college, percentages

in the total population were higher than the

highest State percentage for divorced husbands.

For men with high school education the contrary

was true; their percentage in the total male population was smaller than any State percentage for

divorced men in that education category. National

percentages of the two intermediate groups, men

with 8 years of elementary school and those with

1-2 years of college, fall within the range set by

percentages for the reporting States. This seems

Table K. Estimated number of divorces and

to indicate that men with very little education have

a comparatively low likelihood of divorce; this

likelihood grows with increasing education to a

maximum in the groups that have attended or

completed high school and declines for those who

have college education.

No discernible pattern was found for the

wives, population percentages for almost all education categories falling within the range set by

the lowest and highest percentage for the reporting States. Thus it seems that the likelihood of

divorce depends more on the education of husbands than on that of wives. This could be expected, as the social and economic status of the

couples is mostly associated with the education

md occupation of the head of the family.

CHILDREN OF DIVORCED COUPLES

Divorce —.Rates by Number of Children

Reported...

National divorce rates by number of children

reported under 18 years of age were estimated

divorce rates, with percent change. by re -

ported number of children under 18 years of age: United stakes, 19,60ana i96$)-

[For estimating procedures, see appendix]

1969 1960 Percent

Number of children change

of rate

Number Rate Number Rate. 1960-69

All divorces ------------------- 639,000 17.4 393,388 11.5 +51 .3

1

2

:

5

6

—

Decrees with no children ---------

Decrees with children ------------

child ------.- ---- -------- ----------

children ---------------------------

children --------- ------------------

ah ildren --------- ------- ------- ----

children ---------------------------

chlldren or more -------------------

Number of children not stated ----

*

150,000

119,000

65,000

31,000

13,000

10,000

17.2

14.4

12.7

111.4

10.7

10.4 I

. . .

159,165 18.7 +36.9

208,421 8.9 +61.8

84,711 11.4 +50. 9

63,927 8*6 +67.4

35,586 7.9 +60.8

14,674

9,523 I

6.0 -+83.3

25,802 I . . . I . . .

11.he 1969 rate for couples with 4 children or more was 11-O.

16
for 1969 (table K). The estimate was prepared on

the assumption that the national distribution of

divorces by number of children was identical with

that found for the DRA. The detailed methodology

used for the estimation of these rates is described

in the appendix.

The 1969 rates can be compared with those

for 1960, publishe: in the report “Children of

Divorced Couples.” The divorce rate for couples

with no children under 18 was in both years higher

than the rate for couples that reported children,

though this difference declined somewhat during

the 9-year periorl in 1960 the rate for childless

couples was more than twice as high as that for

couples with children (18.7 and 8.9 per 1,000),

but in 1969 it was only about 78 percent higher

(25.6 and 14.4). For both years, rates declined

with increasing numbers of children: in 1960,

from 11.4 per 1,000 for couples with one child to

6.0 for those with four children or more; in 1969,

from 17.2 for couples with one child to 10.4 for

those with six children or more.

The 1969 divorce rates by number of children

reported were in all cases higher than comparable

rates for 1960. The rates for divorces with no

children under 18 years of age increased much

less than the rate for all couples reporting children: 37 and 62 percent, respectively. Increases

in divorce rates for couples reporting children

under 18 became more pronounced as the number

of children increased.

From 1963 to 1969, the number of divorcing

couples reporting no children under 18 years of

age increased more than couples reporting children, 52 and 42 percent, respectively. The percentage increase declined to a minimum of 32

percent for three-child families, but was larger

for those with more children. The increase was

particularly pronounced for couples with six

children or more, as their numbers grew 62 percent (figure 7 and table L). When 1963 data on

children under 18 years of age are compared with

those for 1967 and 1967 data are compared with

those for 1969, percents of increase show a

similar but less regular pattern.

4National Center for Health Statistics: Children of

divorced couples, United States, selected years. vital mm’

Health Statistics. PHS Pub. No. 1000-Series 21-No. 18. Public

Health Service. Washington. U.S. Government Printing Office,

Feb. 19j’o. table 5.

All Living Children and Children

Under 18 Years of Age

A new item of information regarding children

was recently added to the certificates of most

DRA States: the total number of living children,

irrespective of age. This statistic can be compared with the routinely collected statistics on

children under 18 years of age. The percentage

of divorced couples with no children is naturally

lower than the percentage with no children under

18 years of age (table 16). In the great majority

of reporting States the same is true for the percent of couples with one child. On the other hand,

percents for the two-children category, or that

with any larger number of children, are higher

when all children are counted.

The percent of couples with all children 18

years old or older is obtained by subtracting the

percent of couples with no living children from

the percent of those with no children under the age

of 18 years (table M). Couples with children

under 18 years old may or may not have some

children 18 years old or older, but their numbers

cannot be ascertained. Couples with all children

18 years old or older represent only about 5 percent of all divorcing couples. This proportion is

higher in the East than in other parts of the

country. In the East it varies from 6.7 in Comecticut to 9.3 in Maryland, while in other parts of

the country the range falls between 2.4 percent in

Utah to 5.3 in Hawaii. Thus, for couples with all

children 18 years old or older, the highest percentage outside the East is lower than the lowest

in the East. These differences are probably associated with longer duration of marriage at divorce in most eastern States.

Children and Duration of Marriage

The number of children in a family is associated with the duration of marriage-everything else being equal, the more years of married life throughout the childbearing age of the

wife, the more children are likely to be born. The

median duration of marriage increased with added

children, from 3.8 years for couples with no

chiIdren to 13.8 for those with three children or

more (table N).

17
FIW 7. DIVORCES w NUMBER OF CHILDREN RE,WRTED: TOTAL OF 22 STATES

90,00(

80.00C

70.000

60,030

50,0W

40,000

30,000

20,3+30

10,000

0

1963 AND 1969,

-

la,,1..,,,ss 196369

1963

m.%,,.-

2 3 45 60, mom

NUMBER OF CHILDREN

For children under 18years ofagethegeneral

rule has to be qualified, as some or all children

of couples with a long duration of marriage are

likely to be over 18 years of age and, hence, are

not reported. The median number of children

increased from 0.6 when the duration was less

than 1 year to 2.7 children when the marriage

had lasted 10-14 years, but it declined to 2.2 when

the marriage had lasted 15 years or more. No

children were reported by 17 percent of couples

married 10-14 years, and this percentage increased to 29 when the duration was still longer

(figure 8).

Children involved in Divorce

In the foregoing sections the discussion

centered on divorces classified by the number of

children reported, whether of all living children

or of those under 18 years of age. The following

Table L. Percent increases of divorces,

by reported number of children under 18

years of age: total of 22 States in the

divorce-registration area in 1963-69

Number of

children

under 18

years of age

Total --

None ---------

1 child ------

2 children---

3 children---

4 children---

5 children---

6 children

or more -----

Percent increase

1963-69

45.8

51.6

46.4

40.4

31.5

41.2

53.9

62.2

1963-67

22.3

24.3

19.0

20.8

18.9

27.8

33.0

34.8

1967-69

19.2

22.0

23.0

16.2

10.6

10.5

15.7

20.3

paragraphs deal with the number of children involved, which was estimated from the divorces

classified by number of children reported using

methods described in the appendix.

In 1969, an estimated 840,000 children under

18 were involved in divorces and annulments

granted inthe United States, 11.9 per l, OOOchildrenof that age. A tentative national estimate of

all living children of couples divorced in1969was

1,004,000, and 164,000 of them, or 16 percent, ”

were 18 years old or older. The rate for all children was 5.0 per 1,000 total population, and that for

grownup children 18 years old and older was 1.3

per 1,000 population ofthat age group. Thus five

persons of each 1,000 in the United States, or

one-half of 1 percent, had parents who divorced

in 1969.

The number of children under 18 involvedin

divorce has been growing rapidly for many years

(table O). The 1969 figure represents an increase of 7 percent over the figure for 1968

(784,000), 20 percent over that for 1967 (701,000),

and 58 percent since 1962 (532,000). The total for

1953 was 330,000, and during the 17-year period,

1953-69, it increased by510,0000r 155 percent.

18
Table M. Percent distribution of divorcing couples by presence and absence of specified

categories of children: 18 divorce-registration States, 1969

State

Total, 18 States ---------------

Alaska -------------------------------

Connecticut --------------------------

Hawaii -------- -------- ---------------

Idaho --------------------------------

Illinois -------- -------- -------- -----

Kansas ---------------- ---------------

Maryland -----------------------------

Michigan ------------------------ -----

Nebraska ------------------------ -----

New York ----.--- ---------------------

Pennsylvania -------------------------

Rhode Island-------------------------

Te%ssee ------------------------- ---

-------- -------- --”--------------

ve~ont ------------------------------

Wisconsin ------------------------ ----

Wyomin~------------------------------

No reported children

under 18 years

All

livorcing

:ouples

r

Total

100.0 39.8

100.0 30.1

100.0 35.5

100.0 40.7

100.0 41.3

100.0 37.3

100.0 40.1

100.0 36.6

100.0 39.6

100.0 35.5

100.0 37.3

100.0 II 39.1

100.0 I 32.2

100.0 45.3

100.0 35.1

100.0 26.4

100.0 30.5

100.0 41.2

No

living

children

32.3

35.4

23.4

30.2

37.4

37.3

32.8

35.7

27.3

36.2

31.2

28.6

30.7

25.4

41.3

32.7

17.8

25.7

38.1

All

children

18 years

and over

6.6

4.4

“;’” ;:;

2:;

4.5

4.4

9.3

;:$

8.7

8.4

:::

2.4

:::

3.1

Reported

children

under 18

years

61.1”

60.2

69.9

64.5

59.3

58.7

62.7

59.9

63.4

60.4

64.5

62.7

60.9

67.8

54.7

64.9

73.6

69.5

58.8

Table N. Percent distribution of divorces by duration of marriage at time of decree

and median duration of marriage by number of children under 18 years of age:divorceregistration area, 1969

Number of children under

1

100.0

18 years of age

Duration of marriage at time of decree All

divorces

None

Total ----------------------------------- 100.0 100.0

Less than 1 year ------------------------------ 11.3

1-2 years ------------------------------------- 1;:; 30.7

3-4 years ------------------------------------- 16.0 18.2

5-9 years ------------------- ------------------ 24.6 17.4

10-14 years ----------------------------------- 13.8

15 years or more ------------------------------ 22.6 1::;

MedianI --------------------------------------- 6.9 3.8

2

100.0

3 or

more

100.0

26.0

27.1

8.6

16.4

5.4

0.5

1::;

40.2

19.7

24.0

9.2

0.4

1.1

2.4

22.3

31.6

42.3

13.8

lMedians computed from grouped data.

19
This is a much larger increase than that of the

national divorce and annulment total, which grew

64 percent (figure 9). Hence, the mean number of

children per decree increased from 0.85 in 1953

to 1.34 in 1968 and 1:31 in 1969. For 12 years,

1953-64 this mean grew, reaching 1.36 in 1964,

but afterwards several annual declines could be

observed. The 1.31 mean for 1969 was equal to

that for 1963 and smaller than any later figure.

Another measure of the number of children

involved is the rate per 1,000 children under 18

years of age. This rate was 11.9 in 1969, 11.1 in

1968, 9.9 in 1967, 8.2 in 1963, and 6.4 in 1953. The

1969 rate represented an increase of 7 percent

over that for 1968, 20 percent over that for 1967,

45 percent over that for 1963, and 86 percent over

that for 1953.

The number of children under 18 involved in

divorce and annulment cases increased from 1967

to 1969 in all States for which such comparison

was possible; from 1967 to 1968 and from 1968 to

1969 the number increased in almost all States.

The same can be said about the rate per 1,000

children under 18 years of age (table 17). The

mean number of children per decree was changing

in the opposite direction, with declines in 14 of 22

States from 1967 to 1969 and in 18 of 26 States

from 1968 to 1969. This indicates that the number

of decrees was increasing more rapidly than the

number of children involved. In the United States,

percent increases were as, follows:

1968-69 1967-69

Divorces ----- 9.4 22.2

Children ----- 7.1 19.8

Figure 8. PERCENT DISTRIBUTION OF DIVORCES BY DURATION OF MARRIAGE AT TIME OF DECREE BY NUMBER

OF CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE: DIVORCE-REGISTRATION AREA, 1969. -

1 child 2 children 3 children

w more

—

Less 1-2 3-4 15

Al I divorces than 5-9 10-11

1 year

years years years years

years

or more

DURATION OF MARRIAGE

20
Table O. Estimated number of children under 18 years of age involved in divorces and

rate per 1,000 children: United States, 1953-69

Year

1969 ------------------ -----------------

1968 --------------------------- --------

1967 ------------------------ -----------

1966 -------------------------- ----------

1965 -------------------------- -------- -

1964 ---------------------------- -------

i962 ------------------------ -----------

1961 -------- ------------------------ ---

1960 --------------------------- --------

1959 ------------------------ -----------

1958 ------------------------- -------- --

1957 ------------------------ -----------

1956 ---------------------------- -------

1955 --------- --------------------------

;;;; ---------------------------- -------

------------------------ -----------

‘Revised.

All

~ivorces

639,000

584,000

523,000

499,000

479,000

450,000

428,000

413,000

414,000

393,000

395,000

368,000

381,000

382,000

377,000

379,000

390,000

In the 18 States that report both the total

number of living children and the number of children under 18 years, 279,500 children of divorced

couples were involved in divorce cases (table 18).

This number. includes 236,200 children under 18

years, 85 percent of the total, and 43,300, or 15

percent, grownup children, those 18 years old or

older. The latter percentage varied from 9 in Utah

to 22 in Maryland. For all reporting States combined, the mean number per decree for all living

children was 1.57, for children under 18 years of

age the mean for the 18 States was 1.33, and for

grownup children it was 0.24.

DURATION OF MARRIAGE

Duration of Marriage to Divorce

The duration of marriage at time of divorce

became shorter in recent years, when the divorce

rate was increasing. From 1967 to 1969, the

median duration declined in the DRA but, as new

lumber of

:hildren

mder 18

rears of

age

840,000

784,000

701,000

669,000

630,000

1613,000

1562,000

~532,000

’516,000

403,000

468,000

398,000

;;; , :;:

347 ; 000

341,000

330,000

Average

number of

children

per decree

1.31

1.34

1.34

1.34

1.32

1.36

1.31

1.29

1.25

1.18

1.18

1.08

0.99

0.95

0.92

0.90

0.85

Rate per

1,000

children

11.9

11.1

9.9

9.5

8.9

8.7

8.2

7.9

7.8

7:2

7.5

6.5

6.4

6.3

6.3

6.4

6.4

States were added both in 1968 and 1969, DRA

figures for these years are not comparable. For

this reason data for individual States are tom--

pared, 22 States for which data are av~lable for

the 1967-69 period and four further States for

the years 1968-69 (table 19). The changes in the

median duration of these States are shown below.

