Ideally, a marriage lasts a lifetime. With more than 1 million divorces filed every year in the United States, however, this ideal is far from the reality.
At the same time, the U.S. divorce rate has been on the decline in the 21st century. In 2000, 4.0 out of every 1,000 Americans got divorced. By 2017, the divorce rate had dropped to 2.9 per 1,000 people. The decline in divorce rate is no doubt tied to the decrease in the marriage rate. In 2000, 8.2 Americans were married for every 1,000 people. By 2017, only 6.9 Americans for every 1,000 people were married.
Nationwide, nearly half (48.2%) of all Americans age 15 and over are married. Less than a third of Americans 15 and up have never married, and nearly 13% are either divorced and have not remarried or separated.
In some states, a higher share of 15 and older residents are married. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on the percentage of the population that is currently married from the Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey to determine the states where the most people are married.
To determine the states where people stay married, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey to find the percentage of the 15-year-and-older population that is currently married. Population figures are five-year averages through 2017. The Census definition of those who are divorced includes only people who are legally divorced and who have not remarried. Those without a final divorce decree are classified as separated.
Click here to see the states where the most people are married.
Source: GregJK / Getty Images
50. Louisiana
> Married population: 43.6%
> 2017 divorce rate: 1.9 per 1,000 residents (the lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 5.6 per 1,000 residents (3rd lowest)
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Source: spyarm / Getty Images
49. New York
> Married population: 44.6%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.7 per 1,000 residents (13th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 7.3 per 1,000 residents (12th highest)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
48. Mississippi
> Married population: 44.8%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.9 per 1,000 residents (16th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.7 per 1,000 residents (24th lowest)
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Source: kyletperry / Getty Images
47. New Mexico
> Married population: 44.9%
> 2017 divorce rate: N/A
> 2017 marriage rate: 5.9 per 1,000 residents (13th lowest)
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Source: Meybruck / Getty Images
46. Rhode Island
> Married population: 45.1%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.9 per 1,000 residents (17th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.8 per 1,000 residents (25th highest)
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Source: f11photo / Getty Images
45. Nevada
> Married population: 45.7%
> 2017 divorce rate: 4.5 per 1,000 residents (the highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 28.6 per 1,000 residents (the highest)
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Source: Thinkstock
44. Florida
> Married population: 46.4%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.6 per 1,000 residents (9th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 7.8 per 1,000 residents (9th highest)
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Source: stresstensor / Getty Images
43. Massachusetts
> Married population: 46.6%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.2 per 1,000 residents (4th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 5.7 per 1,000 residents (7th lowest)
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Source: choness / Getty Images
42. California
> Married population: 46.7%
> 2017 divorce rate: N/A
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.3 per 1,000 residents (21st lowest)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
41. Maryland
> Married population: 47.0%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.5 per 1,000 residents (8th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.3 per 1,000 residents (18th lowest)
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
40. Georgia
> Married population: 47.0%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.5 per 1,000 residents (13th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.9 per 1,000 residents (21st highest)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
39. South Carolina
> Married population: 47.3%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.6 per 1,000 residents (10th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 7.0 per 1,000 residents (18th highest)
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Source: miroslav_1 / iStock
38. Arizona
> Married population: 47.3%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.5 per 1,000 residents (12th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 5.8 per 1,000 residents (11th lowest)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
37. Delaware
> Married population: 47.7%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.0 per 1,000 residents (21st lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 5.5 per 1,000 residents (2nd lowest)
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Source: Thinkstock
36. Illinois
> Married population: 47.8%
> 2017 divorce rate: 1.9 per 1,000 residents (2nd lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.0 per 1,000 residents (14th lowest)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
35. Alabama
> Married population: 47.8%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.7 per 1,000 residents (7th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 7.0 per 1,000 residents (16th highest)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
34. Connecticut
> Married population: 47.9%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.9 per 1,000 residents (18th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 5.6 per 1,000 residents (5th lowest)
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Source: TraceRouda / Getty Images
33. Ohio
> Married population: 48.1%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.9 per 1,000 residents (19th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 5.8 per 1,000 residents (10th lowest)
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Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
32. Michigan
> Married population: 48.1%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.8 per 1,000 residents (15th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 5.9 per 1,000 residents (12th lowest)
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Source: Thinkstock
31. Pennsylvania
> Married population: 48.2%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.6 per 1,000 residents (11th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 5.7 per 1,000 residents (8th lowest)
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Source: Leieng / Getty Images
30. Alaska
> Married population: 48.9%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.6 per 1,000 residents (8th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.9 per 1,000 residents (20th highest)
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Source: Thinkstock
29. North Carolina
> Married population: 49.0%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.1 per 1,000 residents (22nd highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.8 per 1,000 residents (23rd highest)
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Source: espiegle / Getty Images
28. New Jersey
