Massachusetts Sees More Marriages, Fewer Divorces: Census

BOSTON, MA — More people in Massachusetts are getting married and staying married, according to data released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Between 2008 and 2018, the Massachusetts marriage rate increased 1.2 percent from 13.6 marriages per 1,000 women aged 15 and over to 15.6 marriages. During the same period, the divorce rate decreased 0.8 percent, from 8.8 divorces per every 1,000 women aged 15 and over to 7.5 divorces.

In 2018 marriage and divorce rates, Massachusetts was below the national average of 16.6 marriages. The state's divorce rate was slightly higher than the national average of 7.7 divorces per every 1,000 women aged 15 and over.

Utah (28.4) had the highest marriage rates in 2018, while Maine and Connecticut, at 13.2 marriages, had the lowest marriage rates. Arkansas (13.0) had the highest divorce rate in 2018, while North Dakota (4.7) had the lowest.

The divorce rate put Massachusetts in a tie with South Carolina at 30th. Despite the state's decrease in divorces, it went up in the state rankings from 43rd in 2008.

Massachusetts was tied with Montana, West Virginia and Wisconsin at 38th in 2018 marriage rates. That was up from 51st in 2008, when only Puerto Rico had a lower marriage rate.