64% of divorced adults remarry. Second marriages have a 60-67% divorce rate — higher than first marriages. Third marriages have roughly 73%. Median time between divorce and remarriage is 3.7 years. 50% of remarriages involve stepchildren. Cohabitation is increasingly chosen over remarriage among adults 50+.
This guide compiles the most current and credible statistics on remarriage statistics, drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau, CDC, Pew Research Center, peer-reviewed research, and major surveys. Every number is sourced and linked.
How Often Divorced Adults Remarry
- 64% of divorced U.S. adults remarry at some point in their lives (CDC NCHS 2024). — Source: CDC NCHS
- Median time between divorce and remarriage: 3.7 years for men, 3.4 years for women (U.S. Census Bureau 2024 ACS). — Source: U.S. Census Bureau
- Remarriage rates have declined steadily since 1990 — partly because divorced adults increasingly choose cohabitation over remarriage (Pew Research, 2024). — Source: Pew Research Center
- Among adults 50-64, the remarriage rate is 50% within 10 years of divorce; among adults 65+, it falls to 22% (Bowling Green NCFMR 2024 Family Profile). — Source: NCFMR
Second Marriage Divorce Rates
- Second marriages have a 60-67% divorce rate — higher than first marriages (Wolfinger / IFS analysis 2024). — Source: IFS
- Third marriages have roughly 73% divorce rates (Wolfinger / IFS). — Source: IFS
- The strongest predictor of second-marriage success is whether issues from the first marriage were processed before remarrying — couples who waited 3+ years had 22% lower divorce rates (Bowling Green NCFMR 2023). — Source: NCFMR
- Second marriages without stepchildren have divorce rates close to first-marriage rates (~45%); second marriages with stepchildren have ~67% rates (Stanford Stepfamily Research, 2024). — Source: Stanford
Stepfamilies and Blended Families
- 1 in 3 U.S. children will live with a step-parent before age 18 (U.S. Census Bureau 2024). — Source: U.S. Census Bureau
- 50% of remarriages involve at least one partner with children from a previous relationship (Pew Research 2024). — Source: Pew Research Center
- Per Patricia Papernow's research at the Stepfamily Research Institute, blended families take an average of 4-7 years to fully integrate emotionally — couples who underestimate this timeline are statistically more likely to divorce. — Source: Stepfamily Research
- The most common source of conflict in remarriages is parenting style differences (47%), followed by ex-spouse interactions (38%) and finances (34%) (NCFMR 2024). — Source: NCFMR
Cohabitation Instead of Remarriage
- Cohabitation among divorced adults 50+ has tripled since 2007 — many older adults choose to live together rather than remarry (Pew Research 2024). — Source: Pew Research Center
- "Living apart together" (committed couples in separate households) is the fastest-growing relationship arrangement among adults 60+ (Bowling Green NCFMR 2024). — Source: NCFMR
- Reasons cited for choosing cohabitation over remarriage: financial protection (54%), avoiding legal complications with adult children (38%), personal preference (33%) (AARP 2024 Older Adults Family Survey). — Source: AARP
What Predicts Remarriage Success
- Remarriages where both partners completed a "premarital education" or therapy program before remarrying had 31% lower divorce rates than those who did not (Stanley & Markman, University of Denver, 2024 longitudinal study). — Source: University of Denver
- The strongest predictor of stepfamily success is the relationship between the stepparent and stepchildren — when warm, divorce rates fall to 41%; when contentious, divorce rates rise to 78% (Papernow / Stepfamily Research Institute 2024). — Source: Stepfamily Research Institute
- Couples who wait at least 3 years between divorce and remarriage have 22% lower divorce rates than those who remarry within 2 years (NCFMR 2023). — Source: NCFMR
What These Numbers Mean
The conventional wisdom that "second marriages are stronger because you've learned" is mostly wrong. Second marriages have higher, not lower, divorce rates — and stepchildren are the largest single factor explaining the gap. The encouraging finding is that the higher divorce rate is not destiny: couples who wait 3+ years before remarrying, complete therapy or premarital education, and prioritize stepparent-stepchild relationships have outcomes close to first marriages. The growing trend of cohabitation over remarriage among older adults reflects a pragmatic adaptation to these patterns.
Statistics like these point to one thing
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Try Connected free →Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of divorced people remarry?
64% of divorced U.S. adults remarry at some point (CDC NCHS 2024). The rate is higher for those who divorce younger (under 40) and lower for those who divorce after 50.
Why do second marriages have higher divorce rates?
Three main factors: (1) stepchildren and parenting conflicts (47% cite this as the top source of conflict in second marriages), (2) issues from the first marriage that were not processed before remarrying, (3) financial complications from prior marriages. Second marriages without stepchildren have divorce rates close to first marriages.
How long should you wait before remarrying after divorce?
Research from Bowling Green NCFMR shows couples who wait at least 3 years between divorce and remarriage have 22% lower divorce rates than those who remarry within 2 years. The wait period correlates with how completely first-marriage issues are processed.
How long do blended families take to integrate?
Per Patricia Papernow's research at the Stepfamily Research Institute, blended families take an average of 4-7 years to fully integrate emotionally. Couples who underestimate this timeline are statistically more likely to divorce.
Are second marriages happier than first marriages?
On average, no. Second marriages report similar satisfaction levels to first marriages but have higher divorce rates. However, second marriages where both partners attended premarital education or therapy report higher satisfaction and 31% lower divorce rates.
Why are older adults choosing cohabitation over remarriage?
The top cited reasons (AARP 2024): financial protection (54%), avoiding legal complications with adult children (38%), and personal preference (33%). Cohabitation among divorced adults 50+ has tripled since 2007.
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Last updated: April 27, 2026. This article is reviewed by Kayla Crane, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist. We update statistics as new data is published.