Oregon consistently ranks in the moderate-to-high range among United States divorce rates, typically positioning around 14th highest nationally. The state's crude divorce rate, measured as divorces per 1,000 total population, generally falls between 2.8 and 3.4, placing Oregon slightly above the national average.
Recent provisional data indicates Oregon's divorce rate at approximately 2.8 divorces per 1,000 people, representing a decline from historical peaks while remaining higher than many northeastern states. When measured using the adjusted divorce rate that focuses specifically on married women aged 15 and older, Oregon shows approximately 14 to 15 divorces per 1,000 married women, providing a more precise picture of divorce risk among the married population.
Percentage of Divorced Adults
Approximately 12.5% of Oregon adults aged 15 and older have been divorced at some point in their lives, roughly 2% higher than the national average of 10.5%. This elevated percentage reflects Oregon's slightly higher divorce rate combined with demographic factors including the state's median age and marriage patterns.
It's important to understand that this percentage represents people currently identifying as divorced, not including those who remarried after divorce. Once someone remarries, census data no longer counts them as divorced, meaning the true percentage of people who have experienced divorce at some point exceeds the 12.5% currently-divorced figure.
Historical Divorce Trends in Oregon
Oregon divorce rates have fluctuated significantly over recent decades, reflecting broader social, economic, and legal changes affecting marriage stability.
Peak and Decline Patterns
Oregon's divorce rate peaked in the 1990s and early 2000s before beginning a gradual decline that has continued through the present. In 1990, Oregon recorded 5.5 divorces per 1,000 people. This rate remained relatively stable through the mid-1990s at around 4.7-4.8 per 1,000, before declining to 4.2 per 1,000 by 2005.
The downward trend continued through 2010 (4.0 per 1,000), 2015 (3.4 per 1,000), and accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, dropping to 2.6 per 1,000 by 2020. This represents a more than 50% decline from the 1990 peak, mirroring national trends toward fewer divorces.
Recent Years: 2018-2023
According to Oregon Health Authority statistics, the state recorded approximately 14,100 Oregon divorces in 2018. This number decreased to about 13,300 in 2019, continuing the long-term declining trend. The 2020 pandemic year saw a dramatic decrease in finalized divorces, dropping to the lowest point in at least 32 years.
However, court officials later clarified that much of the 2020 decline reflected processing delays rather than actual decreases in divorce filings, as courts prioritized urgent matters including protective orders and child safety cases during pandemic disruptions. By 2021, preliminary data suggested divorces were recovering toward pre-pandemic levels though remaining below 2018-2019 figures.
Age Demographics and Divorce Patterns
Age significantly influences divorce probability, with distinct patterns across different age groups in Oregon.
Younger Adults: Ages 15-34
The highest divorce rates occur among those who married young. Nationally, divorce is most likely for those who married in their late teens and early twenties. However, younger generations increasingly delay marriage, with Oregon's average age for first marriage now 26.9 for men and 25.3 for women.
This delay contributes to declining divorce rates among younger adults. While the 25-34 age bracket still shows elevated divorce rates compared to older groups, the rates are dropping as millennials and Gen Z marry later and more selectively.
Middle Adults: Ages 35-54
The 35-44 age group experiences divorce rates around 14.9 per 1,000 married women nationally, making this the peak period for divorce activity. Many of these divorces involve marriages that lasted approximately eight years, the average duration of marriages ending in divorce.
The 45-54 age group shows slightly lower but still substantial divorce rates, as marriages surviving into their second and third decades demonstrate greater stability while some long-term unions dissolve during this period.
Gray Divorce: Ages 55 and Older
Oregon's higher median age of 40.5 years (compared to the national average of 39) contributes to increased "gray divorce" among adults aged 50 and older. This demographic represents the fastest-growing divorce segment since 1990, with divorce rates for those 55-64 more than doubling over the past three decades.
While the 65-and-older group maintains the lowest divorce rate of any age bracket, it too has seen dramatic increases. Gray divorces present unique challenges including complex asset division accumulated over decades, retirement account splits, spousal support for non-working spouses nearing retirement, and estate planning complications.
Regional Variations Within Oregon
Divorce rates vary significantly across Oregon's counties and metropolitan areas, reflecting differences in demographics, economic conditions, cultural characteristics, and urban versus rural dynamics.
Multnomah County and Portland Metro
Multnomah County, Oregon's most populous county containing Portland, consistently leads the state in absolute number of divorces, typically recording around 2,500 dissolutions annually. In 2019, Multnomah County reported approximately 2,500 divorces out of Oregon's statewide total of 13,300, representing nearly 19% of all state divorces.
However, when examined per capita, Multnomah County shows a moderate divorce rate of approximately 36.7 divorces per 10,000 residents aged 18 and older, lower than many rural counties despite the higher absolute numbers. This suggests that urban Portland residents divorce at slightly lower rates than some rural populations when population size is accounted for.