1967-69 2967-68 1968-69

Total ----- 22 22 26

Increases ----- 3 10 5

Declines ------ 19 9 20

No change ----- 3 1

The decline from 1967 to 1969 and from 1968

to 1969 is evident, but from 1967 to 1968 more increases than declines can be observed. In spite

of this, median duration declined from 1967 to

1968; because most increases were very small,

six out of 10 were only one-tenth of a year and only

one decline was of that size. In these comparisons

21
Figure 9. DIVORCES AND CHILDREN INVOLVED: UNITED STATES, 1954-69.

900,000

r

800,000

700,000

600,000

500,000

400,000

Number of children

Number of divorces

,,,,,,,,,,mnna~~nmmma~~

300,0001

OT I I I I I I 1 1 I I I 1 I I I I

1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968

the average size of the increases was 0.19 years,

F),”,. 10 DIVORCES BY OWIATION OF MARRIAGE AT T,ME 0, DECREE, ToTAL OF 22 STATES, !9,3 AND !969,

25,CC.I r- but that of declines was almost twice as large,

20,000

15,000

mow

5,0W

0

0

0.37 years.

—:-

.t~

...- The shorter median duration of marriage to

$; *, decree is associated with pronounced increases in j ,,.,

‘1

.$. the number of divorces with comparatively short

..: duration of marriage (figure 10). From 1963 to

1969, in the 22 States that participated in the DRA

throughout the entire period, divorced couples

married less than 5 years increased 62 percent,

while those married 5 years or longer increased

37 percent. About one-half of the total numeri5 10 ,5 20 ,5 30 35 cal increase comprised couples married for less

DURATION OF MARRIAGE IN YEAR< than 5 years. The longer the duration, the smaller

the increase, reaching a minimum of 17 percent

22
Table P. Percent increases of divorces by

duration of marriage at time of decree:

total of 22 States in the divorce-registration area in 1963-69

Years of duration of

marriage at

time of

decree

Total --

Less than 1

year --------

1-2 years----

3-4 years----

5-9 years----

10-14 years--

15-19 years--

20-24 years--

25-29 years--

30 years or

more --------

Percent increase

1963-69

45.8

64.7

62.1

60.5

44.6

31.9

17.2

52.5

44.4

24.5

1963-67

22.3

35.8

26.1

28.9

19.5

18.7

2;:;

36.1

15.0

1967-69

19.2

21.3

28.4

24.5

21.0

11.2

1;:;

6.1

8.2

for couples married 15-19 years. The numberof

marriages that had lasted still longer increased

more—those with 20-24 years ofdurationgrew 53

percent (table P). A similar pattern can beobserved in the change from 1963 to 1967 and from

1967 to1969.

In 1969, inall DRA States combined, 25percent of all divorces were granted within 3.2years

after marriage, 50 percent within 6.9 years, and

75 percent within 14.1years. These figures are,

however, dependent on States that participatein

the DRA, as the variation among States is very

pronounced. This variation isduein partto laws

of individual States making it more or less difficult and time consuming to obtain a divorce.

Separation

Information about the approximate date the

divorced couple separated was included in the

1968 revision of the Standard Certificate, and,

using these data, the duration of marriage to

separation and thedurationofseparationtodecree

were tabulated for 16 States. This is the first time

since 1906 that the information about separation

has been included in national divorce statistics.

Data on separation were collected on a nationwide

basis fortheperiod 1887-1906, andtbis item has

not been repeated since. It must be emphasized

that data refer not to all separations but only to

those that ended in divorce during a given calendar

year. Data on separation of couples that never divorce cannot be obtained from vital registration,

and itisimpossible todetermine whether theduration of marriage to separation for couples that

never divorce is similar to that for couples that

eventually divorce. Separation ofamarriedcouple

is an event independent of legal norms though,

during the interval between separation and divorce

or annulment, the couple may ormaynothaveobtained any of the limited decrees, variously called

divorce from bed and board (or a mensa et thoro),

legal separation, separate maintenance, or by

some other name.

The modal duration of marriage to separation

was less than 1 year. In the 12 States for which

percent distribution was prepared (table 20),

between 9.2 and 18.6 percent of all divorced couples separated within less than 1 year after marriage. In three of these States (California, Kansas,

and Missouri) over 10 percent of all divorced

couples separated within less than 6 months after

marriage. The percentages of duration of marriage to separation decline with added years of

duration, but small numbers of divorced couples

separated after 30 years or more of marriage.

The median duration of marriage to separation varied in the reporting States between 4.2 and

6.7 years; the first quartiles varied between 1.5

and 2.8 years, and the third quartile between 9.6

and 14.4 years (table 21). As this variation is independent of the State laws, other factors must

cause the differences.

There is a strong inverse relationship between the mean duration of marriag$ at separation and the divorce rate, high medians being associated with low rates and vice versa (table Q). A

comparable relationship exists between mean

duration at decree and the divorce rate, as shown

23
Table Q. Number of States, by size of divorce rate and lengthof median duration

of marriage at time of separation: total of 16 selected States, 1969

Median duration of

marriage at

time of

separation

Total---

Less than

4.5 years--

4.5-5.5

years ------

5.6-6.7

years ------

Total

States

16

5

7

4

Divorce rate per

1,000 population

I I

Under 2.0- 3.5-

2.0 3.4 5.4

, ,

5 6 5

1 4

1 5 1

4 - -

ih the report “IncreasesinDivorce:U nitedStates,

1967.” Since at present data are available froma

limited number of States, the generalizations are

tentative and should be verified when data from

more States become available.

The duration of separation to divorce differs

from that of marriage to separation in being

highly influenced by States laws governing divorce. Statesthat require a certaintimeperiodto

elapse before a legal ground for divorce arises,

or those that grant interlocutorydivorcedecrees,

which become final after 6 months orlyear, tend

to have comparatively long periods of separation. Thus the separation lasted less than 1 year

only for 3.3 percent of all couples divorced in

Virginia but for 76.3 percent ofcouples divorced

in Kansas (table 22). The median duration was

less than a year in eight States, between 1 and2

years in seven States, and more than 2 yearsin

only one State. A very small number of couples

were divorced after 15years or more ofseparation.

0

24

00
LIST OF DETAILED TABLES

Table 1,

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

Divorces and divorce rates with percent changes from preceding year: United

States, 1940-70........---................---------------------------- ----------

Changes in the annual number of divorces from preceding year and cumulative

changes since 1955: United States, 1955-70 ......--------------------- -----------

Divorce rates per 1,000 total population: United States and selected foreign

countries, l962-69--------------------------------------------------------------

Number of persons involved in divorces and rate: United States, 1953-69---------

Number of divorces and percent changes from preceding year: United States, each

region, division, and State, l967-69--------------------------------------------

Divorce rates: United States , each region, division, and State, 1960-69---------

Percent distribution of divorces by age of husband and wife at the of decree:

divorce-registration area and 20 registration States, 1969----------------------

Median age of husband and wife at time of decree: divorce-registration area and

each registration State, l962-69------------------------------------------------

Percent distribution of divorces by age of husband and wife at marriage:divorceregistration area and 20 registration States, 1969------------------------ ------

Median age of husband and wife at marriage: divorce-registration area and each

registration State, 1962-69 ................---------------- ---------------------

Percent distribution of divorces by race of husband and wife: divorce-registration area and 20 registrat~on States, 1969 .......-------------- -----------------

Percent distribution of divorces by number of this marriage of husband and wife

at time of decree: divorce-registration area and 19 registration States, 1969---

Divorces by number of times husbands and wives have been previously widowed and

divorced: California, 1969------------------ ---------------------------- --------

Median and quartile years of school completed for husband and wife at time of

divorce: 11 divorce-registration States, 1969------------------------ -----------

Percent distribution of divorces by years of school completed for husband and

wife: 7 divorce-registration States, 1969---------------------------------------

Percent distribution of divorces by total number of living children and number

of children under 18 years of age: 19 divorce-registration States, 1969---------

Number of children under 18 years of age involved in diverges, mean number of

children,and rate:divorce-registration area and each registration State,1967-69-

Estimated number of all children of divorced couples and percent distribution by

age: 19 divorce-registration States, 1969--------------------------- ------------

Median duration of marriage prior to divorce: divorce-registration area and each

registration State, 1967-69--------------------------- --------------------------

Percent distribution of divorces by duration of marriage prior to separation of

divorcing couples: 12 divorce-registration States, 1969--------------------------

Median and quartile duration of marriage (in years) prior to separation and of

separation prior to divorce: 16 divorce-registration States, 1969---------------

Percent distribution of divorces by duration of separation prior to divorce: 12

divorce-registration States, 1969...........................--------------------

Page

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

36

38

40

41

42

43

44

45

47

48

49

50

52

53

2s
Table 1. Divorces and divorce rates with percent changes from preceding year: United

States, 1940-72

[For population bases, see appendix]

Year of occurrence

19721--------------------------

;;;;l 19711--------------------------

------------------------.-

---------------------------

1968---------------------------

1967--------------------------

1966---------------------------

1965---------------------------

1964---------------------------

1963---------------------------

1962---------------------------

1961--------------------------

1960---------------------------

1959---------------------------

1958---------------------------

1957---------------------------

1956---------------------------

1955--------------------------

1954--------------------------

1953---------------------------

1952---------------------------

1951---------------------------

1950---------------------------

1949--------------------------

1948---------------------------

1947---------------------------

1946---------------------------

1945---------------------------

;;%;---------------------------

---------------------------

1942---------------------------

1941---------------------------

1940---------------------------

lProvisional.

Number

of

~ivorces

839,000

768>000

715,000

639,000

584,000

523,000

499,000

479,000

450,000

428,000

413,000

414,000

393,000

395>000

368,000

381,000

382,000

377,000

379,000

390,000

392,000

381,000

385,000

397,000

408,000

483,000

610,000

485,000

400>000

359,000

321,000

293,000

264,000

Rate per

l,ooo—

rotal

population

;.;

3:5

3.2

2.9

2.6

2.5

2.5

:::

2.2

2.3

2.2

2.2

2.1

2.2

;::

2.4

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.6

;:;

3.4

4.3

3.5

2.9

2.6

2.4

2.2

2.0

Married

women

---

15.7

15.0

13.4

12.5

11.2

10.9

10.6

10.0

9.6

9.4

9.6

9.2

9.3

8.9

9.2

9.4

9.3

9.5

9.9

10.1

1::;

10.6

11.2

13.6

17.9

14.4

12.0

11.0

10.1

9.4

8.8

Percent change

Number

of

divorces

+9.2

+7.4

+11.9

+9.4

+11.7

W

+6.4

+5.1

+3.6

-0.2

+5.3

-0.5

+7.3

-3.4

-0.3

+1.3

-0.5

-2.8

-0.5

+2.9

-1.1

-3.0

-2.7

-15.5

-20.8

+25.8

+21.3

+11.4

+11.8

+9.6

+11.0

+5.2

Rate per 1,000—

Total

population

+8.1

+5.7

+9.4

+10.3

+11.5

+4.0

+4.2

-4.5

-4.3

-4.i

-4.0

-3.i

-3.7

-3.6

-17.6

-20.9

+22.9

+20.7

+11.5

+8.3

+9.1

+10.0

+5.3

Married

women

---

+4.7

+11.9

+7.2

+11.6

+2.8

+2.8

+6.0

+4.2

+2.1

-2.1

+4.3

-1.1

+4.5

-3.3

-2.1

+1.1

-2.1

-4.0

-2.0

+2.0

-3.9

-2.8

-5.4

-17.6

-24.0

+24.3

+20.0

+9.1

+8.9

-1-7.4

+6.8

+3.5

27
Table 2. Changes in the annual number of divorces from preceding year and cumulative .

changes since 1955: united States, 1955-70

Year of occurrence

19701------------------------------------

1969-------------------------------------

1968-------------------------------------

1967-------------------------------------

1966-------------------------------------

1965-------------------------------------

1964-------------------------------------

1963-------------------------------------

1962-------------------------------------

1961-------------------------------------

1960-------------------------------------

1959-------------------------------------

1958-------------------------------------

;;;;-------------------------------------

-------------------------------------

1955-------------------------------------

19701----_-------------------------------

1969-------------------------------------

1968-------------------------------------

1967-------------------------------------

1966-------------------------------------

1965-------------------------------------

1964-------------------------------------

1963-------------------------------------

1962-------------------------------------

1961-------------------------------------

1960-------------------------------------

1959-------------------------------------

1958-------------------------------------

1957-------------------------------------

1956-------------------------------------

1955-------------------------------------

Number

of

divorces

715,000

639,000

584,000

523,000

499,000

479,000

450,000

428,000

413,000

414,000

393,000

395,000

368,000

381,000

382,000

377>000

7,440,000

6,725,000

6,086,000

5,502,000

4,979,000

4,480,000

4,001,000

3,551,000

3,123,000

2,710,000

2,296,000

1,9,03,000

1,508,000

1,140,000

759,000

377,000

Total

Change

Due to

Due to change

population in agechange specific

rates

I

Annual data

+76,000

+55,000

+61,000

+24,000

+20,000

+29,000

+22,000

+15,000

-1,000

+21,000

-2,000

+27,000

-13,000

-1,000

+5,000

...

+9,000

+11,000

+1,000

+6,000

+7,000

+7,000

+5,000

+4,000

+8,000

-1,000

+3,000

+5,000

+3,000

-1,000

+3,000

...

Cumulative data

+338,000

+262,000

+207,000

+146,000

+122,000

+102,000

+73,000

+51,000

+36,000

+37,000

+16,000

+18,000

-9,000

+4,000

+5,000

..*

+70,000

+61,000

+50,000

+49,000

+43,000

+36,000

+29,000

+24,000

+20,000

+12,000

+13,000

i-lo,000

+5,000

+2,000

+3,000

.00

+67,000

-1-44,000

+60,000

+18,000

+13,000

+22,000

+17,000

+11,000

-9,000

+-22,000

-5,000

+22,000

-16,000

+2,000

● ..

+268,000

+201,000

+157,000

+97,000

+79,000

+66,000

+44,000

+~7,-J)(J

+16,000

+2,5,000

+3,000

+8,000

-14,000

+2,000

+2,000

...

lProvisionaldata.

28
Table 3. Divorce rates per 1,000 total population: United States and selected foreign

countries, 1962-69

.

