August 8, 2002

North Dakota Sees Increase in Divorce

The number of divorced persons in north Dakota increased 35 percent between 1990 and 2000, according to the recent Population Bulletin released from the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University

The majority of persons 15 years old and older in North Dakota were married in 2000 (57.5 percent) . This proportion is down from 61 percent a decade earlier, largely due to an increase in the proportion of persons divorced. Nearly 8 percent of persons in North Dakota were divorced in 2000, up from 6 percent in 1990, 3.8 percent in 1980, and 1.9 percent in 1970 (1970 figures reflect persons 14 years and older).

"The pattern of change among those divorced in North Dakota is troubling. The greatest relative increase in divorces is in the south central and southern counties in the state. Many of those rural counties are struggling economically and divorce may be a consequence due to the heightened stress on families. Regardless of the cause, this is an issue we need to address," said Richard Rathge, Director of the State Data Center. Nationally, nearly 10 percent of persons were divorced in 2000.

Nearly 28 percent of persons 15 years and older in North Dakota were never married in 2000. This proportion is up from 26 percent in 1990. Nationally, the trend in persons never married is just the opposite. The proportion of persons never married declined from 30 percent in 1990 to 27 percent in 2000 for the United States.

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Source: Richard Rathge, (701) 231-8621, richard_rathge@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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