Medford Metro: Highest Divorce Rate Nationally
The Medford, Oregon metropolitan area holds the distinction of having the highest divorce rate in the entire United States, with approximately 15.8% of adults currently divorced. This percentage substantially exceeds both Oregon's state average (12.5%) and the national average (10.5%), earning Medford an unwelcome reputation as a regional "divorce capital."
Factors potentially contributing to Medford's elevated divorce rate include the region's higher median age correlating with increased gray divorce, economic challenges in some sectors, and demographic composition. With a population of approximately 184,923 people aged 15 and older, roughly 29,000 Medford-area residents are currently divorced.
Other High-Divorce Oregon Cities
Additional Oregon cities showing elevated divorce rates include:
- Tillamook
- Umatilla
- Baker City
- Klamath Falls
- Grants Pass
- Pendleton
- Ontario
- Roseburg
- Coos Bay
These communities share certain characteristics including older median ages, economic transitions in traditional industries, and rural or small-town demographics that may contribute to higher dissolution rates.
County-Level Variation
Divorce rates vary dramatically across Oregon's 36 counties. Sherman County, one of Oregon's smallest counties by population, has recorded divorce rates as high as 72.9 per 10,000 residents aged 18 and older in some years. This extreme variation in small-population counties reflects how a relatively small number of divorces creates high per-capita rates.
Other rural counties show wide variation, with some exceeding urban rates while others fall below state averages, suggesting that factors beyond simple urban-rural distinctions influence divorce patterns.
Marriage Rate Decline and Its Impact
Oregon's declining divorce rate must be understood in the context of equally dramatic declines in marriage rates, which directly affect the pool of people at risk for divorce.
Declining Marriage Trends
In 1990, Oregon's marriage rate stood at 8.9 per 1,000 people. This rate has declined steadily to 8.1 per 1,000 (1995), 7.6 per 1,000 (2000), 7.3 per 1,000 (2005), 6.5 per 1,000 (2010), 6.9 per 1,000 (2015), and 5.2 per 1,000 (2020).
This represents a more than 40% decline in marriage rates over three decades, mirroring national trends toward delayed marriage, cohabitation without marriage, and choosing not to marry at all.
Relationship to Divorce Rates
Lower marriage rates naturally reduce the number of couples at risk for divorce. Even if the percentage of marriages ending in divorce remained constant, fewer marriages would produce fewer absolute divorces. This makes it important to examine both crude divorce rates (divorces per 1,000 total population) and adjusted rates (divorces per 1,000 married women) to understand true divorce trends.
The simultaneous decline in both marriage and divorce rates suggests that marriage is becoming more selective, with people marrying later in life, after establishing careers and financial stability, and only when confident in the relationship's long-term prospects.
Duration of Marriage Before Divorce
For Oregon divorces that end in dissolution, the average marriage duration is just under eight years. This statistic has remained relatively stable over time and aligns closely with national patterns.
However, this average masks significant variation:
- Some marriages end within the first few years
- Many divorces occur around the 7-10 year mark
- Gray divorces often involve marriages lasting 20, 30, or even 40+ years
The median length of all marriages in Oregon (including those still intact) is approximately 18.4 years, substantially longer than the average for marriages ending in divorce. This difference highlights how marriages surviving past the vulnerable early and middle years demonstrate significantly greater stability.
Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Divorce
Various demographic and socioeconomic characteristics correlate with divorce probability in Oregon.
Education Level
Educational attainment shows strong inverse correlation with divorce rates. College-educated Oregonians divorce at substantially lower rates than those with only high school education. This educational effect operates through multiple mechanisms including higher earning potential, better communication skills, tendency to delay marriage until more mature and established, and selection effects where those pursuing higher education tend to make more deliberate life decisions.
Income and Economic Factors
Economic stress significantly contributes to marital breakdown. Oregon counties and communities experiencing higher unemployment, lower median incomes, or economic transitions show elevated divorce rates compared to more prosperous areas.
However, the relationship between income and divorce is complex. While poverty and financial instability increase divorce risk, very high-income couples also show elevated divorce rates in some studies, possibly reflecting demanding careers, frequent travel, and lifestyle pressures.
Employment and Work Patterns
Dual-income couples face different divorce risks than single-income households. While dual incomes provide financial stability protecting against divorce, they also create time pressures and work-life balance challenges that can strain marriages.
Unemployment, particularly male unemployment, significantly increases divorce risk. Job loss creates financial stress, threatens identity and self-worth, and can shift household power dynamics in ways that destabilize marriages.
Cultural and Religious Influences
Oregon's cultural characteristics and religious composition influence divorce rates, though less dramatically than in some states.
Religious Participation
Oregon has relatively lower rates of religious participation compared to many states, particularly the South and portions of the Midwest. Areas with high religious participation, especially among faiths that strongly discourage divorce, typically show substantially lower divorce rates.
Utah, with approximately 42% of the population identifying as Mormon, shows the nation's lowest divorce rates, with the Provo-Orem metropolitan area recording just 5.7% of adults currently divorced. Oregon lacks this strong religious divorce-suppressing factor.
