Which States Remarry the Most? 2nd Marriage Statistics

Written by: Andrew Lisa

In 2012, Psychology Today released a report that painted a bleak picture of marriage as it pertains to the likelihood of divorce—and the report’s statistics still ring true today. If you’re married, toss a coin. That’s the chance that you’ll wind up divorced. The divorce rate in the United States is almost exactly 50%—but only the first time around. Those who remarry face much longer odds. The divorce rate for second marriages climbs to 67%. Nearly three out of four people who hope the third time will be the charm will eventually wind up signing divorce papers—the divorce rate for third marriages is 73%

States that remarry the most

In the United States, about 1 in 4 people—24.6%—get married at least twice. But the probability of multiple marriages is not equal throughout the country. Stacker used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the American Community Survey estimates for 2016 to find the rate of remarriage in every state and Washington, D.C. Next, the team merged the percentage of men and women getting remarried into one figure, and ranked the entries by the percentage of people who got married two or more times, and then by the number of people who got married three or more times in order to break any ties in the ranking.

Here’s a look at the percentage of people married two or more times in each state and the District of Columbia, ranked in order of least to most, with the highest-percentage state more than doubling the rate of the lowest.

ALSO: What marriage rates were the year you were born

Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#51. New Jersey

Average percent of people married two or more times: 16.5%

Estimated population in 2016: 8,944,469
Number of people that never married: 2,492,269
Number of people that married once: 3,994,927
Number of people that married twice: 684,128
Number of people that married three times or more: 90,632

BenFrantzDale // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Massachusetts

Average percent of people married two or more times: 16.8%

Estimated population in 2016: 6,811,779
Number of people that never married: 2,050,062
Number of people that married once: 2,952,360
Number of people that married twice: 525,450
Number of people that married three times or more: 75,297

Ken L. // Flickr

#49. New York

Average percent of people married two or more times: 17.15%

Estimated population in 2016: 19,745,289
Number of people that never married: 6,201,002
Number of people that married once: 8,326,594
Number of people that married twice: 1,461,465
Number of people that married three times or more: 217,424

Pixabay

#48. Washington, D.C.

Average percent of people married two or more times: 17.55%

Estimated population in 2016: 681,170
Number of people that never married: 313,981
Number of people that married once: 204,482
Number of people that married twice: 35,787
Number of people that married three times or more: 5,623

Kurt Haubrich // Flickr

#47. North Dakota

Average percent of people married two or more times: 18.6%

Estimated population in 2016: 757,952
Number of people that never married: 189,429
Number of people that married once: 328,587
Number of people that married twice: 63,166
Number of people that married three times or more: 12,886

Greg Gjerdingen // Flickr

#46. Minnesota

Average percent of people married two or more times: 18.6%

Estimated population in 2016: 5,519,952
Number of people that never married: 1,385,788
Number of people that married once: 2,433,540
Number of people that married twice: 474,196
Number of people that married three times or more: 88,833

JJBers // Flickr

#45. Connecticut

Average percent of people married two or more times: 19.05%

Estimated population in 2016: 3,576,452
Number of people that never married: 1,014,754
Number of people that married once: 1,576,233
Number of people that married twice: 319,408
Number of people that married three times or more: 50,263

#44. Rhode Island

Average percent of people married two or more times: 19.75%

Estimated population in 2016: 1,056,426
Number of people that never married: 317,067
Number of people that married once: 453,442
Number of people that married twice: 95,682
Number of people that married three times or more: 14,675

Anthony Quintano // Flickr

#43. Hawaii

Average percent of people married two or more times: 19.9%

Estimated population in 2016: 1,428,557
Number of people that never married: 382,365
Number of people that married once: 622,107
Number of people that married twice: 123,746
Number of people that married three times or more: 25,304

Jeremy Thompson // Flickr

#42. Pennsylvania

Average percent of people married two or more times: 20.15%

Estimated population in 2016: 12,784,227
Number of people that never married: 3,530,912
Number of people that married once: 5,590,764
Number of people that married twice: 1,214,129
Number of people that married three times or more: 225,499