[Countries are listed according to the size of their latest availabIe divorce rate]

Country

United States ----------------

U.S.S.R .---------------------

Hwgary ----------------------

1

Un~Jn~kArab Republic (Egypt)2.

----------------------

East Germany -----------------

# Czechoslovakia ---------------

Sweden -----------------------

Austria ----------------------

England and Wales ------------

German Federal Republic ------

Poland -----------------------

Switzerland ------------------

Japan ------------------------

Australia --------------------

Israel ---------------------- -

Scotland ---------------------

France -----------------------

Netherlands ------------------

Belgium ----------------------

Mexico -----------------------

Canada -----------------------

Romania ----------------------

Venezuela --------------------

Portugal ---------------------

1969

3.17

+:$

1.94

1.83

31.69

11.66

1.52

1.35

1.04

---

1.01

0.96

0.90

0.89

0.84

0.81

0.76

0.71

0.67

0.62

---

0.35

---

0.05

1968

“;.;;

.

1::;:

1.56

31.68

1.51

1.42

1.32

0.93

1.03

0.91

0.91

0.87

0.89

0.87

0.92

0.73

0.64

0.63

0.54

10.55

0.20

0.23

0.08

1967

2.65

:.;$

1:85

1.43

1.55

1.39

1.36

1.21

0.88

1.00

0.85

0.86

0.84

0.82

0.80

0.58

0.75

0.59

0.63

0.72

0.55

40GO(-J

0.25

0.08

1966

2.55

2.77

2.03

2.10

1.40

1.50

1.42

1.32

1.19

0.80

0.92

0.77

0.82

0.81

0.85

0.85

0.68

0.74

0.55

0.61

0.65

0.51

1.35

0.25

0.07

1965

2.47

1.56

2.01

2.17

1.37

1.44

1.32

1.24

1.16

0.78

0.93

0.75

0.84

0.79

0.75

0.90

0.51

0.72

0.50

0.59

0.58

0.46

1.94

0.26

0.08

1964

2.35

1.47

1.95

2.15

1.37

1.51

1.20

1.20

1.16

0.72

0.91

0.67

0.83

0.75

0.71

0.89

0.46

0.69

0.51

0.58

0.49

0.45

1.86

0.25

0.07

1963

2.27

1.30

1.82

2.11

1.38

1.33

1.22

1.12

1.14

0.67

0.84

0.64

0.82

0.73

0.69

0.95

0.43

0.63

0.49

0.56

0.48

0.41

1.92

0.25

0.07

1962

2.22

1.34

1.73

2.03

1.38

1.36

1.20

1.17

1.12

0.61

0.82

0.59

0.83

0.75

0.68

0.92

0.39

0.65

0.48

0.51

0.45

0.36

2.04

0.22

0.08

lProvisional.

‘Includes “revocable divorces” among the Moslem population which are similar to legal separations.

31ncludes data for East Berlin.

40.00 indicates rate greater than O but less than 0.005.

Source: United Nations, Demographic Yearbook, 1968 and 1971.

29
Table 4. Number and rate of persons involved in divorces: United States, 1953-69

Year of occurrence

1969----------------------

1968----------------------

1967----------------------

1966----------------------

1965----------------------

1964----------------------

1963----------------------

1962----------------------

1961----------------------

1960----------------------

1959----------------------

1958----------------------

1957----------------------

1956----------------------

1955----------------------

1954----------------------

1+53----------------------

Number

of

divorces

639,000

584,000

523,000

499,000

479,000

450,000

428,000

413,000

414,000

393,000

395,000

368,000

381,000

382,000

377,000

379,000

390,000

Persons involved

Total Spouses

2,118,000 1,278,000

1,952,000 1,168,000

1,747,000 1,046,000

1,667,000 998,000

1,588,000 958,000

1,513,000 900,000

1,418,000 856,000

1,358,000 826,000

1,344,000 828,000

1,249,000 786,000

1,258,000 790,000

1,134,000 736,000

1,141,000 762,000

1,125,000 764,000

1,101>000 754,000

1,099,000 758,000

1,110,000 780,000

II

Children

under 18

years of

age

;;:,:::

701;000

669,000

630,000

613,000

562,000

532,000

516,000

463,000

468,000

398,000

379,000

361,000

347,000

341,000

330,000

Mean

per

decree

3.31

3.34

3*34

3.34

3.32

3.36

3.31

3.29

3.25

3.18

3.18

3.08

2.99

2.95

2.92

2.90

2;85

Rate

per

1,000

population

8.2

7.9

7.5

7.3

7.3

7.0

7.1

6.5

6.7

::;

6.8

7.0

30
Table 5. Number of divorces and percent changes from preceding year:

State, 1967-69

United States, each region, division, and

r

Area

United Statesl-------------------------------------

Region:l

Northeast ----------------------------------------------

North Central ------------------------------------------

South--------------------------------------------------

West ---------------------------------------------------

Division:

New England --------------------------------------------

Middle Atlantic---i ------------------------------------

Eaat North Central -.------ ----------------------------

West North Central-------------------------------------

South Atlantic -----------------------------------------

East South Central-------------------------------------

West Sou$h Centra12------------------------------------

Moutain"----------------------------------------------

Pacific------------------------------------------------

New England:

Maine --------------------------------------------------

New Hampshire ------------------------------------------

Vermmt ------------------------------------------------

Massachusetts ------------------------------------------

Rhode Island -------------------------------------------

Comecticut --------------------------------------------

Middle Atlantic:

New York -----------------------------------------------

New Jersey ---------------------------------------------

Pennsylvania -------------------------------------------

East North Central:

OhiO---i -----------------------------------------------

Indiana --------------------- ---.------------.---------

Illinois -----------------------------------------------

Michigan -----------------------------------------------

Wisconsin ----------------------------------------------

West North Central:

Mimesota ----------------------------------------------

IOwa---------------------------------------------------

NisaOai -----------------------------------------------

North Dakota -------------------------------------------

South Dakota-------------------------------------------

;~d;ka -----------------------------------------------

------.----------------------------------- -------

South Aklantic:

De~ware>----------------------------------------------

Wryland------------------------------------------Y----

District of Columbia -----------------------------------

Vtigfiia -----------------------------------------------

West Vtiginia ------------------------------------------

North Carolfia-----------------------------------------

South Carolina-----------------------------------------

Georgia ------------------------------------------------

Florida ------------------------------------------------

East South Central:

Kentucky -----------------------------------------------

Tennessee ----------------------------------------------

Alabama ------------------------------------------------

Mississippi --------------------------------------------

West South Central:

Arkansas -----------------------------------------------

J,ouisiana ------------------------- --------------------

Oklahoma -----------------------------------------------

Texas --------------------------------------------------

Mountain:

MOntana ------------------------------------------------

Idaho--------------------------------------------------

Wyoming ------------------------------------------------

Colorado--= --------------------------------------------

New Mexico ---------------------------------------------

Arizona ------------------------------------------------

Utah ---------------------------------------------------

.Nevada-------------------------------------------------

Pacific:

WaahingtOn ---------------------------------------------

&egon -------------------------------------------------

California ---------------------------------------------

Alaska -------------------------------------------------

Hswaii -------------------------------------------------

lData are estimated.

‘Data are incomplete.

Number of divorces

1969

639,000

77,000

177,000

225,000

159,000

24,268

53,180

131,107

$:,:;;

46;859

76,683

47,279

110,862

3,392

2,280

7’93

10,787

1,267

5,749

35,558

23,396

35,974

28,347

73832

7,551

6,958

17,578

910

1,255

3,275

7,956

1,550

8,827

2,313

11,417

4,772

12,872

5,435

17,315

34,899

9,833

15,374

1;,;;:

>

9,152

4,885

15,728

46,918

2,806

3,506

1,722

8,996

3,539

11,918

3,841

10,951

16,815

8,643

81,546

1,516

2,342

1968

584,000

65,000

162,000

211,000

145,000

22,253

43,131

119,703

41,909

90,487

43,231

75,528

42,817

102,643

3,105

2,073

760

9,993

971

5,351

14,861

7,944

20,326

31,619

23,593

32,119

25,405

6,967

6,704

6,464

16,474

868

1,245

3,010

7,144

1,023

8,151

2,204

10,677

4,243

1:,;;;

15:590

31,620

9,821

13,472

12,918

7,020

8>483

3,826

14,367

48,852

2,598

3,278

1,610

8>552

2,585

l!,:(33

10:103

15,789

8,258

75,416

1,315

1,865

1967

523,000

51,000

144,000

194,000

134,000

218,167

33,053

105,888

38,419

82,412

38,887

69,458

39,691

92,895

3,060

1,752

654

7,130

2871

4,700

7,136

7,249

18,668

29,611

18,044

28,814

23,620

5,799

6,188

6,076

14,521

909

1,090

2,890

6,745

891

7,413

1,877

9,682

3>985

11>983

3,584

14,347

28,650

7,768

12,698

11,966

6,455

8,108

3,149

12,862

45,339

2,361

3,183

1,552

7,950

1,545

10,142

3,250

9,708

12,836

7,603

69,846

1,159

1,451

Percent change

L968-69

+9.4

-?-18.5

+9.2

-1-6.6

-!-9.7

+9.1

+23 .3

+9.5

+8.5

+9.9

+8.4

+1.5

+10.4

+8. o

+9.2

+10.0

+4.3

+7.9

+30 .5

+7.4

+42 .5

+31.1

+6.2

+12.5

-0.8

+12.0

-I-11.6

+12.4

+12 .6

+7.6

+6.7

i-4.8

+0.8

i-8.8

+11.4

+51.5

-1-8.3

+4.9

+6.9

+12.5

+3.3

+20 .3

+11.1

+’10.4

+0.1

+14. 1

+9.5

+6.9

+7.9

*

+9.5

-4.0

-?-8.o

+7.0

+7.0

+5.2*

+11.4

+13.3

+8.4

+6.5

+4.7

+8.1

+15.3

+25 .6

1967-68

+11.7

-?-27.5

-I-12.5

+8.8

-!-8.2

+22.5

+30 .5

+13.0

+9.1

+9.8

+11. 2

+8.7

+7.9

+10 .5

+1.5

+18.3

-!-16.2

+40 .2

*

+13 ,9

+108.3

+9.6

+s.9

+6.8

+30.8

+11.5

+7.6

+20 .1

+8.3

+6.4

+13.4

-4.5

+:: ::

+5.9

+14.8

+10.0

+17.4

+10 .3

+6.5

+4.0

+26 .1

-!-8.7

+10.4

-!-26.4

+6.1

+8.0

+8.8

+4.6

+11 .;

i-7.7

-?-10.0

+3.0

+3.7

+7.6*

+5.5

+4.3

+4.1

+2; . g

+8:o

+13 .5

+28 .5

a
Table 6. Divorce IWXS: United States, each region, division, and State, lgIj&6g

Area

..

United Statesl------------

Region:

Northeast ---------------------

North Central-----------------

South-------------------------

West --------------------------

Division:

New England-------------------

Middle Atlantic ---------------

East North Central------------

West North Central------------

South Atlantic ----------------

East South Central------------

West South Central------------

Mountain ----------------------

Pacifit-----------------------

New England:

~ine -------------------------

New Hampshire -----------------

Vemont -----------------------

Massachusetts -----------------

Shode Island------------------

Connecticut -------------------

Middle Atlantic:

New York----------------------

New Jersey --------------------

Pennsylvania ------------------

East North Central:

Ohio--------------------------

Indianal----------------------

Illinois----------------------

Michigan ----------------------

Wisconsin ---------------------

West North Central:

Minnesota ---------------------

Iowa--------------------------

Missouri ----------------------

North Dakota------------------

South Dakota------------------

Nebraska ----------------------

Unsas ------------------------

South Atlantic:

Delaware ----------------------

Wryland ----------------------

District of Columbia----------

Virginia ----------------------

West Virginia -----------------

North Carolina ----------------

South Carolina ----------------

Georgia-----------------------

Florida-----------------------

East South Central:

Kentucky ----------------------

Tennessee ---------------------

Alabama -----------------------

Mississippi -------------------

West South Central:

Artinsas ----------------------

Louisiana---------------------

Oklahoma ----------------------

Texas-------------------------

Mountain:

Mmtana -----------------------

Idaho-------------------------

Wyodng -----------------------

Colorado----------------------

New Mexico --------------------

Arizma -----------------------

Utah--------------------------

Nevada ------------------------

Pacific:

Washington --------------------

Oregon ------------------------

California --------------------

Alasb ------------------------

Hawaii ------------------------

&ata are estimated.

Data are incomplete.

[Sates pe,l,OOOpopulation meachxez Seeappcndix]

1969

3.2

11.6

13.2

13.6

14.7

2.1

1;::

2.8

%:

23.9

4.;

::;

;:;

1.4

1.9

;::

1.8

:::

3.3

3.2

1.9

2.0

2.5

3.8

1.5

;::

3.4

2.9

2.3

2.9

;::

2.5

2.0

3.7

5.5

3.0

:::

3.2

4.6

*

2:;

2::

:::

*

;:;

24.0

4.9

4.3

4.2

2:;

196S

2.9

11.3

12.9

13.4

14.3

1,9

1;::

2.6

::!

2’3.9

4.:

3.2

3.0

1.8

::?

1.8

::;

1.7

::7

2.9

::;

;::

3.6

1.4

1.9

2.1

3.1

;:;

2.7

::;

2.4

1.7

3.4

5.1

3.1

3.4

::8

4.3

*

2:{

::;

2:;

6.;

2;::

4.8

4.1

J

:::

2.4

1967

2.6

1966

2.5

—

11.1

12.5

13.0

14.0

1.8

$2

2.2

:::

*

3.:

;::

;:;

1.4

1.5

0.4

1.0

1.5

i:;

2.6

;::

1.5

$;

1.2

1.4

;:?

;:;

2.3

2.1

2.2

2.3

i:;

4.3

$:

;:;

23.8

4.;

4.0

:::

4.6

3.7

15.;

2?::

3.8

3.5

:::

1.2

1965

2.5

_

11.O

12.4

12.9

14.0

1.6

$:;

2;:;

2.8

15.:

3.7

;::

1.5

1.5

1.3

1.3

0.5

:::

2.5

;:;

2.4

1.3

1.4

;:;

1.1

1.5

;:;

1.5

2.0

1.7

2.0

;:;

2;:;

4.4

2.6

2.9

3.2

2.5

3.4

4.:

3.9

::;

k?

23.6

5.4

2:::

3.9

%:

4.2

1.6

1964

2.4

11.0

12.2

12.8

13.8

1.5

1::!

