In October 2024, numerous sources highlighted the results of a recent study by the National Center for Family and Marriage Research. The center is part of Bowling Green State University, and it has discovered some alarming facts about gray divorce in the United States. Perhaps the most shocking result was that the rate of gray divorce has tripled since 1990 – and this made headlines around the nation. But why is gray divorce increasing at such an alarming rate – and what effects could this have on our society? 

Gray Divorce is a “Boomer Problem”

Gray divorce is reserved for retirement-age individuals. This means that the phenomenon almost exclusively affects “boomers,” the generation that has shaped our modern society. Boomers also hold an incredible amount of wealth in our current society, giving them more than enough to splurge on legal fees. 

It should come as no surprise that many divorce lawyers across the nation specifically target seniors for this specific reason. They have enough money to spend, which is not true for younger spouses in the United States today. Due to rising inflation, many younger spouses cannot even afford to get divorced. Instead, they become estranged and separated for years or even decades. Some never get divorced, and they realize that they will never save enough cash to end their marriages. Lawyers are affected by inflation like everyone else, and they are being forced to raise their prices. 

Based on these factors, it should probably come as no surprise that gray divorce is on the rise. However, Boomers still make up the minority of people getting divorced in the United States. 

How Fast is Gray Divorce Rising?

In 1990, only 5% of divorcees were 65 or older. By 2020, that figure had risen to 15%. Today, it could be even higher. Today, approximately 1 in 7 divorcees have reached retirement age. 

So what is causing this rise? Aside from economic factors, researchers believe that increased life expectancy could be playing a role. In previous generations, seniors simply did not live long enough to grow tired of each other. In other words, bad health caught up with them faster than fading passions. 

Researchers also point to the 14% decline in widowhood during this same period. This is a strikingly similar figure compared to the 15% rise in gray divorce – and it might not be a coincidence. With people living longer, spouses are forced to endure each other’s presence for years or even decades longer than in previous generations. 

Is Gray Divorce Really the Best Outcome for Spouses?

Some spouses are absolutely certain that gray divorce is the best possible option. However, studies show that this outcome might lead to unwanted consequences – particularly for women. One study found that gray divorce tends to cause “food insecurity” for senior women. Just four years after a gray divorce, the average senior woman faces a 10% higher risk for food insecurity. Men also face the same hazard but at a lower rate.