Over the last few decades, there have been changes in the South Carolina divorce rate. The period between 1970 and 1980 witnessed the highest number of divorces mainly because of the shift in social culture and the availability of no-fault divorce laws.
Since then the national rate of divorce has followed a gradual decline over the years. Today in 2024 about 40% to 50% of marriages in the U. S. fail through divorce though many states have recorded a decline in divorce filings probably due to economic stability, delayed marriages, and changing social attitudes to marriage and cohabitation.
Analyzing the data on divorce in South Carolina, it is possible to notice that the state has different rates compared to the USA as a whole. In fact, the state has one of the lowest divorce rates in the country, but there are trends that make it stand out.
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Higher rates in urban areas such as Charleston and peculiarities of the legal system, including the residency requirements and fault-based divorces, explain the numbers.
For instance, South Carolina prefers mediation and counseling more than the other states, which could be one of the reasons for the relatively low overall divorce rate in the state.
How Divorce Rates Are Determined
The rates of divorce are usually arrived at through a division of the total number of divorces by the population of the given area within a given period of time, in this case, one year. It consists of data collection, population estimation, and divorce estimations.
For instance, if the records of the state suggest there are 10,000 divorces in a given year and the total population of the state is one million, then the divorce rate will be ten divorcées per one thousand residents.
Divorce rates are given for particular demographic characteristics such as; age, income, and education. These are useful in getting a feel of how divorce rates differ among different groups of people.
Statistics of divorce can also vary with time and by geographical area of the world because of various reasons such as culture, law changes, economic factors, and others. Even though divorce is regarded as a private affair, it can be influenced by local cultural factors.
Overview of Divorce Statistics in South Carolina
In 2020, the number of divorces in South Carolina was 10,261, and the divorce rate was 2. 5%. This is approximately 5. 7 divorces per thousand citizens which put South Carolina in the 21st place among all states in the USA regarding the divorce rates.
This translates to an average of 28 marriages dissolution daily across the state. Even the numbers, though look big, if compared with the previous decades, they convey the impression of a gradual decrease.
The divorce rate was about 4 in 1990. 5 per 1,000 people this indicates that few couples are now going for separation.
According to the information given by the National Center for Health Statistics, the divorce rate in South Carolina by 2021 was 2. 4 per thousand women of childbearing age, 15 years and above.
This is in line with a national trend where divorce rates have reduced to about 20 % in the last decade. The decline is attributed to shifts in marriage trends, economic factors, and social perceptions of the divorce process.
Key Factors Influencing Divorce in South Carolina
The following are some of the factors that make South Carolina experience the above-mentioned trends in divorce.
This is because the factors that lead to the breakdown of marriages differ from one couple to the other; however, some of the factors include; age at marriage, education, economic factors, and religious factors.
These elements are normally related and they play a role in determining whether the couple will continue living together or seek an annulment.
Age at Marriage
The age at which people get married is one of the biggest predictors of the likelihood of a divorce. Studies have it that the earlier one gets married, the higher the chances of getting a divorce.
People who marry at early ages, especially at nineteen or twenty, are likely to be financially unstable, emotionally immature, and going through certain changes that can easily pull a marriage apart.
This is the same for the other states in the United States including South Carolina where the mean age at marriage has risen hence the low divorce rates.
Education Level
The other important variable that was considered is education. Marriages in which both partners have been educated are less likely to end up in a divorce as compared to the unions of a less educated couple.
Education also enhances financial status, communication skills, and compatibility, which are some of the factors that lead to marital success.
Economic Factors
Money problems are one of the biggest sources of conflict in a marriage, and South Carolina is not immune to it. Conflict that may result in divorce is likely to be high among couples that have issues with unemployment, underemployment, or financial difficulties.
Another factor that influences the rates of divorce in the regions of South Carolina is the issue of economic dissimilarities, where rural areas differ from urban ones.
Religious Beliefs
Religious outlook is still very important in South Carolina and therefore has a profound influence on the perception of marriage and divorce. A majority of the people are Christians and most of them are quite religious with most religious practices supporting the institution of marriage.
According to the research done, those who practice their religions and beliefs together in marriage have a low tendency to divorce.
Culture and Legal Changes
Cultural and legal factors also play a role in determining the divorce rate in South Carolina; due to the changing culture of marriages and divorces the law has also evolved. For instance, the availability of no-fault divorce laws in the state has eased the divorce procedures hence leading to the reduction of divorces.
The no-fault divorces are those that permit couples to part ways and end their marriage without having to accuse each other of wrong and they are based on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.
Speak with a divorce lawyer in SC at (864) 804-6330 or book a free consultation to discuss how we can help you through the process. We are here to assist and advise you on what your rights are, the best ways to negotiate for a fair settlement as well as ensuring that you and your family get the best out of this difficult situation.
