Duration of Marriage at First Divorce, 2008-2024

Family Profile No. 15, 2026
Authors: Sara C. Roza and Krista K. Westrick-Payne

In the U.S., the median age at first marriage has increased steadily in recent decades (Westrick-Payne, 2026). Historic highs occurred in 2025 for males (30.8 years) and in 2021 for females (28.6 years). Consistent with the trend toward later marriage, the first marriage rate in the U.S. peaked among those aged 30 to 44 in 2023 (Bankey, 2025a). In recent years, the first divorce rate has stabilized (Bankey, 2025b). Given these trends, this family profile uses data from the 2024 American Community Survey (ACS) to examine differences in how long first marriages last before ending in divorce. This information is presented visually with box and whisker plots to depict the range, spread, and median duration of first marriage across groups. Marriage duration prior to divorce is examined by sex, race/ethnicity, and educational attainment. Different patterns emerge when considering the interactions of these characteristics. This is an update of previous profiles FP-11-13 (Payne & Gibbs, 2011), FP-14-11 (Spangler & Payne, 2014), FP-22-31 (Julian, 2022), and FP-25-22 (Bankey, 2025c).

Duration of Marriage at First Divorce by Sex, 2008-2024

• Since 2008, the median duration of marriage at first divorce increased from 11 to 13 years for males and from 11 to 14 years for females.
• The interquartile range (IQR) widened from 15 years in 2008 to 17 years in 2024 for both males and females.
• The middle 50% of marriage durations shifted toward longer durations, from 5–20 years to 7–24 years among males and from 6–21 years to 7–24 years among females between 2008 and 2024.

Figure 1. Trend in the Duration of Marriage at First Divorce by Sex, 2008-2024

Source: NCFMR analyses of American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, 2008-2024 (IPUMS USA)

Duration of Marriage at First Divorce by Sex and Race/Ethnicity, 2024

• In 2024 among females, foreign-born Hispanics and non-Hispanic Asians had the longest median durations of marriage at first divorce (18 years). The shortest median duration was among native-born Hispanics (11 years).
• For females, the IQR was 18 to 19 years for most groups, whereas native-born Hispanics had the least variability, with an IQR of 13 years.
• Among males in 2024, foreign-born Hispanics had the longest median duration of marriage at first divorce (16 years). The shortest median duration was among those who identified as native-born Hispanic (10 years).
• For males, non-Hispanic Asians had the greatest variability, with an IQR of 21 years. The least variability was among males who were non-Hispanic Other/2+ races, with an IQR of 14 years.

Figure 2. Duration of Marriage at First Divorce by Sex and Race/Ethnicity, 2024

Source: NCFMR analyses of American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, 2024 (IPUMS USA)

Note. NH = Non-Hispanic. “NH Asian” includes non-Hispanic individuals identifying as Asian or Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. “Other/2+ Races” includes non-Hispanic individuals identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native alone, some other race alone, or two or more races. FB = Foreign-born.

Duration of Marriage at First Divorce by Sex and Educational Attainment, 2024

• In 2024 among females, those with a H.S. diploma/GED or less had the longest median duration of marriage at first divorce (17 years), whereas those with some college education had the shortest (11 years). The median duration was 14 years among those with an associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate/professional degree or higher.
• For females, those with a H.S. diploma/GED or less also had the greatest variability in duration, with an IQR of 20 years, whereas those with an associate or bachelor’s degree had the least, with an IQR of 16 years.
• Unlike females, males with a graduate/professional degree or higher had the longest median duration of marriage at first divorce (15 years). Males with some college or an associate degree had the shorts median duration (12 years).
• For males, those with a H.S. diploma/GED or less had the greatest variability, with an IQR of 18 years. Those with some college education or an associate degree had the least variability, with an IQR of 16 years.

Figure 3. Duration of Marriage at First Divorce by Sex and Educational Attainment, 2024

Source: NCFMR analyses of American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, 2024 (IPUMS USA)

Note. HS = high school; GED = general education diploma;  SC = some college; Assoc = associate degree; Bach = bachelor’s degree; Mast+ = master’s degree, professional degree, or higher.