There are many different factors that can predict the likelihood of a divorce. Couples who experience more financial stress may be more likely to get divorced, for example, as are couples who have parents who divorced. In some cases, older parents who become empty nesters will get divorced after their children move out of the house.
One key thing you can look at, however, is the age at which a couple got married. Some studies have identified 32 as the age with the lowest divorce rate. For every year that someone waits to get married after 32, their divorce rate goes up by 5 percent. For every year that they get married earlier than 32, their divorce rate goes up by 11 percent. So either way you look at it, the odds are lowest at 32 and higher on either side.
Why does this happen?
There are some theories about why this happens. Young marriages do tend to be less stable for a variety of reasons. Young couples have less life experience and may feel like they rushed into a marriage with one of their first partners. Younger couples may also be more likely to run into financial stress. A couple who gets married at 19 and moves into a house together may struggle just to make ends meet, which can strain the relationship.
For couples who are over 32, part of the reason could be that they drift apart over time, or, as noted above, they become empty nesters. But the statistics also include people who are on their second divorce, and they would be more likely to fall into this age group.
Regardless of the age at which you got married, if you believe you and your spouse are moving toward divorce, take the time to carefully look into all of your legal options.