Divorce at 40 is becoming increasingly common. According to recent studies, divorce for 40s and 50s aged people has more than doubled in the last three decades. In 2019, the divorce rate in the US was 15.3 per 1,000 married women, with the highest rates of divorce occurring among people aged 40-49.
Divorce for people at 40 is more common than you may believe, and more people are doing it today than ever before.
The national divorce rate for adults aged 25-39 is 24 per 1,000 persons. For adults aged between 40-49 years of age, it's 21 per 1,000 persons.
Expectations Change
And it's quite probable that your expectations of your spouse aren't the same. A common cause of divorce amongst people in their 40s is that what they want out of life, and what they want out of their spouse, has changed. But, their spouse hasn't changed.
The average age for a couple entering their first divorce is 30 years old. And 60% of divorces involve spouses between the ages of 25 and 39. Women are more likely to file for divorce than men. The highest divorce rate is for African-American women aged 50 to 59.
According to various studies, the 4 most common causes of divorce are lack of commitment, infidelity or extramarital affairs, too much conflict and arguing, and lack of physical intimacy.
Age-Specific Divorce Rates
Men aged 40 to 44 and 45 to 49 had the most effective divorce rate, with 10.3 divorces per 1,000 men in both age categories. For women, the highest divorce rate was among those aged 40 to 44, with 10.4 divorces per 1,000 women.
DECIDE HOW TO MEET PEOPLE
By the time you start dating after divorce in your 40s you are going to have to think about whether you are comfortable meeting people using an online platform or not. My preference would have been to meet someone through a friend or in a setting that was more about a shared interest.
Whether you're 35 or 75, it's never too late to fall madly (or gently and even sacredly) in love.
Divorce Rates in Australia
The most recent divorce rates stand at 2.2 divorces per 1,000 Australian residents. 56,244 divorces were granted in 2021, with 48,432 involving children. New South Wales had the highest proportion of weddings administered by a minister of religion (25%), rather than a civil celebrant.
1. Domestic Violence or Emotional Abuse. Domestic violence is one of the most leading reasons for divorce in Australia. It is a serious issue that can have a significant impact on the lives of those affected.
It can be unilaterally initiated by either spouse, or mutually decided. To prove that your marriage has 'irretrievably broken down,' in order to obtain a divorce, you must have been separated for at least 12 months. It is possible to be 'separated under one roof' if certain criteria are met.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2019, the median duration of an Australian marriage that ended in divorce was 12.2 years [5]. This figure has increased steadily since 1999 when the average marriage length was 11.3 years.
Across the board, men are looking for honest women they can have a good time with. (Interestingly enough, women's top characteristic is honest as well.) Men in their 40s want someone caring, loving, and kind.
Divorce can significantly affect a man's mental health, potentially leading to issues like depression, anxiety, and increased stress levels. It's important to seek professional help if these symptoms persist.
It's common for men to experience bouts of post-divorce depression. Everyone faces these risks, both men and women. But one Canadian study found that while that's true, men face a greater risk of depression after divorce.
Once a week is a common baseline, experts say. That statistic depends slightly on age: 40- and 50-year-olds tend to fall around that baseline, while 20- to 30-year olds tend to average around twice a week.
It can be difficult to start dating when you're in your 40s or older. You may be thinking, "I am way too old to be dating at this point in my life." However, with some speed dating advice and a positive attitude, you might just find yourself enjoying the company of new people and discovering new relationships.
People who fall into the next age bracket of 30 to 39 should apparently be having sex roughly 86 times a year, which results in 1.6 times a week (we'll let you work out how to make that work). Whereas 40 to 49 year olds have sex an average 69 times per year.
Those in the 40 to 49 age group manage to have sex only 69 times per year. But the declining number tells a wider story; family obligations, daily stresses and worries and an increase in health issues all play their part in impacting our libidos. Feeling old plays its part too.
Age brackets and the percentage of people who remarry were: 18 to 24 years – 29% will remarry. 25 to 34 years – 43% will remarry. 35 to 44 years – 57% will remarry.
Getting married at this age is not about adjusting anymore but finding the person that fits you. Make sure you date for at least a year even if you are in your 40s. You do not have to rush through thinking you are getting old.
The type of job with the highest divorce rate is military work. An estimated 3.09% of workers who were married and had this type of job in 2019 divorced that same year.
Nearly 70 percent of divorces are initiated by the wife. In addition, over 50% of divorced wives never want to remarry while only about 30% of men express that same sentiment. Seeing as most divorces are initiated by women, men can use this statistic to make sure they are being mindful of their wives' needs and wants.
While there are countless divorce studies with conflicting statistics, the data points to two periods during a marriage when divorces are most common: years 1 – 2 and years 5 – 8. Of those two high-risk periods, there are two years in particular that stand out as the most common years for divorce — years 7 and 8.