(NewsNation) — The common idea that “half of all marriages end in divorce” is being debunked, as new research shows a consistent drop in divorce rates across the United States.

The National Center for Family and Marriage Research highlights a steady decline in the divorce rate since its peak in 1980. For instance, their data shows that in 1980, 22.6 out of every 1,000 married women went through a divorce. By 2022, this figure has reduced to 14.6 per 1,000 married women.

“Much like how people view crime rates, there’s a misconception that divorce is constantly rising or just a pervasive issue of modern times,” stated Philip Cohen, a sociology professor from the University of Maryland, during an interview with USA Today. “That’s not the case. Divorce rates have actually decreased.”

The leadership at the center attributes this decrease partially to changing marriage patterns, with more individuals opting to marry at an older age. Another point to note is the overall drop in marriage rates in the U.S. For instance, USAFacts reports that by 2024, 47.1% of U.S. households comprised married couples, a significant drop from 78.8% in 1949.

“As individuals choose to marry later, they often have greater financial stability and emotional maturity, both of which contribute to more stable marriages,” explained Susan Brown, the center’s co-director, to USA Today. “While marriage has become less common, it has improved in quality, leading to fewer divorces,” Cohen added.

The Knot reports that in 2025, the average age of marriage in the U.S. is 32.