Jeremy Thompson // Flickr

#41. Wisconsin

Average percent of people married two or more times: 20.6%

Estimated population in 2016: 5,778,708
Number of people that never married: 1,487,393
Number of people that married once: 2,521,987
Number of people that married twice: 561,236
Number of people that married three times or more: 107,861

Joe Parks // Wikimedia Commons

#40. California

Average percent of people married two or more times: 20.75%

Estimated population in 2016: 39,250,017
Number of people that never married: 11,386,522
Number of people that married once: 15,772,547
Number of people that married twice: 3,193,760
Number of people that married three times or more: 726,049

Tony Webster // Flickr

#39. Illinois

Average percent of people married two or more times: 21%

Estimated population in 2016: 12,801,539
Number of people that never married: 3,626,700
Number of people that married once: 5,356,797
Number of people that married twice: 1,134,160
Number of people that married three times or more: 264,020

Wereldburger758 // Wikimedia Commons

#38. South Dakota

Average percent of people married two or more times: 21.5%

Estimated population in 2016: 865,454
Number of people that never married: 203,949
Number of people that married once: 367,232
Number of people that married twice: 82,357
Number of people that married three times or more: 21,065

Clemens Vasters // Flickr

#37. Nebraska

Average percent of people married two or more times: 21.8%

Estimated population in 2016: 1,907,116
Number of people that never married: 441,648
Number of people that married once: 815,862
Number of people that married twice: 186,404
Number of people that married three times or more: 44,898

James Cridland // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Maryland

Average percent of people married two or more times: 22%

Estimated population in 2016: 6,016,447
Number of people that never married: 1,698,129
Number of people that married once: 2,454,924
Number of people that married twice: 580,671
Number of people that married three times or more: 109,250

Palacemusic // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Utah

Average percent of people married two or more times: 22.95%

Estimated population in 2016: 3,051,217
Number of people that never married: 645,613
Number of people that married once: 1,183,836
Number of people that married twice: 268,835
Number of people that married three times or more: 85,771

Carl Wycoff // Flickr

#34. Iowa

Average percent of people married two or more times: 23.2%

Estimated population in 2016: 3,134,693
Number of people that never married: 726,882
Number of people that married once: 1,362,049
Number of people that married twice: 326,999
Number of people that married three times or more: 85,304

Travisleehardin // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Vermont

Average percent of people married two or more times: 24.05%

Estimated population in 2016: 624,594
Number of people that never married: 164,858
Number of people that married once: 275,181
Number of people that married twice: 72,321
Number of people that married three times or more: 15,240

red, white, and black eyes forever // Flickr

#32. Virginia

Average percent of people married two or more times: 24.3%

Estimated population in 2016: 8,411,808
Number of people that never married: 2,150,915
Number of people that married once: 3,483,181
Number of people that married twice: 909,307
Number of people that married three times or more: 214,607

Yinan Chen // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Michigan

Average percent of people married two or more times: 24.35%

Estimated population in 2016: 9,928,300
Number of people that never married: 2,664,366
Number of people that married once: 4,089,299
Number of people that married twice: 1,063,126
Number of people that married three times or more: 269,886

eric // Wikimedia Commons

#30. New Hampshire

Average percent of people married two or more times: 24.4%

Estimated population in 2016: 1,334,795
Number of people that never married: 327,259
Number of people that married once: 593,591
Number of people that married twice: 155,729
Number of people that married three times or more: 34,789

likeaduck // Flickr

#29. Delaware

Average percent of people married two or more times: 25.2%

Estimated population in 2016: 952,065
Number of people that never married: 255,378
Number of people that married once: 381,641
Number of people that married twice: 103,626
Number of people that married three times or more: 24,465