Progressive Social Attitudes
Oregon's generally progressive social attitudes create an environment where divorce faces fewer stigmas than in more conservative regions. This cultural acceptance may contribute to Oregon's moderate-to-high divorce rates compared to states where social pressure to maintain marriages remains stronger.
COVID-19 Pandemic Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented disruptions affecting Oregon divorce patterns in complex ways.
Initial Divorce Decline
Finalized Oregon divorces fell dramatically in 2020, reaching their lowest point in at least 32 years. Many observers initially attributed this to pandemic-related factors:
- Couples postponing divorce decisions during collective crisis
- Renewed appreciation for spouses during isolation
- Practical constraints including difficulty finding housing
- Court closures and processing delays
Court Processing Delays
However, analysis revealed that much of the decline reflected court processing delays rather than actual decreases in divorce filings. Oregon courts, particularly in Multnomah County, deliberately prioritized urgent family law matters including protective orders and immediate danger cases, delaying routine divorce processing.
This meant divorces were filed but not yet finalized and reported to state vital statistics, creating artificial declines in the official divorce count.
Post-Pandemic Recovery
As courts worked through backlogs and pandemic restrictions lifted, divorce numbers began recovering toward pre-pandemic levels, though they remain somewhat suppressed compared to 2018-2019 figures as of the most recent available data.
Remarriage and Subsequent Divorce Rates
Oregon patterns mirror national trends showing that subsequent marriages face higher divorce rates than first marriages.
According to recent statistics:
- 41% of first marriages end in divorce
- 60% of second marriages end in divorce
- 73% of third marriages end in divorce
These escalating divorce rates for subsequent marriages reflect various factors including unresolved personal issues that contributed to previous divorces, blended family challenges, and selection effects where people who divorce once show higher propensity to divorce again.
Children Affected by Oregon Divorces
Until 2016, Oregon tracked the number of children under 18 affected by divorce. Historical data showed thousands of Oregon children experienced parental divorce annually, though exact counts varied by year.
The Oregon Health Authority discontinued collecting this data in 2016, noting that the statistics didn't capture the complete picture because they excluded:
- Step-children from previous relationships
- Children from only one partner in the divorcing couple
- Children whose parents separated but never married
Additionally, since divorce certificates list both spouses' residences and neither may live in the county where the divorce was filed, the data couldn't accurately indicate where affected children actually resided.
Comparison to Other Western States
Oregon's divorce patterns show both similarities and differences compared to neighboring western states.
Nevada
Holds the highest divorce rate nationally at approximately 4.5 divorces per 1,000 people, driven by accommodating marriage and divorce laws and the Las Vegas wedding industry creating numerous quick marriages that often fail.
California
As a large, diverse state, California shows moderate divorce rates varying significantly by region, though the state doesn't report comprehensive divorce statistics to federal databases.
Washington
Oregon's northern neighbor shows divorce patterns generally similar to Oregon, with moderate rates and urban-rural variation.
Idaho
More conservative religiously and culturally than Oregon, Idaho tends to show lower divorce rates, particularly in heavily Mormon communities.
Oregon's position between California's diversity and Washington's patterns to the north, and more conservative Idaho to the east, creates a unique demographic and cultural environment influencing its moderate-to-high divorce rates.
Future Trends and Projections
Based on current patterns and demographic trends, several predictions emerge for future Oregon divorce rates:
Continued Gradual Decline
The long-term downward trend in Oregon divorces will likely continue as marriage becomes increasingly selective, with people marrying older and only after establishing financial stability.
Gray Divorce Increases
Even as overall rates decline, divorces among adults 50 and older will likely increase as Baby Boomers and Gen X age, life expectancies extend, and cultural attitudes make late-life divorce more acceptable.
Regional Variation Persists
Differences between urban Portland, mid-sized cities like Medford and Eugene, and rural counties will continue creating significant variation within Oregon.
Economic Impact
Future economic conditions including recessions, housing affordability, and employment patterns will significantly influence divorce rates, with economic stress driving increases.
Moving Forward
Oregon demographics & divorce reveal a complex picture of marriage dissolution patterns varying by age, location, education, income, and cultural factors. With approximately 2.8 to 3.4 divorces per 1,000 people and 12.5% of adults currently divorced, Oregon ranks in the moderate-to-high range nationally, showing higher rates than northeastern states but lower than Nevada, Arkansas, and several southern states.
The state's divorce patterns reflect broader demographic trends including delayed marriage, declining marriage rates, increasing gray divorce among older adults, and significant regional variations exemplified by Medford's status as the city with America's highest divorce rate. Understanding these demographic factors provides essential context for individuals navigating divorce, professionals serving divorcing families, and policymakers developing support services.
Oregon's future divorce patterns will likely continue the long-term declining trend while showing increased gray divorce and persistent regional variation. These patterns reflect evolving social attitudes, economic conditions, and demographic characteristics that shape when and why Oregon marriages end in dissolution.