For decades, the divorce rate has been consistent – at least as far as the general population is concerned. Anyone walking down the aisle knew they had a 50-50 chance of making their marriage work.
Statistically, Washington state has been on par with the national divorce rate. How does the divorce rate in Washington state currently compare with the national average? And what are the cities with the highest divorce rate in the state?
The Divorce Rate in Washington – 10 Cities with the Highest Rates of Divorce
According to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), the counties with the highest divorce rate are:
- King (5300+ divorces)
- Pierce (3000+)
- Lincoln (2300+)
- Snohomish (1900+)
- Clark (1500+)
- Spokane (1500+)
Here are the 10 cities with the highest divorce rate in Washington state.
1. Clarkston, WA
Clarkston is in Asotin county. Back in 2019, USA Today compared various reports from the US Census Bureau. They looked at population, cost of living, median household income, etc. and found that 22.7% of the 7400 residents of Clarkston are divorced.
2. Hoquiam, WA
Hoquiam is another smaller city, with a population of 8500 people. Only three percent of the population lives in rural areas. The divorce rate for this city is 11%.
3. Aberdeen, WA
Another city that has a high divorce rate in Washington state is Aberdeen, which has a population of over 16,000 people. The divorce rate in this city is 10%.
4. Kelso, WA
Kelso is in the southwestern part of Washington state and has a population of 12,300. The Kelso divorce rate is currently at 9%.
5. Wenatchee, WA
Wenatchee is one of the larger cities on this list, with a population of over 34,000 people. Like Kelso, the divorce rate in Wenatchee is at 9%.
6. Sumner, WA
Only two cities on this list are in the counties with the highest divorce rate in Washington state: Sumner and Sultan.
Sumner is in Pierce County, has a population of nearly 11,000, and has a divorce rate of 9%.
7. Sultan, WA
Sultan is in Snohomish County. Forty-six percent of the population of nearly 5200 people is married, while 14.5% are divorced, leaving a divorce rate of 9%.
8. Sequim, WA
Another city with a 9% divorce rate in Washington state is Sequim. The city has a population of 7400.
9. Longview, WA
The largest city on this list of the cities with the highest divorce rate in Washington state is Longview, WA, with over 38,000 residents. Interestingly, though the city is bigger, the divorce rate (8%) is not as high as some of the smaller cities.
10. Moses Lake, WA
Another one of the larger cities (24,000 residents) on the list is Moses Lake, which has a divorce rate of 8%.
How Does Washington Compare to the US and World Divorce Rates?
As of 2016, according to the DOH, Washington reported nearly 24,500 divorces statewide. Overall, that is a rate of 3.4%, a rate that has dropped from 5.9% in the 1990s. These rates are based on one divorce per 1000 people.
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the current US divorce rate is at 2.9%, with over 782,000 divorces. The numbers are not 100% accurate, as only 45 states and the District of Columbia reported their numbers to the CDC. INSIDER.com tabulated their own data and the CDC’s data and found that Nevada is the state with the highest divorce rate (4.5%).
USA Today reported in 2018 that a University of Maryland professor found that the US divorce rate dropped by 18% between 2008 and 2016.
Worldwide, divorce rates have been on the rise since the 1970s. In 1970, the worldwide divorce rate was 2.6% per 1000 people. That number had risen to an average of 5.5% by 2006. With a rate of 19.01% per 1000 people, Kazakhstan had the highest rate in a study of 83 countries. According to WorldPopulationReview.com, the US has the sixth highest divorce rate.
As you can see, the divorce rate in Washington state is higher than the national average but lower than the worldwide average. WorldPopulationReview.com evaluated all 50 states and determined the states with the top 10 highest and lowest rates of divorce. Washington state does not rank on either of those lists.
You Are Not Doomed to Divorce
Divorce is a choice. Just because you live in one of the aforementioned cities does not mean you are doomed to marital failure.
Success in marriage is reliant on many factors. Things like constant and open communication, growth as individuals and as a couple, and seeing eye-to-eye on topics like money, in-laws, and child-rearing all play a role.
If you and your partner put in the effort, you can make your marriage a success regardless of your zip code.
Have you and your spouse tried to make it work but finally concluded that you are no longer compatible? Contact our team to schedule a consultation. We will help you evaluate all your options.
