Divorce Rates By Demographics in Florida

Divorce happens, and in Florida, it appears to occur more frequently than elsewhere in the U.S. According to World Population Review, Florida had the sixth-highest divorce rate in the country at 3.4 divorces per 1,000 women. Only Nevada, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Alabama, and Arkansas had higher divorce rates.

However, these numbers do not tell the whole story of divorce in Florida. Looking deeper at available statistics, one can see that divorce is not experienced equally by every person or demographic group.

Women Are More Likely To File For Divorce

The BBC notes that as many as seven out of ten divorce proceedings are initiated by women. This does not necessarily mean that women are at fault for causing nearly 70 percent of divorces. Instead, this statistic merely shows that women are far more likely to be the ones to initiate legal proceedings to terminate their marriages than men.

Divorce By Race and Age

Available data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that not all races and ethnic groups experience divorce equally as frequently as others. 

White, Non-Hispanic Individuals

Approximately 35.6 percent of individuals surveyed and identifying as white and non-Hispanic reported having been divorced at some point. For this group, the age bracket most likely to have experienced divorce was individuals in the 45-64 year age range. 

By contrast, only 6.5 percent of people in this racial category who were between 20 and 24 years of age expressed having been divorced at least once.

Black and African-American Individuals

Those identifying as black or African-American had similar percentages to those of the white, non-Hispanic group. 

Approximately 38.9 percent of those surveyed indicated they had been divorced at least once, with 49.4 percent of respondents between the ages of 55 and 64 responding affirmatively. Those between 25 and 29 years old were the least likely to report being divorced.

Hispanic or Latino Individuals

This group had a markedly lower number of respondents who reported having been divorced. Only 27 percent of individuals identifying as Hispanic or Latino reported that they had terminated a marriage. 

Once again, the age bracket of 45 to 64 years old was the bracket most likely to have been previously divorced, while the 20 to 24-year-old age bracket was the least likely to have been divorced.

Divorce By Florida City

Given today’s mobile society, it is impossible to link certain cities with higher divorce rates since someone can get a divorce anywhere in the country and then relocate to another town. However, Tampa Bay’s News Channel 8 recently identified five Florida cities as among the nation’s top 50 cities where divorced individuals live. 

The Florida towns identified include:

  • Panama City, where 13.6 percent of the population is currently divorced
  • Port St. Lucie, in which 13.7 percent of the population is presently divorced
  • Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, which has a presently divorced rate of 13.7 percent
  • Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, where 14.4 percent of the area’s 566,607 residents are divorced
  • Homosassa Springs, where 14.4 percent of residents say they are currently divorced

Considering other available data, it is safe to assume that the divorce rate would be lower in towns and cities with a younger population.

Divorce Is Complicated

Younger individuals who are married are less likely to experience divorce than older demographics. Similarly, some population groups may have a higher incidence rate of divorce than others. However, all available data shows that divorce affects people from every walk of life, location, and age group.

Contact Our Divorce Law Firm in Orlando, FL

Contact the experienced Orlando divorce lawyers at McMichen, Cinami & Demps today for legal assistance. Contact our Orlando, FL office at (407) 898-2161 to schedule a free consultation.

McMichen, Cinami & Demps – Orlando Office
1500 E Concord St
Orlando, FL 32803