2.1

;::

*

3.;

;::

1.5

::;

1.3

0.4

0.8

1.4

2.5

::;

:::

1.5

1.8

2.9

1.2

1.4

;:;

1.3

i:?

:::

1.5

1.0

::;

:::

;:;

‘23,1

5.;

3.9

::!

4.2

13.2

5.;

2;::

3.7

::!

3.9

2.4

1963

2.3

‘0.9

12.2

12.8

13.6

1.3

$.;

2:0

2.3

2.;

1’4.9

3.2

i::

1.3

1.1

1.2

1.2

0.4

0.8

1.3

2.4

2::

2.2

1.2

1.3

;::

1.1

::;

2.4

1.3

::?

;:;

1.5

1.0

::?

i:;

;:;

23.4

4.:

3.8

:::

%!

23.5

5.6

2::;

13.4

3.3

3.2

3.8

2.2

1962

2.2

~o.9

++

13.6

1.3

~].;

2:0

:::

14.;

13.2

2.1

2.2

1.2

1.2

1.1

1.1

0.4

0.8

1.3

R

R

1.1

1.3

1.7

2.8

1.0

;::

2.4

~.;

1:5

;:!l

i::

::;

2.3

2.6

3.7

2.4

3.4

14.:

3.6

;:?

1!::

3,7

‘!5.3

2;::

13.3

3.3

::;

2.1

1961

,,$::

%:5

1.3

1::;

%.9

2::;

14.;

23.2

:::

1.2

1.1

1.2

1.1

0.4

0.8

1.2

2.3

3,2

:::

1.1

1.2

2,;:;

1.0

1.2

1.6

2.3

+:;

1.5

::;

1.4

1.3

::;

22.4

2.6

5.3

2.4

23.2

14.;

23.6

2.9

3.9

1;:;

23.4

5.0

2::2

23.2

::!

2:2

1960

2.2

2’0.9

Iz.I.

1,22.8

23.4

%.2

1;:;

21.9

2.1

*

24.;

3.1

2.2

1.8

2;:;

1.1

1.0

0.4

0.8

1.3

2.4

2.7

:;:

0.9

1.2

,2;:;

0.9

1.2

;:;

1.6

1.7

::;

;;:

1.3

2.3

3.9

2.;

5.3

2.4

*

4.:

3.6

3.0

::;

2;:;

3.7

2:::

3.3

3.2

3.1

2::

32
Table 7. Percent distribution of divorces by age of husband and wife at time of decree: divorce-registration area and

20 registration States, 1969

[Percents werenotcomputedforStateswheretherep.rdngofascwaslessthan75 pcrccnt compkte]

Age at time of decree

All

di-

,orces

and

.nnulLents

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

65

60-64 y=

years over

Area

Jnder

20

rears

40-44 45-49

years years J_50-54 55-59

years years

20-24

years

25-29 30-34 35-39

years years years

I I

Husband

Divorce-registration

area-------------------- 16.0

16.1

12.8

12.0

11.4

17.8

15.7

20.8

21.6

22.4

19.3

18.7

21.8

10.9

16.5

16.6

12.6

20.9

11.6

15.1

15.5

24.1

26.9

21.6

21.3

19.3

25.9

24.4

29.0

28.6

27.1

26.9

26.4

28.6

19.6

25.3

23.9

21.5

26.7

21.9

23.0

24.8

21.9

23.6

21.7

22.6

21.4

23.9

22.3

22.6

22.5

21.2

21.3

20.7

22.2

19.2

21.5

20.8

22.5

22.3

22.6

22.7

22.1

21.3

21.6

22.0

22.5

23.7

22.8

22.2

20.7

20.1

19.0

19.3

20.6

20.5

20.1

22.0

21.5

22.2

19.8

24.0

21.2

23.2

12.8

13.7

13.5

13.3

14.4

11.8

13.1

11.6

11.4

11.6

12.5

11.7

12.5

13.1

12.3

13.0

12.4

10.6

11.8

12.2

13.2

11.5

11.4

11.9

12.5

12.5

10.7

11.5

9.9

9.6

10.2

10.8

1:::

13.s

10.3

11.3

12.9

1::;

11.3

12.1

8.8

8.6

9.9

:.:

8:0

8.8

;:;

::$

9.0

7.6

1::$

9.3

10.4

1::1?

;.;

.

6.9

R

;.;

5:8

6.0

5.5

6.5

6.1

5.7

7.1

6.1

8.2

7-.3

6.9

8.3

5.5

9.2

;::

5.4

5.0

6.2

6.7

6.4

5.0

4.3

4.8

:::

5.1

::;

6.2

6.5

5.4

5.8

5.2

5.7

5.8

5.1

3.8

3.1

4.4

4.5

;.;

.

3.7

3.4

2::

3.4

4.2

:::

4.4

4.0

4.6

2.8

3.2

:::

3.4

2.9

3.6

3.4

3.1

3.3

3.9

2.9

2.4

3.4

2.7

2:;

4.3

3.9

3.9

3.3

M

2.7

3.5

2.1

1.7

2.5

2.3

1.9

2.3

2.0

1.9

2.0

2.0

2.1

2.2

2.1

2.8

1.6

2.1

M

2.4

1.7

1.8

1.6

1.3

1.6

1.7

i::

1.3

::;

;:+

2.1

1.8

2.1

1.9

1.9

1.8

1.2

1.7

i::

1.0

0.3

1.0

1.0

0.8

1.0

0.8

1.1

1.0

1.1

1.0

1.0

0.7

1.3

1.6

1.1

1.3

1.1

0.8

1.4

0.9

1.7

!::

1.1

1.6

1.6

1.8

1.2

1.7

2.2

2.G

1.7

1.8

2.0

:::

1.2

2.0

?:?

1.7

0.9

0.3

;:;

::?

0.9

0.7

0.8

1.3

1.2

0.7

0.8

0.6

1.1

0.7

0.7

0.9

0.7

0.5

1.1

f 0.9

0.3

0.5

%:

2.1

0.8

1.8

1.7

1.8

1.3

1.3

0.8

0.5

$?

0.3

2.2

0.4

0.5

0.3

4.4

4.3

2.5

1.9

2.1

6.9

;.:

7:3

9.2

6.7

6.2

R

$:+

2.1

8.8

2.6

3.4

2.0

16.1

16.6

16.2

17.0

17.5

13.7

16.6

15.6

14.6

13.6

14.9

16.0

14.5

17.5

16.5

15.8

16.9

15.2

19.3

17.0

17.0

14.1

15.1

14.3

15.3

16.2

13.0

13.8

13.4

12.4

11.9

13.2

13.4

13.0

15.7

13.5

13.8

15.2

13.6

13.5

15.4

14.4

Alaska -------------------------

(jalifcmnia---------------------

COnnectimt --------------------

Hawaii-------------------------

Idaho--------------------------

Illinois-----------------------

Iowa---------------------------

Kansas-------------------------

Kentucky-----------------------

Missouri-----------------------

Montana------------------------

Nebraska-----------------------

New York-----------------------

Oregon-------------------------

Pennsylvania-------------------

P&ode Island-------------------

Tennessee----------------------

Vermont------------------------

Virginia-----------------------

Wisconsin----------------------

Wife

Divorce-registration

area-------------------- 9.9

1:::

11.0

12.7

8.3

10.1

8.3

9.3

1::?

8.6

1::2

1::;

9.8

8.5

1:::

10.2

11.5

11.6

12.0

11.7

12.8

9.7

11.6

9.8

1%:

10.4

1::2

13.0

10.8

12.2

12.0

1;::

12.1

11.6

Alaska-------------------------

calif~nia ---------------------

Connecticut--------------------

Hawaii-------------------------

Illinois -----------------------

Iowa---------------------------

wnsas-------------------------

Kentucky-----------------------

Missouri -----------------------

Montana ------------------------

Nebraska -----------------------

New York -----------------------

Clregon------------------------

Pmsylvafia -------------------

>

.

F&ode Island-------------------

Te~essee ----------------------

Vermont------------------------

Virginia----------------------

Wiscmsin ----------------------

33
Table 8. Median age of husband and wife at time of decree: divorce-resiistrationarea and each re~istration State, 1962-69

Area

Divorce-registration area---

Alabsmal --------------

Alaska ----------------

California ------------

Connecticut -----------

Georgia ---------------

Hawaii ----------------

Idaho -----------------

Illinois --------------

Iowa ------------------

Kansas ----------------

Kentucky --------------

Maryland --------------

Michiganl -------------

Missouri --------------

Montana ---------------

Nebraska --------------

New York --------------

OhioI -----------------

Oregon ----------------

Pennsylvania ----------

Rhode Island ----------

South Dakotal ---------

Tewessee -------------

Utah ------------------

Vermont ---------------

Virginia -------- ------

Wisconsin -------------

WyOmingl --------------

1969

33.5

30.0

33.0

34.6

34.5

30.7

34.9

32.2

33.4

31.5

31.4

31.7

33.8

33.7

32.7

32.9

31.8

35.7

32.9

33.3

33.8

34.4

33.1

31.5

31.6

34.0

33.4

33.5

33.1

1

Computed from data less than

Median age of husband at time of decree

1968

33.9

30.0

131.9

35.2

35.1

31.1

35.2

32.7

33.5

32.0

33.1

---

33.7

32.8

32.6

33.2

32.3

---

34.6

33.6

34.9

34.7

33.0

32.0

32.1

33.7

34.6

34.4

31.3

1967

33.6

40.8

130.9

---

---

32.2

36.3

32.3

---

32.5

32.3

---

33.7

34.9

33.5

33.5

32.6

---

33.6

33.8

35.0

35.1

33.9

32.5

31.9

---

34.1

34.5

33.5

0 percent complete,

1966

33.8

34.2

132.9

---

---

31.8

37.3

31.4

---

32.3

31.9

---

134.2

33.9

33.7

34.1

32.6

---

35.0

35.1

34.5

130.0

35.2

32.7

28.5

---

31.6

35.0

35.8

1965

34.1

35.8

134.1

---

---

33.0

36.2

33.0

---

33.2

33.6

---

134.5

34.4

34.1

33.6

32.4

---

35.2

34.8

34.8

34.9

29.1

32.3

31.1

----

34.9

34.8

32.3

1964

34.0

34.6

133.6

---

---

‘31.9

34.7

32.7

---

32.8

33.3

---

34.5

36.1

34.2

33.3

33.6

---

34.0

34.7

35.3

35.4

32.3

32.9

31.1

---

34.1

35.0

32.5

1963

34.8

35.5

135.6

---

---

‘133.0

35.8

32.4

---

33.0

33.5

---

136.4

32.5

34.9

35.1

33.6

---

37.0

35.3

35.5’

35.0

32.3

34.2

31.6

---

34.9

35.4

31.5

1962

34.5

35.0

134.6

---

---

132.1

36.3

34.0

---

33.9

34.0

---

34.6

33.3

34.1

33.4

135.0

---

34.6

35.4

36.1

---

36.1

34.5

31.8

---

34.2

37.5

40.0

34
Table 8. Median age of husband and wife at time of decree: divorce-registrationarea and each registration State, 1962-69-Con.

Area

Divorce-registration area---

AlabamaI--------------

?

Alaska----------------

California------------

t Connecticut-----------

Georgia---------------

Hawaii----------------

Idaho-----------------

Illinois--------------

Iowa------------------

Kansas----------------

Kentucky--------------

Maryland--------------

Michiganl-------------

Missouri--------------

Montana---------------

Nebraska--------------

New York--------------

Ohiol-----------------

Oregon----------------

Pennsylvania----------

Rhode Island----------

South Dakotal---------

Tennessee-------------

P Utah------------------

Vermont---------------

A Virginia--------------

Wisconsin-------------

Wyomingl--------------

1969

30.1

28.1

29.4

31.4

31.4

28.2

31.5

28.8

29.7

28.5

28.5

28.6

30.4

30.5

29.3

29.2

28.8

32.6

30.0

29.7

30.3

31.4

29.7

28.7

28.7

30.6

30.8

30.0

30.3

1968

30.5

28.8

128.2

31.9

32.3

28.3

31.9

29.0

29.9

28.9

29.1

---

30.3

29.6

29.6

29.5

29.4

---

31.2

29.8

31.4

31.7

29.7

28.9

28.8

30.9

31.3

31.3

27.7

Median age of wife at time of decree

1967

30.1

35.8

127.1

---

---

28.8

32.7

28.8

---

29.2

29.1

---

31.3

31.4

29.9

29.3

29.6

---

30.1

30.4

31.7

32.4

28.9

29.3

28.4

---

30.8

31.3

30.6

1966

30.4

26.3

129.3

---

---

28.5

34.0

28.0

---

29.4

28.9

---

130.9

31.2

30.0

30.3

29.5

---

31.6

31.4

31.5

32.1

30.2

29.2

28.5

---

31.6

32.0

32.3

1965

30.5

32.1

129.8

---

---

29.4

32.8

29.2

---

29.4

30.1

---

130.5

30.8

30.5

29.9

29.0

---

31.6

31.8

31.8

32.4

26.9

28.8

28.0

---

31.3

31.8

27.0

1964

30.6

34.5

+29.0

---

---

128.7

31.3

28.9

---

29.4

29.7

---

31.1

32.4

30.7

29.3

29.8

---

31.6

31.4

32.0

32.7

27.8

29.4

27.8

---

30.8

31.8

28.2

1963

31.3

31.3

130.2

---

---

129.8

32.6

28.6

---

29.8

30.1

---

133.0

33.2

31.1

30.9

29.8

---

33.5

31.5

32.3

32.7

28.1

30.1

28.6

---

31.8

32.2

26.2

1962

31.0

31.3

128.3

---

---

129.0

32.8

30.4

---

30.5

30.6

---

31.6

29.8

30.4

29.9

131.2

---

31.7

32.6

32.2

---

31.4

29.7

28.7

---

30.8

34.7

32.5

1

Computed from data less than 50 percent complete.

