Marriage rates are up, and divorce rates are down, new data shows

After Covid-19 lockdowns, 2022 saw an increase in the number of marriages, according to recent data. The pandemic caused a decline in marriage rates, which had remained stable for the past two decades. In 2020, the rate dropped to its lowest point of 5.1 per 1,000 people. However, the rate began to rise again, reaching 6.2 per capita and over 2 million in 2022. Therapists suggest that lockdowns forced couples to address relationship issues, leading to a better understanding of what they need in a partner. The divorce rate also declined in 2022, continuing a downward trend compared to 2000. Changes in societal norms, such as increased therapy access and the preference for companionate marriages, may have contributed to these trends.