Sometimes when I sit down to write a blog, I immediately know the topic. Other times, I need to research ideas.  This was a research month. Nothing seemed like a good idea. However, after what felt like endless research, I came across an article in The New York Times entitled, “Why Older People Are Divorcing More Than They Used To” that grabbed my attention. I was surprised to find an article regarding seniors who got divorced. Usually, when you think about divorce your mind goes to younger adults.

What Is the Divorce Rate Among Seniors?

After researching the topic, the statistics paint a different picture. Bowling Green State University reported the divorce rate for seniors (65+) in the United States has tripled since 1990. The New York Times published that 40% of divorces in our country are couples 50+.  Also, according to Psychology Today divorce rates for older adults have increased in Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, Europe, Australia and India. Clearly a pattern has formed.

Reasons for Divorce Among Seniors

There are a variety of reasons for the increase. Women are more financially independent, empty nest syndrome, increasing life expectancy and changing attitudes about marriage and happiness. In addition, people are getting married later in life which has caused people to get divorced at older ages. According to the U.S. Census, in 1960 the median age for marriage for women was about 20 and men 22. In 2025, the median age for women was around 28 and men 31.  “Some possible reasons for gray divorce are because of our increased longevity. People are less willing to endure unhappy marriages for so long and are more optimistic that they will find another partner. And so older adults are more willing to divorce than they were in the past,” said Rosie Shrout, assistant professor in the Purdue University Department of Human Development and Family Science, in a 2025 interview with Purdue University. “Because people are living longer, there are more opportunities to develop new romantic relationships across adulthood, including after a divorce or widowhood.

The term “gray divorce” was originally coined by the AARP in a 2004 published study.

So, are older adults remarrying after divorce? According to The New York Times, Dr. Susan Brown, professor of sociology at Bowling Green State University, conducted research that demonstrated men are more likely to remarry than women. The research showed women are less interested in remarrying.  As women tend to live longer, men have more potential partners to choose from.

The Impact of “Gray Divorce”?

Unfortunately, divorce as an older adult brings its own set of challenges. Dividing up assets can be more difficult with older couples who might own property and have larger financial savings. Many of their assets were accumulated together.  In addition, one partner could have a pension or other retirement benefits.

The problems don’t stop with financial matters; there are health consequences. Depression, chronic stress, anxiety, isolation and loss of a caregiver are associated with “gray divorce”. Isolation can be particularly difficult for men. “Men are the ones who usually face a social ‘gray divorce penalty,'” says Jocelyn Crowley, author of “Gray Divorce: What We Lose and Gain from Mid-Life Splits” and professor of public policy at Rutgers University in U.S. News & World Report. “Men were more likely to be alienated from their children after a gray divorce because they weren’t as involved in raising them. And men no longer had the benefit of their wives’ social planning. The wife was the one who usually got families together for holidays and maintained relationships with other couples.”

Nobody ever walks down the aisle with the intention of getting divorced. However, it happens. Sadly, this is a matter which hits all age groups. Seniors have their own unique issues associated with divorce which people might not be aware of.  While this topic took me by surprise, I appreciate learning something new and correcting a falsely held assumption.

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Evan Carmen, Esq. is the Legislative Director for Aging Policy and Housing Development and Co-Director at the B’nai B’rith International Center for Senior Services. Click here to read more from Evan Carmen.