.35
Table 9. Percent distributionof divorcesby age of hueband and wife at marriage: divorce-regis.

tration area and 20 registrationStates, 1969

[Percents were not computed for States where the reporting of age was 1.ss than 75 percent complete]

Area

Divorce-registrationarea-------

Alaska--------------------------------

California----------------------------

Connecticut-----------w-----.-.---e---

Hawaii--------------------------------

Idaho---------------------------------

Illinois------------------------------

Iowa--------------------------------

Kansas------------------------------

Kentucky------------------------------

Missouri------------------------------

Montana-------------------------------

Nebraska----------------------------

New York------------------------------

Oregon--------------------------------

Pennsylvania--------------------------

Rhode Island--------------------------

Tennessee-----------------------------

Vermont-------------------------------

Virginia----------------------------.-

W&mnain ---------------,--------------

All

divorces

and

annu1-

ments

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100●o

Under

20

years

19.2

13.5

16.4

15.2

13.2

14.5

17.6

22.9

21.8

25.7

22.0

12.7

17.3

15.3

16.9

20.6

16.3

25.5

19.5

24.1

16.9

Age of husband ac marriage

20-24

years

42.9

41.3

40.9

49.7

42.0

40.3

43.0

42.4

43.5

39.8

40.0

43.1

47.7

47.8

39.9

46.8

49.4

39.3

47.8

44.8

49.0

25-29

years

16.5

17.3

16.8

18.9

21.0

17.5

17.6

14.4

14.3

13.8

14.1

17.8

17.0

18.7

18.3

16.3

19.3

15.6

16.1

15.2

16.4

30-34

years

7.7

11.0

8.9

6.6

9.1

9.6

8.3

7.4

6.9

6.7

8.0

9.1

5.7

8.2

8.0

6.2

7.0

6.5

7.4

6.4

7.0

35-35

years

4.8

6.0

5.7

4.0

5.3

5.5

4.7

4.9

4.6

4.6

5.5

5.5

4.1

4.2

5.2

4.2

3.3

3.7

3.8

3.4

4.0

40-44

years

3.4

4.9

4.1

2.2

3.7

4.8

3.6

3.0

3.3

3.0

3.9

4.2

2.8

2.2

4.1

2.1

1.9

3.3

2.2

2.4

2.5

7

5.5

6.0 ‘

7.2

3.3

5.7

7.8

5.1

5.1

5.6

6.4

6.4

7.5

5.5

3.6

7.6

3.7

2.8

6.0

3.2

3.6

4..1 “

.

36
Table 9. Percent distributionof divorces by age of husband and wife at marriage: divorce-registration area and 20 registrationStates, 1969=cmn.

[Percents werenotcomputedforStateswherethereporting ofagewaslessthan75percentcomplete]

Area

.

Divorce-registration area-------

* ,Alaska--------------------------------

Californi,a---------------------------.

Connecticut---------------------------

Hawaii --------------------------------

Xdaho------------------------.-----,---

Illinois------------------------------

Iowa--------------------------------

Kansas--------------------------------

Kentucky ------------------------------

Missouri ------------------------------

~~tana -------------------------------

Nebraska------------------------------

New York------------------------------

gregon--------------------------------

Pannsylvania--------------------------

Rhode Island--------------------------

hnnessee-----------------------------

Vermont------------------------------

Virginia----------------------------

.

bisconsin --------------------------- --

.

All

divorces

and

annulments

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Under

20

years

45.8

41.5

40.7

42.L

34.7

41.0

45.1

50.2

49.5

52.4

48.1

41.2

46.2

43.6

44.0

48.9

44.8

52.7

51.4

52.3

48.1

Age of wife at marriage

20-24

years

29.6

29.3

29.6

38.7

36.4

30.5

29.9

27.3

27.4

24.5

26.4

30.7

31.8

34.2

26.8

32.7

36.7

24.3

30.4

28.5

33.8

25-29

years

9.5

10.7

10.5

8.7

13.9

10.4

10.2

8.7

8.5

7.7

9.2

10.1

8.2

10.3

11.0

8.0

8.7

9.0

8.5

7.7

7.1

30-34

years

5.3

5.6

6.7

3.9

5.9

5.4

5.2

4.8

4.7

4.9

5.0

5.7

4.8

5.3

6.2

4.3

4.0

4.0

4.2

4.7

3.8

35-39

years

3.6

6.2

4.4

3.1

4.1

4.0

3.3

2.9

3.7

3.0

4.2

4.4

3.1

2.9

4.1

3.0

2.1

3.2

1.9

3.4

2.3

40-44

years

2.4

2.7

3.1

1.4

2.4

3.9

2.9

2.4

2.3

2.7

2.4

2.7

2.5

1.3

2.9

1.2

1.9

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.7

45

y=

over

3.7

4.0

4.9

2.2

2.7

4.8

3.4

3.6

3.9

4.7

4.7

5.2

3.3

2.4

5.1

2.0

1.8

4.3

1.5

1.8

3.1,
Table 10. Median age of husband and wife at marriage: divorce-registrationarea and each registration

Area

Divorce-registration area---

Alaba@l --------------

Alaska----------------

California------------

Connecticut-----------

Georgia---------------

Hawaii----------------

Idaho-----------------

Illinois--------------

Iowa------------------

Kansas----------------

Kentucky--------------

Maryland--------------

Michigan~-------------

Missouri--------------

Montana---------------

Nebraska--------------

New York--------------

Ohio~-----------------

Oregon----------------

Pennsylvania----------

Rhode Island----------

South Dakotal---------

Temessee -------------

Utah------------------

Vermont---------------

Virginia--------------

Wisconsin-------------

WyotinglY-------------

State, 1962-69

Median age of husband at marriage

1969

23.6

22.8

24.4

24.1

23.5

23.2

24.4

24.4

23.8

23.2

23.2

23.1

23.3

22.6

23.5

24.3

23.4

23.6

23.6

24.2

23.1

23.4

24.0

23.1

23.2

23.2

22.9

23.4

24.0

1968

23.;

23.2

1250S

24.2

23.7

23.2

24.7

24.4

23.8

23.2

23.2

---

23.2

22.6

23.6

24.5

23.6

---

23.6

23.9

23.2

23.3

23.1

23.0

23.3

23.2

23.2

23.5

23.5

1967

23.5

24.7

12501

---

---

23.1

24.9

24.0

---

23.3

23.7

---

22.9

23.1

23.8

24.7

23.6

---

23.7

24.1

23.3

23.6

23.7

23.1

23.2

---

23.1

23.6

23.9

Uhmputed from data less than 50 percent complete

1966

23.5

24.2

125.4

---

---

23.2

26.0

24.0

---

23.2

23.7

---

123s2

23.0

23.8

24.5

23.8

---

24.0

24.5

23.2

23.5

‘24.2

23.2

23.1

---

23.3

23.6

25*7

.

1965

23.;

24.?

127.;

---

---

23.4

25.t

24.4

---

23.6

24.0

---

12303

22.9

24.0

24.6

23.6

---

24.0

24.5

23.5

23.2

23.0

23.2

23.3

---

23.2

23.7

24.1

1964

23.7

23.6

127.2

---

---

12303

24.6

24.3

---

23.6

24.0

---

23.3

23.6

24.0

24.8

23.9

---

23.7

24.3

23.7

23.7

23.8

23.1

23.4

---

23.5

23.8

24.1

1963

23.9

24.5

127.6

---

---

12304

25.3

24.2

---

23.7

24.1

---

‘123.5

22.8

24.0

25.0

23.9

---

24.4

24.9

23.4

23.6

24.0

23.6

23.5

---

23.6

24.0

23.3

1962

24.0

---

12309

*

25.1

24.5

---

24.0

24.2

---

23.3

23.4

23.8

24.6

124.4

---

24.2

24.5

23.8

---

24.2

24.2

23.7

<

---

23.8

24.9

.

25.0

33
Table 10. Median age of husband and wife at marria~e: divorce-registrationarea and each registration

Area

Divorce-registration area---

Alabama%-------------

. Alaska----------------

California------------

Connecticut-----------

.

Georgia---------------

Hawaii----------------

Idaho-----------------

Illinois--------------

Iowa-----------y------

Kansas----------------

Kentucky--------------

Maryland--------------

MichiganI-------------

Missour5~-------------

Montana---------------

Nebraska--------------

New York--------------

Ohiol-----------------

Oregon----------------

Pennsylvania----------

Rhode Island----------

South Dakotal---------

Tennessee-------------

Utah------------------

Vermont---------------

Virginia--------------

.

Wisconsin-------------

WyomingL--------------

State, 1962~69—Con. -

~_—

Median age of wife at marriage

1969

20.7

19.1

121.5

21.6

21.0

20.0

22.1

21.5

20.8

20.0

20.1

19.7

20.4

19.5

20.4

21.4

20.6

20.9

20.7

21.1

20.2

20.7

20.1

19.7

20.0

19.8

19.7

20.3

20.5

1968

20.7

19.4

122.1

21.6

21.2

19.9

22.5

21.3

20.7

19.8

20.0

---

20.3

19.3

20.8

21.4

20.7

---

20.7

20.8

20.0

20.5

19.9

19.6

19.9

19.8

19.9

20.5

20.2’

1967

20.31

19.5

121.8;

---

---

19.6

22.6

21.2

---

19.9

20.7

---

19.6

19.9

20.3

21.5

20.7

---

20.8

20.9

20.4

21.1

19.5

19.7

19.9

---

19.8

20.5

19.8

1966

20.3

20.4

1:22.6

---

---

21.0

2’3.7

20.7

---

20.0

20.7

---

12,1.0

20.9

20.2

21.6

20.8

---

21.4

21.0

20.3

21.0

20.8

20.9

21.0

---

21.0

20.6

22.3

1965

20.4

19.6

123.4

---

---

19.9

23.5

21.3

---

20.2

20.8

---

119.5

19.3

20.7

21.6

20.8

---

21.0

21.6

20.5

20.6

18.8

19.6

19.9

---

19.6

21.0

20.0

1964

20.4

21.3

I’23.1

---

---

119.8

22.2

21.3

---

20.1

21.0

---

19.6

19.6

20.7

21.8

20.8

---

21.0

21.0

20.1

21.4

20.5

19.5

19.8

---

20.2

20.8

19.7,

1963

20.6

22.1

123,3

---

---

119.9

22.5

21.2

---

20.1

20.9

---

119.7

21.2

20.2

21.7

20.4

---

21.5

21.6

20.6

20.9

20.5

19.9

19.8

---

20.4

20.9

19,.7

1962

20.7

19.8

122*1

---

120.3

22.9

21.6

---

20.3

21.4

---

20.1

20.5

20.4

21.4

121.1

---

21.0

22.0

20.4

---

20.1

19.9

20.6

---

20.4

22.0

22.0

lfjonputedfrm data less than 50 percent complete

.39
Table 11. Percent distribution of divorces by race of husband and wife: divorce-registration area

and 20 registration States, 1969

[Pmcentsl were not computed for States where the reporting of age was less than 75 percent complete]

Area

Divorce-registration area -----

Alaska ------------------------------

California --------------------------

Connecticut -------------------------

Hawaii ------------------------------

Idaho -------------------------------

Illinois ----------------------------

Iowa --------------------------------

Kansas -----------------------.- .----

Kentucky----------------------------

‘Missouri----------------------------

Montana -----------------------------

Neliraska-------------------------- --

New York---------------i ------------

Oregon ------------------------------

Pennsylvania ------------------------

Rhode Island ------------------------

Tennessee ---------------------------

Vermont-----------------------------

Virginia ----------------------------

Wisconsin ---------------------------

All

di -

vorces

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

White

89.4

85.4

92.4

90.8

51.6

98.3

83.9

97.1

92.5

93.4

87.9

94.9

93.2

84.5

97.9

90.7

96.0

88.0

98.5

83.2

93.1

Husband

Negro

9.6

3.0

::;

1.7

0:5

15.8

2.7

6.9

1::!

0.5

6.6

15.2

1.4

9.3

3.6

12.0

1:::

6.2

Other

races

0.9

11.6

1.0

4:%

1.2

%:

0.6

0.;

4.6

U

0.8

0.5

0.0

0.;

0.7

All

di -

vorces

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

White

89.5

82.2

92.4

91.2

47.9

98.6

84.2

97.4

92.7

93.4

87.9

94.5

93.1

84.9

97.7

90.6

96.0

87.8

98.4

83.1

93.4

Wife

Negro

9.4

2.7

6.4

8.7

::;

15.4

2.4

6.6

1;::

0.4

1:;:

1.3

9.4

1:::

1:::

6.0

Other

races

——

1.1

15’,0

1.2

5!:;

0.9

0.4

::;

O.i

5.1

::!

1.1

0.1

0.5

0.2

.;::

0.7

,

40
Table 12. Percent distributionOf divorces by number of this marria e of husband and wife at time

of decree: divorce-registrationarea and 19 registratfon States, 1969

[Pcrcmtswerenotcomp.ted forStateswherctherepo.dng ofthenurnbcrofthis marria~waslessthsn 75percentcornpkte]

Area

Divorce-registrationarea---

Alaska~-.-------------------------

California------------------------

Comecticut -----------------------

Hawaii----------------------------

Idaho-----------------------------

Illinois--------------------------

Kansas----------------------------

Kentucky--------------------------

Missouri-1,---------------------- ---

Montana ---------------------------

New York --------------------------

Oregon----------------------------

Pennsylvania----------------------

Rhode Island----------------------

Tennessee------------------------

Vermont---------------------------

Virginia--------------------------

Wisconsin-------------------------

-

All

divorces

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number of this marriage of husband

First

74.2

64.6

67.8

83.0

76.8

63.9

76.4

71.2

72.0

74.0

68.3

68.4

85.6

65.4

84.7

85.9

69.7

85.0

82.6

82.7

Second

19.8

23.9

23.8

14.7

17.6

24.3

18.8

21.4

20.6

20.6

22.7

23.2

12.6

24.5

13.4

12.3

23.5

13.0

15.1

14.7

Third

or

more

6.0

11.5

8.4

2.3

1;::

4.8

7.4

z::

9.0

8.3

1.8

10.0

:::

6.8

$:;

2.5

All

divorces

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Loo.o

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100..O

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Number of this marriage of wife

First

73.6

63.9

66.3

83.8

76.2

60.2

76.1

72.4

;;.:

69:3

67.2

86.8

65.3

84.5

85.1

70.6

84.6

80.7

82.0

Second

19.9

23.6

23.8

13.9

17.7

27.1

18.3

19.3

22.2

21.8

23.1

23.6

11.8

23.9

13.8

13.7

22.2

13.9

16.3

15.1

Third

or

more

6.5

1;.;

2:3

l;:!

.

8.3

;::

9:2

1.5

10.7

1.7

1.2

U

2.9

2.9

t
Table 13. Divorces by number of times husbands and wives have been previously widowed

and divorced: California, 1969

Number of times divorced

Total -------------------------

Never -------------------------------

Once --------------------------------

Twice -------------------------------

3 times or more---------------------

Not stated--------------------------

Total -------------------------

Never -------------------------------

Once--------------------------------

Twice -------------------------------

3 times or ❑ ore---------------------

Not stated--------------------------

Number of times widowed

II I I

Twice

Total Never Once or

❑ ore

Not

stated

Husband

81,520 60,300 2,310 210 18,700 ~

48,460 47,080 1,010 60 310

16,000 9,450 550

3,840

5,980 .