> Married population: 49.0%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.6 per 1,000 residents (12th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 5.5 per 1,000 residents (the lowest)
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Source: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images
27. Texas
> Married population: 49.3%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.2 per 1,000 residents (5th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 7.1 per 1,000 residents (15th highest)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
26. Tennessee
> Married population: 49.3%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.5 per 1,000 residents (11th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 8.2 per 1,000 residents (5th highest)
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
25. Indiana
> Married population: 49.3%
> 2017 divorce rate: N/A
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.9 per 1,000 residents (19th highest)
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Source: f11photo / Getty Images
24. Missouri
> Married population: 49.5%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.1 per 1,000 residents (21st highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.6 per 1,000 residents (22nd lowest)
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Source: Thinkstock
23. Oregon
> Married population: 49.6%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.4 per 1,000 residents (16th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.7 per 1,000 residents (25th lowest)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
22. Vermont
> Married population: 49.7%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.9 per 1,000 residents (20th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 7.9 per 1,000 residents (7th highest)
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
21. Kentucky
> Married population: 49.8%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.7 per 1,000 residents (6th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 7.2 per 1,000 residents (13th highest)
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Source: Eric Tessmer / Wikimedia Commons
20. Hawaii
> Married population: 49.8%
> 2017 divorce rate: N/A
> 2017 marriage rate: 15.3 per 1,000 residents (2nd highest)
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Source: Majestic_Aerials / Getty Images
19. Oklahoma
> Married population: 49.9%
> 2017 divorce rate: 4.1 per 1,000 residents (2nd highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.8 per 1,000 residents (22nd highest)
See all stories featuring: Oklahoma
Source: Thinkstock
18. Virginia
> Married population: 50.0%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.0 per 1,000 residents (22nd lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.8 per 1,000 residents (24th highest)
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Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
17. Arkansas
> Married population: 50.1%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.7 per 1,000 residents (5th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 9.5 per 1,000 residents (3rd highest)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
16. West Virginia
> Married population: 50.2%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.5 per 1,000 residents (10th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.3 per 1,000 residents (20th lowest)
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Source: csfotoimages / Getty Images
15. Wisconsin
> Married population: 50.8%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.4 per 1,000 residents (6th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 5.6 per 1,000 residents (4th lowest)
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Source: f11photo / Getty Images
14. Colorado
> Married population: 50.8%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.2 per 1,000 residents (18th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 7.3 per 1,000 residents (11th highest)
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Source: Thinkstock
13. Washington
> Married population: 51.0%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.4 per 1,000 residents (15th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.2 per 1,000 residents (17th lowest)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
12. Maine
> Married population: 51.0%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.2 per 1,000 residents (17th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 7.6 per 1,000 residents (10th highest)
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11. South Dakota
> Married population: 52.2%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.7 per 1,000 residents (14th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.7 per 1,000 residents (23rd lowest)
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Source: EJ-J / Getty Images
10. Montana
> Married population: 52.2%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.1 per 1,000 residents (20th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 8.0 per 1,000 residents (6th highest)
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9. Minnesota
> Married population: 52.2%
> 2017 divorce rate: N/A
> 2017 marriage rate: 5.6 per 1,000 residents (6th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Minnesota
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
8. North Dakota
> Married population: 52.3%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.5 per 1,000 residents (9th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 5.8 per 1,000 residents (9th lowest)
See all stories featuring: North Dakota
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
7. New Hampshire
> Married population: 52.4%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.1 per 1,000 residents (19th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 7.0 per 1,000 residents (17th highest)
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Source: tomofbluesprings / Getty Images
6. Kansas
> Married population: 52.5%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.4 per 1,000 residents (7th lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.0 per 1,000 residents (15th lowest)
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Source: LarryLindell / Getty Images
5. Iowa
> Married population: 52.8%
> 2017 divorce rate: 2.0 per 1,000 residents (3rd lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.2 per 1,000 residents (16th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Iowa
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Source: IamVagabond / Getty Images
4. Nebraska
> Married population: 53.1%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.0 per 1,000 residents (23rd lowest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 6.3 per 1,000 residents (19th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Nebraska
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Source: Sierralara / Getty Images
3. Wyoming
> Married population: 53.6%
> 2017 divorce rate: 4.0 per 1,000 residents (3rd highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 7.1 per 1,000 residents (14th highest)
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Source: knowlesgallery / Getty Images
2. Idaho
> Married population: 54.9%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.9 per 1,000 residents (4th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 7.8 per 1,000 residents (8th highest)
See all stories featuring: Idaho
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Source: johnnya123 / Getty Images
1. Utah
> Married population: 56.1%
> 2017 divorce rate: 3.4 per 1,000 residents (14th highest)
> 2017 marriage rate: 8.7 per 1,000 residents (4th highest)
See all stories featuring: Utah
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