Wondering what the odds are that you’ll get divorced? It’s impossible to pin them down exactly, of course. While many people are fond of saying that half of all marriages end in divorce, this does not take into account the many different factors that impact every unique relationship. It’s not as simple as saying that one out of every two couples will split up.
What we can do, however, is take a look at some of the most common risk factors for divorce. These things make your odds of divorce higher than they would be otherwise. While that still doesn’t give you a specific number, at least you know that it’s more or less likely based on your personal life and experiences. Some risk factors include:
- You were very young — 18 years old, for instance — when you got married.
- You and your spouse have different drinking habits or other addictions.
- Your parents and/or your spouse’s parents got divorced.
- Your wedding cost more than $20,000.
- You had a baby together right after you got married or even before the marriage.
- You have a relatively low level of education, e.g., no college degree.
- This is not your first marriage and you already ended things with a former spouse before you and your current spouse decided to tie the knot.
These are by no means all of the risk factors. For instance, your financial picture could play a role, as could your personalities and how well you get along. But these are some important things to keep in mind if you’re wondering whether divorce is on the horizon.