2,160 150 ::

1,400 670

1,490

110 62CI

11,820 940 490 9; 10,300

81>520

47,500

16,230

4,410

1,400

11,980

59,620

46,010

9,570

2,:;;

900

Wife

3>260 260 18,38CI

1,040 38CI

1,060 :: 5,520

220 60 1,660

670

8:: 56 10,150

I 1

42
Table 14. Median and quartile years of school completed for husband and wife at time

of divorce: 10 divorce-registration States, 1969

[Medians and quartiles not computed for States where reporting of education was less than 50 percent complete]

I

Husband

State

Alaska -------------------

California ---------------

Connecticut --------------

Hawaii -------------------

Illinois -----------------

Kansas -------------------

Nebraska -----------------

New York -----------------

Rhode Island -------------

Vermont ------------------

First

quartile

11.4

11.5

10.7

11.6

10.5

10.9

11.2

10.7

10.4

10.1

Median

12.4

12.4

12.3

12.5

12.2

12.3

12.3

12.3

12.2

12.2

Third

quartile

12.9

12.9

12.8

13.1

12.8

12.9

12.9

12.8

12.7

12.8

First

quartile

11.6

11.5

9.7

11.5

10.2

10.7

10.8

9.9

9..9

8.9

Wife

Median

12.5

12.5

12.1

12.5

12.2

12.3

12.3

12.2

12.1

11.9

Third

~uartile

13.0

13.4

12.8

13.6

12.8

12.9

12.9

12.8

12.7

12.7

43
Table 15. Percent distribution of divorces by years of school completed for husband and wife: 7 divorce-registration States, 1969

State

California -----------

Connecticut--- ------

Hawaii ---------------

Kensas ---------------

Nebraska -------------

New YOrlc-------------

Vermont --------------

California -----------

Connecticut ----------

“Ha~aii---------------

Kansas ---------------

Nebraska -------------

New York -------------

Vermont--------------

[Percents werenotcomputedfm Stateswherer.portingof educationwaskssthsn75pcrcmtcompkte]l

All Elementary school High school College

di -

No 20rces

and schooling 5

mnul - Total 1-7 8

Total 1-3 4Total 1-2 34 years

rIents yeara years years years years years or

more

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

0.6

0.1

0.6

0.1

0.3

6.1

10.1

7.2

9.4

8.1

12.9

16.7

1

0.8 8.5

0.2 19.8

0.6 10.7

0.1 14.9

0.1 13.2

0.2 19.2

0.3 26.1

2.8

2.5

3.8

1.8

2.0

3.7

3.6

3.8

5.7

5.9

3.8

3.7

6.4

5.4

3.4

7.6

3.4

7.7

6.2

9.3

13.1

4.6

14.1

4.8

11.1

9.5

12.7

20.7

Husband

71.9 23.4

71.5 28.4

66.5 20.0

71.7 25.3

72.6 25.8

72.3 23.2

65.3 26.9

Wife

63.6

60.3

60.9

62.3

64.2

64.2

57.6

20.0

25.4

16.4

20.4

23.2

24.2

24.5

48.4

43.1

46.5

46.4

46.8

49.2

38.4

43.6

35.0

44.5

41.9

41.0

40.0

33.1

21.4

18.2

25.7

18,8

19.3

14.4

18.0

27.2

19.7

27.8

22.7

22.4

16.5

16.0

13.0

10.3

13.3

12.0

12.5

7.3

11.8

12.9

7.8

11.5

12.2

12.2

6.6

6.5

6.8

6.3

8.7

5.2

5.9

5.1

5.1

10.4

8.0

10.3

7.3

7.6

5.9

7.3

1.7 ,

1.6

3.7 *

1.6

0.9

2.0

1.2

3.9

3.8

6.0

3.3

2.6

4.0

2.2
Table 16. Percent distribution of divorces by total number of living children and number of children under 18 years of age: 19 divorce-registrationStates, 1969

[Percents computedforStatesreporting totalnumberofliving children]

State

Alaska

All children----------------------

Children under 18 years-----------

California

All children----------------------

Children under 18 years-----------

Connecticut

All children----------------------

Children under 18 years-----------

Hawaii

All children----------------------

Children under 18 years-----------

Idaho

All children----------------------

Children under 18 yearsl----------

Illinois

All children----------------------

Children under 18 years-----------

~

All children----------------------

Children under 18 years-----------

Kansas

All children----------------------

Children under 18 years-----------

Maryland

All children----------------------

Children under 18 years-----------

Michigan

All children----------------------

Children under 18 years-----------

lNumber of children affected by

All

divorces

and

annulments

100.0

100.0

100.0

---

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.O

100.0

100.0

ecree.

None

35.4

39.8

37.7

---

23.4

30.1

30.2

35*5

37.4

40.7

37.3

41.3

32.8

37.3

35.7

40.1

27.3

36.6

36.2

39.6

Number of children reported

1

21.8

22.6

21.8

---

21.8

23.2

20.2

20.8

23.6

23.7

21.6

23.0

23.4

24.2

23.4

25.0

27.2

27,2

19.8

21.6

2

19.1

19.5

20.5

---

24.2

23.5

18.7

17.8

18.4

18.1

18.7

17.5

19.8

18.7

19.1

17.9

21.7

19.0

18.6

17.6

3

11.3

8.9

11.2

---

16.0

13.1

13.7

12.9

10.4

9.4

11.4

9.7

12.4

10.9

11.0

9.0

12.0

9.3

12.2

10.6

4

6.7

5.4

5.2

---

7.2

5.0

8.6

6.9

6.7

5.6

6.2

5.3

::2

:::

6.6

5.2

6.7

5*7

5

;:;

1.9

---

4.3

3.1

4.7

3.5

2.1

1.6

2.8

1.8

3.4

3.0

2.6

1.9

2.8

1.9

3.2

2.6

6

or

more

2.6

1.8

1.8

---

3.0

2.0

2::

1.5

0.9

2.1

1.3

2.6

1.4

2.6

1.5

2.4

0.8

3.5

2.3

45
Table 16. Percent distribution of divorces by total number of living children and number of children under 18 years of age: 19 divorce-registration States, 1969-Con.

[Percents computed for States reporting total number of living children]

State

Nebraska

All children ----------------------

Children under 18 yearsl ----------

New York

All children ----------------------

Children under 18 years -----------

Pennsylvania

All children ----------------------

Children under 18 years -----------

Rhode Island

All children ----------------------

Children under 18 years -----------

Tennessee

All children----------------------

ChiLdren under 18 years -----------

~

All children ----------------------

Children under 18 years -----------

Vermont

All children ----------------------

Children under 18 years -----------

Wisconsin

All children ----------------------

Children under 18 years-----------

Wyoming

All children ----------------------

Children under 18 years -----------

All

divorces

and

annul -

ments

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

None

31.2

35.5

28.6

37.3

30.7

39.1

25.4

32.2

41.3

45.3

32.7

35.1

17.8

26.4

25.7

30.5

38.1

41.2

Number of children reported

1

23.2

24.0

23.9

24.8

25.7

24.9

23.9

23.9

23.3

23.7

22.8

23.8

20.4

20.7

22.2

24.4

18.8

22.3

2

19.6

19.1

22.4

19.3

20.0

17.7

23.9

22.3

17.7

17.1

17.5

17.5

22.9

22.4

20.9

20.2

18.4

17.7

3

12.3

10.6

13.5

11.6

12.2

10.3

13.4

11.0

9.2

7.9

11.9

11.6

17.2

15.0

13.9

11.9

12.1

10.4

4

:::

u

;::

:::

404

3.3

8,5

7.1

9.4

7.2

8.1

6.9

;:;

5

3.8

2.8

2.9

1.7

2.9

2.1

3.3

2.7

2.1

1.5

3.5

2.8

M

::?

3.0

1.6

6

or

more

2.7

2.0

2.5

1.1

2“2

1.5

1.9

l.l

3.1

2.2

2.5

1.6

lNumber of children affected by decree.

46
Table 17. Number of children under 18 years of age involved in divorces, mean number of children,

and rate: divorce-registration area and each registration State, 1967-69

Area

Divorce-registration area--

Alabama ----------------------- ---

Alaska---- ----------------------

California?----------------------

Connecticut ----------------------

Georgia-----------?--------------

Hawaii---------------------------

Idaho4------------------------- --

Illinois-------------------------

Iowa-----------------------------

~nsas ---------------------------

Kentucky -------------------------

Maryland-------------------------

Michigan-------------------------

Missouri -------------------------

Montana --------------------------

Ne@y:&&4------------------------

-------------------------

Ohio-------------------- ---------

Oregon---------------------------

Pennsylvania---------------------

Rhode Island---------------------

South Dakota ---------------------

Temessee ------------------------

Utah-----------*---------------- -

Vemont --------------------------

Virginia -------------------------

Wisconsin ------------------------

Wyoming --------------------------

[Forestimsdngmethod,seeappendix]

Children involved

1969

494,900

16,800

2,000

112,700

9,100

18,800

3,600

4,400

46,000

9,600

10,000

11,000

11,300

39,700

20,700

3,900

4,900

27,900

48,100

11,000

27,600

1,900

2,000

16,700

5,800

1,500

13,700

12,000

2,200

1968

421,300

16,200

1,800

103,400

8,400

17,100

2,600

4,100

41,600

9,600

9,600

---

10,700

35,200

19,900

3,600

4,500

---

43,200

10,400

26,400

1,600

2,100

15,900

5,300

1,400

12,900

11,700

2,100

lNumber of

2Number of

3~mber of

?Number of

5Number of

6~um&r of

children under 21 affected.

living children of this marriage.

children under age 20.

children affected by decree.

children.

children under 18 of this marriage.

1967

~48,300

14,800

11,500

---

---

16,700

32,100

3,900

---

8,800

59,600

---

10,400

33,100

17,300

3,300

4,500

---

41,000

10,000

25,300

1,200

1,700

‘14,800

5,500

---

11,400

9,400

2,000

Mean children

per decree

1969

1.31

1.18

1.32

1.38

1.57

1.09

1.56

1.26

1.27

1.37

1.26

1.11

1.28

1.40

1.18

1.39

1.47

1.31

:.;:

1:28

1.50

1.60

1.10

1.51

:.;:

::;;

.

1968

1.33

1.24

1.37

1.37

1.57

1.10

1.39

1.25

1.29

1.46

1.35

---

:.:;

1:21

1.39

1.50

---

1.38

1.26

1.30

L.65

L.69

L.19

1.56

1.84

1.23

L*68

1.30

1967

1.33

1.23

1.29

---

---

1.16

1.45

1.24

---

1.44

1.42

---

1.40

;.:;

.

1.40

1.55

---

1.38

1.32

1.36

1.39

1.56

1.18

1.69

---

1.18

1.62

1.29

Rate per 1,000

children

1969

10.9

13.1

16.1

16.6

1%;

11.8

16.7

11.9

10.0

12.7

9.7

8.2

12.3

13.2

15.2

.?:;

12.6

16.3

7.2

6.4

8.2

L2.2

L3.5

9.8

;.;

L8:8

1968

11.0

12.4

15.0

15.3”

1:::

1%;

10.8

1;:?

---

J::

12.7

13.8

8.8

---

11.4

15.3

6.8

5.4

1!:2

12.3

9.3

7.9

1;::

L967

9.4

11.2

12.7

---

---

9.8

1:::

---

1?:;

---

1::;

1100

12.5

8.7

---

10.8

1:.;

4:0

J:;

12.8

...

;::

16.5 “
Table 18. Estimatednumber of all children of divorced couples and percent distributionby age: 19 divorceregistrationStates, 1969

[Included m. States reporting total number of living children. For estimating methods, see appendix]

State

Totall---------------

Alaska---------------------

,California-----------------

Connecticut----------------

Hawaii---------------------

Idaho----------------------

Illinois-------------------

Iowa-----------------------

Kansas---------------------

Maryland-------------------

Michigan-------------------

Nebraska-------------------

New York-------------------

Pennsylvania---------------

Rhode Island---------------

Tennessee------------------

Utah-----------------------

Venuont--------------------

Wisconsin------------------

Wyoming--------------------

All

divorces

and

annulments

177.977

1,516

81,520

5,780

2,314

3,502

36,330

7,032

7,958

8>835

28,360

3,332

21,320

21,580

1,264

15,175

3,841

788

7,328

1,722

Number of children

Total

279.500

2,300

112,800

10,900

4,300

4,900

53,200

11,100

11,800

14,400

45,400

5,500

34,900

34,000

2,200

19,400

6>400

1,800

14,400

2,600

Under

18

years

236,200

2,000

---

9,100

3,600

‘4,400

46,000

9,600

10,000

11,300

39,700

24,900

27,900

27,600

1,900

’16,700

5,800

1,500

12,000

2,200

18

yea&s

over

43.300

300

---

1,800

700

500

7,200

1,500

1,800

3,100

5,700

600

7,000

6,400

300

2,700

600

300

2,400

400

Percent distribution

rotal

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Children

under

18

years

84.5

87.0

---

83.5

83.7

89.8

86.5

86.5

84.7

78.5

87.4

89.1

79.9

81.2

86.4

86.1

90.6

83.3

83.3

84.6

Children

18

years

and

Over

15.5

-

13.0

---

16.5

16.3

10.2

13.5

13.5

15.3

21.5

12.6

10.9

20.’1

18.8

13.6

13.9

9.4

16.7

16.7

15.4

Mean children

per decree

rotal

1.57

-

1.52

1.38

1.89

1.85

1.40

1.46

1.58

1.48

1.63

1.60

1.65

1.64

1.58

1.74

1.28

1.67

2.28

1.97

1.51

Under

18

years

1.33

1.32

---

1.57

1.56

1.26

1.27

1.37

1.26

1.28

1.40

1.47

1.31

1.28

1.50

1.10

1.51

1.90

1.64

1.28

18

Tears

“and

aver

,

0.24

0.20 .

---

0.31

0.30

0.14

0.20

0.21

0.23

0.35

0.20

0.18

0.33

0.30

0.24

0.18

0.16

0.38

0.33

0.23

~E~cludes California.

2Number Of childrenaffected by decree.

