Iowa's Divorce Numbers at Lowest Rate Since 1968!

Back in Summer 2010, I shared data that Iowa experience record increases in new marriages as well as a decrease in the state's divorce numbers not seen since 1970. All of this even though Iowa's DOMA law was declared unconstitutional in April 2009 and gay couples began getting legally married in this state. This data flew contrary to the often expressed assertion that married same-sex couples destroy marriage. At the time, I was curious about Iowa's marriage and divorce numbers over time. Was 2009 a fluke? Would these trends continue?

Turns out it was a little of both. Iowa's new marriage numbers dipped a little after 2009, but those numbers still consistently exceed new marriage numbers since 2002. Meanwhile, Iowa's divorce numbers continue to bounce a bit from year to year, but overall we're seeing a steady decline in our divorce numbers. In fact, Iowa's divorce numbers in 2012 have now dipped to levels not seen since 1968!

Iowa's declining divorce numbers have been attributed to many factors, including Iowa's stumbling economy and people living together and discovering problems before getting married (hence not getting married in the first place).

Here are Iowa's marriage and divorce numbers over the past five years:

New Marriages -- 2008: 19,566
Divorces -- 2008: 7,752

New Marriages -- 2009: 21,139
Divorces -- 2009: 7,285

New Marriages -- 2010: 20,880
Divorces -- 2010: 7,444

New Marriages -- 2011: 20,567
Divorces -- 2011: 7,416

New Marriages -- 2012: 20,986
Divorces -- 2012: 6,715

Iowa's divorce numbers in 1968 were 6,511.