A8
Table 19. Median duration of marriage prior to divorce: divorce-registration area and

each registration State, 1967-69

[Medianscomputedondatabysingleyears]

Area

Divorce-registration area ------------------------

Alabama ------------------ ------------------------------

Alaska ------------------------------------------- ------

California ---------------------------------------------

Connecticut --------------------------------------------

Georgia ------------------------------------------------

Hawaii ----------------------:--------------------------

Idaho --------------------------------------------------

Illinois -------------------------- ---------------------

Iowa ----------------------- ------- -------------- -------

Kansas -------------------------------------------------

Kentucky -----------------------------------------------

Maryland -----------------------------------------------

Michigan -----------------------------------------------

Missouri -----------------------------------------------

Montana ---------------------------- --------------------

Nebraska ------ -------- ------------------ ---------------

New York -----------------------------------------------

Ohio ---------------------------------------------------

Oregon -------------------------------------------------

Pennsylvania -------------------------------------------

Rhode Island -------------------------------------------

South Dakota -------------------------------------------

Tennessee ----------------------------------------------

Utah ---------------------------------------------------

Vermont ------------------------------------------------

Virginia -----------------------------------------------

Wisconsin ----------------------------------------------

Wyoming ------------------- -----------------------------

Median duration of marriage

in years

1969

6.9

5.6

5.6

6.9

8.9

5.2

7.3

5.0

:.;

9:4

M

8.5

9.1

;:;

5.5

9.1

%:

4.9

1968

7.0

6.7

::;

---

8.8

H

5.7

6.7

---

7.2

6.0

9.1

9.0

1967

7.1

!2: “

---

---

6.1

7.0

5.3

---

2?---

9.9

7.8

6.0

5.5

6.9

7.0

5.8

5.6

---

::$!

5.5

49
Table 20. Percent distribution of divorces by duration of marriage prior to separation

of divorcing couples: 12 divorce-registration States, 1969

[Percents were not computed for States where the reporting of the date of separation was less than 75 percent complete]

State

California ------------

Connecticut -----------

Hawaii ----------------

Illinois --------------

Kansas ----------------

Michigan --------------

Missouri --------------

Nebraska --------------

New York --------------

Vermont ---------------

Virginia --------------

Wisconsin -------------

All

divorces

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Less

than

6

months

11.4

5.3

8.2

9.5

10.3

8.0

11.0

7.6

8.2

6.5

7.1

5.2

6-11

months

6.1

4.4

6.1

6.4

7.1

5.8

7.6

6.0

6.4

4.5

4.3

4.0

Duration of marriage

1

years

10.6

9.1

11.1

11.5

11.8

12.4

12.2

10.5

10.7

7.6

10.0

9.1

2

years

——

9.2

8.5

9.1

9.5

10.6

9.6

10.0

9.5

8.9

9.8

10.6

8.8

3

years

7.6

7.6

8.2

8.3

8.4

8.1

7.4

8.0

8.1

6.2

8.5

8.8

4

years

6.5

6.9

7.6

6.8

6.4

5.9

6.5

7.9

5.9

5.3

6.9

6.8

5

years

5.2 “

6.3

.

5.8

5.4

5.0

5.3

5.4

6.0

6.0

6.8

5.0

5.6
Table 20. Percent distribution of divorces by duration of marriage prior to separation

of divorcing couples: 12 divorce-registration States, 1969—Con.

[Percents were not computed for States where the reporting of the date of separation was less than 75 percent complete]

State

.

California ------------

Connecticut -----------

.

Hawaii ----------------

Illinois --------------

Kansas ----------------

Michigan --------------

Missouri --------------

Nebraska --------------

New York --------------

Vermont ---------------

‘Virginia--------------

Wisconsin -------------

Duration of marriage-Con.

6

years

4.5

5.1

5.5

4.9

4.2

4.3

3.9

4.2

4.8

5.6

4.7

4.8

7

years

4.3

3.9

4.5

4.0

4.1

4.0

3.5

4.4

4.2

5.5

4.3

4.3

8

years

3.0

4.0

4.7

3.6

3.1

4.0

3.0

3.2

3.7

3.3

3.5

3.7

9

years

3.2

3.1

2.5

3.6

2.8

3.7

3.0

3.3

2.7

4.3

4.5

4.4

10-14

years

11.6

14.5

11.7

11.3

9.6

11.4

10.8

11.9

11.7

12.4

13.3

13.3

15-19

years

7.6

10.5

7.6

7.1

6.7

8.8

7.1

8.1

9.9

9.9

7.9

9.5

20-24

years

5.7

6.1

4.7

5.0

5.8

5.1

4.8

5.3

5.7

6.9

5.7

7.3

25-29

years

2.3

3.3

2.0

1.9

2.3

2.3

2.5

2.5

2.1

3.9

2.5

2.5

30

years

or

nore

1.1

1.4

0.8

1.2

1.7

1.3

1.3

1.7

1.0

1.7

1.1

2.0

.

.

51
Table 21. Median and quartile duration of marriage(in years)prior to separation and of

separation prior to divorce: 16 divorce-registration States, 1969

[Median and quartiles not computed for States where reporting of the date of separation was less than 50 percent complete]

State

Alaska -------------------

California ---------------

Connecticut --------------

Hawaii -------------------

Idaho --------------------

Illinois -----------------

Kansas -------------------

Michigan -----------------

Missouri -----------------

Nebraska -----------------

New York -----------------

Rhode Island -------------

Tennessee ----------------

Vermont ------------------

Virginia -----------------

Wisconsin ----------------

Marriage to separation

First

quartile

1.7

1.7

2.7

2.0

::;

1.6

1.9

;::

2.0

2.8

1.5

2.7

N

Median

4.2

4.8

6.4

5.0

4.2

4.7

4.3

5.0

4.3

5.1

5.3

6.7

4.4

;:;

6.4

Third

quartile

1;::

13.7

10.8

10.1

10.7

10.6

11.7

10.7

11.9

12.4

14.4

10.8

14.0

12.1

13.6

Separation to divorce

First

quartile

0.3

1.3

0.7

0.8

0.2

0.4

::;

R

1.0

0.8

0.3

1.3

1.4

0.6

Median

0.6

1.7

1.3

1.5

!:;

!?::

0.6

0.6

2.3

1.5

M

;::

Third

quartile

1.0

1.9

1.0

2.0

1.4

1.2

4.5

2.6

1.4

2.7

2.!2

1.6

52
Table 22. Percent distribution of divorces by duration of separation prior to divorce: 12 divorce-registration States, 1969

[Percents were notcomputedforStateswherethereporting ofthedateofseparation waslessthan75percentcomplete]

State

.

California ------------

Connecticut -----------

Hawaii ----------------

,

Illinois --------------

Kansas ----------------

Michigan --------------

Missouri --------------

Nebraska --------------

New York --------------

Vermont ---------------

Virginia --------------

Wisconsin -------------

All

di -

vorces

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Less

than 6-11

6 months

months

,

4.7 2.6

10.5 31.3

17.8 12.9

33.7 20.2

52.1 24.2

14.2 32.4

47.2 21.1

45.1 26.6

8.8 16.3

1.3 10.8

1.9 1.4

16.0 43.9

Duration of separation

1

years

62.1

26.4

39.0

23.2

13.0

27.9

15.5

15.7

19.4

50.3

57.1

24.5

2

years

17.1

10.6

14.7

7.7

4.9

10.9

6.1

5.2

16.0

17.5

15.4

6.5

3

years

6.5

6.5

5.7

3.5

1.8

4.7

2.5

2.1

11.1

7.0

8.2

2.8

4

years

2.2

4.1

3.0

2.3

1.1

1.9

1.7

1.4

6.9

4.5

4.0

1.3

5-9

years

3.6

7.4

4.7

5.3

1.9

4.8

3.6

3.0

13.7

5.6

7.7

4.1

10-14

years

0.8

2.1

1.1

1.9

0.7

1.5

1.2

0.6

4.2

2.0

2.4

0.6

15

years

or

more

0.5

1.1

1.2

2.1

0.3

1.7

1.1

0.2

3.6

1.0

2.0

0.2

53
The term “divorce,” as

eludes absolute divorces and

APPENDIX

TECHNICAL NOTES

used in this report,’ in- which are based on work tables prepared in the Naannulments of marriage tional Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

unless it is clear from the text that only absolute

divorces are meant. Various types of limited divorces (divorces from bed and board, legal separations,

separate maintenance, etc.) are excluded in all cases.

Data are based on national divorce statistics, annually published in Vital Statistics of the United Stutes,

Volume HI (V,olume I for years prior to 1960) except

table 3, showing rates for foreign countries, taken from

the Demo~aphic Yearbook of the United Nations, and

data on interracial divorces and on the new items,

State totals for all ‘years are received in NCHS ,

annually from the vital statistics offices of all 50

States and the District of Columbia. National, regional,

and divisional totals are prepared from the State

figures. Rates for the United States, individual States, “

and other areas are prepared in NCHS.

,All information other than totals is tabulated in

NCHS from samples of divorce certificates selected

from microfilms of all certificates provided annually

by the States participating in the divorce-registration

mu+ . . ..0”1.

,UC9” .U*ZA” No. ..-,,.04 r 1 U.S.STANDARDCERTIFICATf? OF r -1

TYPE, OR PRINT IN LOCALn,, .“.*I* ABSOLUTE DIVORCE OR ANNULMENT

PERMANENT INK HUSUNO_NWE

s,.,, ,,,, “IMnO

,,,,,

5CE HANDEOOK FOI

Wm. MS

““-iizriJ IMSIMVIOII”

RESIDENCE-STArf COUMY CiTY, 10WN, OR LOCATION !..0, cm Llmlra

. . .

g

,,-<,,” “M 0“ “o,

.

5

.

~

.

~

5

.

5

m ,n , z’ .31REET ANO NUMBER,m

STA1E OF BIR?H 4II w t. u.., ..8, DATE OF BIRTH 1.ONlll, OAY, YIAR 1

2,

,0”.ln” I

>

WIFE—NAM ,,,,, .,.0. w,, MAId NAME

1, Sb

RESIDENCE —ST*1E COUNTY CIW, TOWN, OR LOCATION ,“$,0, cm U.,la

#$,,,(W ,s$ on ,, ,

h &b 4< id,

STREET AND NUMBER STATE OF BIRTH ,8, “or w u,scyu:;:: DATE OF BIRIH I IAON711,PAY, WM I

I

PLACE OF THIS MARR!AGE-COU~ STATE ,,, mar m “,s,,,, wc CO”NW, pm~=mls i .0).%+, cm”, “cm, :~y~:lg$yg:: 1MONm, VW 1

*b *< 10

LIVING CH lLDREN — 10TAL NUMBER UNDER 18 YEARS PMNTIFF ““sm.., w,,,, 07.,” ,$,,.,,, ,

OF AGE

Ilb 11

AnOnNEy FOR fkAINIIFF—NAMf ADDRESS ( *TIC,, m ,., . . w , cm 0, ,..., ,,Arc, n?,

13b

, CR7!fV TtW WC UAtR1AG4 TYP6 OF DECREE—A,IOLW, O,V.X, o“ .“.”,.,.,

ow,A\”:,;:::;,:.QM;:D *f*sONs ‘“m ““ ““ ,,,,<,,,,

DECREE GRANTED TO “ “SIAN., “,,,, omen

, SPCCWY,

Mb 1,,,

LEGAL GROUNDS FOR DECREE t $UCtIV t COUNTT Of DECREE DAIE OF WCORDlffi ,MOMW, 0.,, WA.,

14, 141

COURT OFFIC!N-SiGN41URE nm 0? CWFJ 0FFKIA4 COURT—NAME

14h Ml,

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

/

RACE-lWSdAND

NUN,,, 0? nils l:omwwmo::l;N~,y

AIA”,,AOE EDUCATIG+4-SFKIFY HIGHEST GRADE CCMV~

W“!m , .,0,0, M,,, C-4” ,..,.., ,,. ,,”,, ,,CO.D, mm

,7. ,S,K,W, AN””L.W.T ,,,,,,,,, ,,

(s?,,,” ,, Now, w !1 ,,,,,,, 0, 4, 11,,,1,4, 0! 1+!

1s 16 )7 I 11

RACE—WE N“M,U or w,, IF nwouw MARRIED

MAMIAGE HOW MANY ENDEO ,“ EDUCATION-SWCIFY HIGHESl GPADf COWIITEO

::;l,w”fcmn, #JA,”,CA. ,“.,A”, “C, ,,,$!, $,<0.,, .U,”

I

.,”.*C, 0,

,,< (*H.,,.,

,L,.,.,m I “G. scllcaL I Cwac

ANW!JACW , ,,,,,,,/, ,, , , ,,,,,,, ,,4,

<,Fec,rf ,, .0”, , (!,,,,,,. ,, $+}

,)?. m, 21, n

“ s WJVZ”””CN7 m!”,,”. or?!= ,“, .,-24,+4

Figure 1. STANDARD CERTIFICATE OF ABSOLUTE DIVORCE OR ANNULMENT.

.

.

54
Table I. Sampling rates and.sampling errors of estimated percentages:divorce-registrationarea,

1968 and 1969, and each registrationState, 1969

Area and year

Divorce-registrationarea:

1969 (28 States)------------------------------

1968 (26 states)------------------------------

Re~l;gi.i.onStates, 1969:

---------------------------------------

Alaska----------------------------------------

California------------------------------------

Comecticut -----------------------------------

Georgia---------------------------------------

Hawaii----------------------------------------

Idaho-------------------.......---------------

Illf.nois’ --------------------------------------

Iowa-------------------------------b---------

Kansas----------------------------------------

Kentucky--.-----.--...---.-..------------”-----

Maryland--------------------------------------

Michigan--------------------------------------

Missouri-------------------------------------

Montana---------------------------------------

Nebraska--------------------------------------

New York--------------------------------------

Ohio------------------------------------------

Oregon--------------------------------------

Pennsylvania----------------------------------

Rhode Island---.------------------------------

South Dakota----------------------------------

3!e~ssee ------------,---------------- ---------

------------------------------------------

Vermont --------------------------------------

Virginia--------------------------------------

Wisconsin-------------------------------------

Wyodmg ---------------------------------------

SOURCE:MVSR “Divorce Statistics,1969.”

area.In 1968,26 Statesparticipatedin theDRA, and

New York and Kentuckywere addedin 1969.3%edivorce certificatesof Statesincludedin theDRA are

patternedafterthe.U.S.StandardCertificateof AbsoluteDivorceor Annulment,which wss revisedin

1968 (figureI),butas yet not allStates,haverevised

theirforms to includethe fouritems addedtothe

StandardCertificateint@e1968revision.

The samplingrateforindividualStateswas designed to obtainStatesamples containingat least

1,000records.Fo.urdifferentsamplingratesareused:

allrecords,,l)2,1/5,ahdl/10.Allfiguresestimated

from the sample,exceptforStateswhere allrecords

were used,have ssmplingerrors.l%e samplingrates

sndthe1969samplingerrorsofpercentagesreshown

intableL

Sampling

rate

.*.

. . .

All reco;ds

1/10

1/2

‘1/5

All records

1/2

m;

1/2

1/5

1/5

1/10

1/5

All records

1/2

1/10

1/10

1:(:

All records.

All records

1/5

1/2

All records

1/5

1/2

All records

Sampling error of percentages

1 or 99

0.1

0.1

0.2

. . .

0.1

0.1

0.2

.*.

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.1

. . .

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.2

● . .

. . .

0.2

0.2

. . .

0.2

0.1

.00

0.1

o.i

0.8

...

0.3

0.4

0.5

. . .

0.5

0.5

0.4

0.3

M

0.5

0.5

. . .

005

0.6

0.5

0.6

0.6

. . .

● . .

0.5

0.5

● . .

0.6

0.3

● *O

2;50r .

0.2

0.2

1.1

. . .

%2

0.7

. . .

0.7

0.7

0.5

0.5

%;

0.8

0.7

● . .

0.8

0.9

0.7

0.9

0.9

. . .

. . .

0.7

0.8

● .0

::!

● . .

50

0.2

0.2

1.3

. . .

0.5

0.7

0.8

. . .

0.9

0.8

0.6

0.6

1.0

:::

0.8

. . .

0.9

1.0

0.8

1.1

1.0

● ..

..*

::!

...

0.9

0.6

● .*

Percentagesandmedisnswere computedexcluding

figureswithi%ormationnotstated.As variableswere

reportedwitha varyingdegreeofcompleteness,percentdistributions for individualStateswere computed

onlyifinformationwas reportedinatleast75 percent

of allrecords,and medians were computedifitwas

reportedin at least.50percentof records.Anexceptionis made here onlyfor age medians routinely

computed for allDRA States and published h W@?

Statistics of the United St@eS, but age medians are

foomotedwhen basedonlessthsn50percentofcases.

The 1969 percentcompletenessofreportigvariables

is shown in tableIIforthe DRA andeachState,and

the trendin thecompletenessof fiveselectedvariablesfortheDRA isshoyn.jntableIII.

55
Table II. Percent completeness of reporting demographic characteristics: divorce-registration

Area

Divorce-registration area--

Alabama --------------

Alaska ---------------

California -----------

Connecticut ----------

Georgia --------------

Hawaii ---------------

Idaho ----------------

Illinois -------------

Iowa -----------------

Kansas ---------------

Kentucky -------------

Maryland -------------

Michigan -------------

Missouri -------------

itontana--------------

Nebraska -------------

New York -------------

Ohio -----------------

Ciregon---------------

Pennsylvania ---------

Rhode Island ---------

South Dakota ---------

Tennessee ------------

Utah -----------------

Vermont --------------

Virginia -------------

tiisconsin------------

Wyoming --------------

area and each registration State, 1969

Aver -

age

of

the 5

items

83.0

43.3

92.3

392.0

97.2

74.9

99.1

87.1

94.0

99.2

95.5

91.3

76.4

46.8

98.8

%:

93.3

457.9

86.8

87.7

89.9

56.9

98.7

71.8

96.3

99.4

99.6

46.4

Routinely collected items

Age

at

de-

:ree 1

76.0

2.0

85.6

92.2

95.0

65.8

;;.:

.

94.0

99.6

91.8

84.3

67.3

24.7

97.8

98.4

98.1

79.3

41.8

89.9

83.4

94.8

22.9

97.5

72.3

94.9

98.7

99.2

7.1

Racel

72.9

27.4

90.2

93.9

99.0

72.2

99.6

83.0

89.0

99.7

94,2

92.6

68.5

9;:;

99.8

99.3

97.2

(2)

77.2

80.9

82.2

41.6

99.7

71.1

93.8

100.0

99.9

18.9

Number

of

this

marriage1

74.0

8::;

87.4

98.2

65.0

99.5

78.1

93.1

99.3

93.2

84.9

67.1

9;::

98.0

(2)

94.2

49.4

75.2

80.8

80.8

21.5

99.2

70.3

98.7

99.6

99.6

7.8

Du -

ration

of

mar -

riage

97.5

98.9

99.6

94.8

98.4

85.8

99.9

97.3

98.0

99.0

99.2

97.3

99.3

99.8

99.3

99.0

99.8

98.9

99.4

99.5

99.2

98.1

98.9

98.5

70.5

99.0

99.3

99.5

99.6

Chil -

dren

under

18

y:~s

age

94.7

84.8

3;;::

95.4

86.0

98.7

98.6

95.8

98.6

99.0

97.5

80.0

99.2

99.0

97.1

99.9

97.8

99.2

92.4

94.3

93.7

99.4

9$.8

74.7

95.1

99.6

99.8

98.6

Recently added items

How

previous

mar -

riages

endedl

— (2)

(2)

7:::

3.9

3$:

(2 )

3.2

3::;

{;{

1.5

(2)

::;

16.5

(2)

( 2)

(2)

7.5

(2)

14.6

::;

(2)

0.1

1.4

-

Edu -

cation 1

-

(2) —

( 2,2

61.3

90.6

94.6

0.4

93.2

(d

62.7

(2)

89,3

;;]

4.5”

(2)

(2)

94.7

83.1

(2)

(;{

71.1

(2)

44.6

43.5

87.3

3.4

(1!)

5.7

All

living

chi1-

dren

— (2)

(2)

74.4

91.6

97.2

(2)

99.0

96.5

80.9

99.0

99.2

(2)

90.3

95.9

(2)

(2)

99.8

974!

(2)

97.6

95.6

(2)

97.4

61.5

9{;7

99.9

79.3

Date

of

separa -

tion

(2)

(2)

62.0

93.8

89.5

(2)

87.9

73.8

75.7

(2)

89.1

(2)

(2)

79.6

96.0

(2)

96.9.

87.8

(2)

(2)

7j 2;

.

19.4

73 .J

39.5

88.3.

97.0

95.3

9.9

.

.

lPercent completeness for husband: correspondirw percentages for wives are similar.

2Not reportable.

-.

3Childr& under-18 years of age not reportable in California;

lated instead.

all living children were tabu,

~The average for the 4 reportable items is 99.3 percent in Nebraska and 72.4 in Ohio.

&

The number of children under 18 years of age-involved in divorce was estimated for individual States

from the number of divorces classified bychildrenreported. This was done by distributing proportionally

cases with children not stated and multiplying thenumber of divorces with a given number of children reported by that number (i.e., the number of divorces with

one child repqted was. multiplied by 1; the number of

divorces with two children reported, by 2, etc.) and

adding the products. To obtain the national estimate,

the average number of cbikiren per decree in agroup

of 16 States was applfed tothenationaltotal ofdivorces .

and annulments.

The tentative national estimates of all childrenof

divorced couples andofchildrenl 8yearsoldand older

were obtained by multiplying the national divorce total

bythe mean,numbers of all children and ofgrownup

children per decree in the 18 reporting States combined (table 18). The national divorce total was also

multiplied by the mean number of children under 18

in the same group of States, and a ratio between the
Table III. Percent completeness of reporting selected demographic characteristics: divorce-registration area, 1960-69

Year

i969 ---------------------------

.

i968 -------------------- -------

i967 --------------------- ------

i966 ------------------ ---------

.

1965 -------------------------- .

1964 ---------------------- -----

1963 --------------------- ------

1962 . --------------------------

1961 -------------------- -------

1960 -------------------- -------

Number

of

States

D~

28

26

22

22

22

22

22

21

20

18

kverage

of the

5 characteristics

83.0

80.9”

75.7

75.5

74.8

71.5

70.2

73.0

75.5

72.2

product and the national estimate was used to adjust

the two other estimates:

Table E shows age percentages for brides and

grooms married in a uniform group of 22 States in the

years 1954-69. Percent distributions from which these

percentages were taken were published annually in

vitul Statistics of the United States, Volume III, 1963

through 1969. The 22 States included are Alabama,

Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho,

Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana,

New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming. Prior

to 1965, data for New York excluded New York City.

Tabulations are prepared only for the entire group of

States, and it is impossible to exclude any State from

the group. Therefore, in table E, data on marriages

and on divorces refer to two different groups of States,

though 19 States are both in the DRA and in the uniform

● group of States.

Divorce rates for the United States, 1940-69, shown

in table 1, were computed per 1,000 total population and

, per 1,000 married women 15 yesrs of age ad over

enumerated as of April 1940, 1950, and 1960 and estimated as of July 1 for the remaining years. The total

population for 1941-46 includes Armed Forces abroad.

Rates in table 6 are per 1,000 total resident population

in the respective areas, enumerated as of April 1960

and estimated as of July 1 for the remaining years.

Divorce rates by age of husband and wife at time

of decree and by number of children reported under

18 years of age were prepsred using as numerators

the 1969 national annual total distributed by age, or by

number of children, according to percentages observed

Age of

husband

at time

of

decree

76.0

74.0,

64.5

63.5

62.1

58.3

53.8

56.6

63.4

58.8

Characteristic

Number

?ace of of this

msband marriage

of

husband

72.9 74.0

70.6 71.3

58.4 63. i

58.2 62.7

58.7 61.5

58.1 54.7

56.2 52.6

61.9 56.2

70.2 57.2

68.9 51.1

)uration

>f mar-

:iage at

:ime of

decree

97.3

96.0

97.4

97.6

97.4

96.1

97.1

97.6

96.8

95.6

Kuaber of

:hildren

mder 18

years of

age

94.7

92.6

95.3

95.6

94.3

90.3

.#le3

92.6

90.1

86.5

for the DRA. Denominators for rates by age were taken

from No. 198, Series P-20, Cuwent Populatwn Reports, U.S. Bureau of the Census. Denominators fOr

rates by number of children were prepsred from data

on families and subfamilies found in Cuwmt Po@datwn Reports, Series P-20, Nos. 198 and 200, by adding

up information for all types of families and subfamilies

with married head distributed by number of children.

Number of married couples without children under 18

could not be obtained by this method, because figures

are not available on childless married persons living

apart from their swuses. The denomtiator for the

category with no children was obtained by subtracting all married couples with children tYom all married women, age under 55.

This age limit was used, as very few females age

55 and older have children under 18 (families with female head, age 55 and over, included only 2.2 percent

of all children under 18 in families with female head).

By omitting from the denominator married females 55

years old and older, the rate for couples with no children was made more comparable to rates for couples

with children. The same age limitation has been used

for prepsring 1960 divorce rates by number of reported,

children under 18 years of age.

The approximate divorce rates by race of husband

were prepared by using as numerators the divorces

during 1969 in the 16 DRA States where reporting of

race was at least 89 percent complete. In States

where completeness was. less than 99 percent, cases

with race not stated were distributed proportionally.

Numbers of divorces granted to Negroes and persons of omer races were very small in some report57
ing States. They were under 20 for Negroes in Ver- U.S. Bureau of the Census. As denominators refer to a

mont and Montana and for other races in Connecticut, different year than numerators, the rates must be

Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Tennessee. No divorces considered approximations, but differences between the

were granted to persons of other races in Vermont and 2 years could be expected not to affect the relative

KenU@y. magnitude of rates for the racial groups of the same

The denominators used to compute the rates are State.

1970 State ~opulation figures by race published in table

27 of Statistical A bstvact of the United Stutes, 1971,

* U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE :1973 515-212/55 *

.

Sn
VITAL AND HEALTH STATISTICS PUBLICATION SERIES

Origi}wl/y Public Health Service f%blicatio~z No. 1000

.

.

Series 1. Pvo.ya?ns and collection fwocedu~es. — Reports which describe the general programs of the National

Center for Health Statistics and its offices and divisions, data collection methods used, definitions,

and other material necessary for understanding the data.

Sevies 2. Data evaluation and methods Yeseavch. — Studies of new statistical methodology inchding: experimental tests of new survey methods, studies of vital statistics collection methods, new analytical

techniques, objective evaluations of reliability of collected data, contributions to statistical theory.

Sevies 3. &alvtical studies. —Reports presenting analytical or interpretive studies ba~ed on vital and health

statistics, carrying the analysis further than the expository types of reports in the other series.

4

●

Series 4. Documents and committee repovts.— Final reports of major committees cc,ncerned with vital and

health statistics, and documents such as recommended model vital regisrrmion laws and revised

birth and death certificates.

Swies 10. Data fiorn the Health Intevview Suwvev. —Statistics on illness, accidental injuries, disability, use

of hospital, medical, dental, and other services, and other health-related topics, based on data

collected in a continuing national household interview survey.

Series 11, Data @om the Health Examination .%vvey. —Data from direct examination, testing, and measurement of national samples of the civilian, noninstitutional population provide the basis foi nvo types

of reports: (1) estimates of the medically defined prevalence of specific diseases in the United

States and the distributions of the population with respect to physical, physiological, and psychological characteristics; and (2) analysis of relationships among the various measurements without

reference to an explicit finite universe of persons.

S&ies 12. Data j%om the Ins titutioml Population Sw-veys —Statistics relating to the health characteristics of

persons in institutions, and their medical, nursing, and personal care received, based on national

samples of establishments providing, these services and samples of the residents or patients.

Sevies 13. Data from the Hospital Discharge Su$’vey. —Statistics relating to cliscl.>rgeri patients in short-stay

hospitals, based on a sample of patient records in a national sample of hospitals.

Series 14. Data on health ~pesowces: manpowe~ and facilities. —Statistics on the numbers, geographic distribution, and characteristics of health resources including physicians, dentists, nurses, other health

occupations, hospita 1s, nursing homes, and outpatient facilities.

Series 20. Data on montality.— Various statistics on mortality other than as included in regular annual or

monthly reports —spec:al analyses by cause of death, age, and other demographic variables, also

geographic and tiIne series analyses.

Sties 21. Data on natality, mawiage, and diuo%-ce.— Various statistics on natality, marriage, and divorce

other than as included in regular annual or monthly reports-special analyses by demographic

variables, also geographic and time series analyses, studies of fertility.

Series 22. Data @om the Arational Natality and Mo%-tality .9wzleys. — Statistics on characteristics of births

and deaths not available from the vital records, based on sample surveys stemming from these

records, including such topics as mortality by socioeconomic class, hospital experience in the

last year of life, medical care during pregnancy, health insurance coverage, etc.

For a list of titles of reports published in these series, write to: Office of Information

National Center for Health Statistics

Public Health Service, HShlHA

Rockville, Md. 20S52
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HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

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