Jaknouse // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Ohio

Average percent of people married two or more times: 26.05%

Estimated population in 2016: 11,614,373
Number of people that never married: 2,986,297
Number of people that married once: 4,751,081
Number of people that married twice: 1,307,156
Number of people that married three times or more: 367,652

Yinan Chen // Flickr

#27. Texas

Average percent of people married two or more times: 26.1%

Estimated population in 2016: 27,862,596
Number of people that never married: 6,764,560
Number of people that married once: 10,528,328
Number of people that married twice: 2,812,310
Number of people that married three times or more: 883,960

Larry Johnson // Flickr

#26. Colorado

Average percent of people married two or more times: 26.25%

Estimated population in 2016: 5,540,545
Number of people that never married: 1,350,800
Number of people that married once: 2,202,434
Number of people that married twice: 604,361
Number of people that married three times or more: 159,039

Daniel Mayer // Wikimedia Commons

#25. New Mexico

Average percent of people married two or more times: 26.7%

Estimated population in 2016: 2,081,015
Number of people that never married: 568,446
Number of people that married once: 803,589
Number of people that married twice: 225,294
Number of people that married three times or more: 67,728

Zainubrazvi // Wikimedia Commons

#24. North Carolina

Average percent of people married two or more times: 26.75%

Estimated population in 2016: 10,146,788
Number of people that never married: 2,501,668
Number of people that married once: 4,044,892
Number of people that married twice: 1,168,025
Number of people that married three times or more: 324,308

K-State Research and Extension // Flickr

#23. Kansas

Average percent of people married two or more times: 26.95%

Estimated population in 2016: 2,907,289
Number of people that never married: 664,117
Number of people that married once: 1,193,941
Number of people that married twice: 329,046
Number of people that married three times or more: 108,785

Becky Snyder // Flickr

#22. South Carolina

Average percentage of people married two or more times: 27.25%

Estimated population in 2016: 4,961,119
Number of people that never married: 1,257,490
Number of people that married once: 1,935,427
Number of people that married twice: 575,152
Number of people that married three times or more: 163,344

Martin H. // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Washington

Average percent of people married two or more times: 27.55%

Estimated population in 2016: 7,288,000
Number of people that never married: 1,767,698
Number of people that married once: 2,907,228
Number of people that married twice: 814,052
Number of people that married three times or more: 247,123

tableatny // Flickr

#20. Georgia

Average percent of people married two or more times: 27.55%

Estimated population in 2016: 10,310,371
Number of people that never married: 2,711,720
Number of people that married once: 3,836,104
Number of people that married twice: 1,123,769
Number of people that married three times or more: 353,066

#19. Louisiana

Average percent of people married two or more times: 27.55%

Estimated population in 2016: 4,681,666
Number of people that never married: 1,304,768
Number of people that married once: 1,755,577
Number of people that married twice: 503,238
Number of people that married three times or more: 152,495

#18. Maine

Average percent of people married two or more times: 27.65%

Estimated population in 2016: 1,331,479
Number of people that never married: 313,131
Number of people that married once: 580,639
Number of people that married twice: 178,271
Number of people that married three times or more: 46,362

Pixabay

#17. Arizona

Average percent of people married two or more times: 28.15%

Estimated population in 2016: 6,931,071
Number of people that never married: 1,774,778
Number of people that married once: 2,586,614
Number of people that married twice: 774,386
Number of people that married three times or more: 246,051

Dave Sizer // Flickr

#16. Montana

Average percent of people married two or more times: 28.45%

Estimated population in 2016: 1,042,520
Number of people that never married: 237,759
Number of people that married once: 427,179
Number of people that married twice: 130,056
Number of people that married three times or more: 40,613

Jasssmit // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Indiana

Average percent of people married two or more times: 28.55%

Estimated population in 2016: 6,633,053
Number of people that never married: 1,614,675
Number of people that married once: 2,606,193
Number of people that married twice: 790,132
Number of people that married three times or more: 269,033

Paxson Woelber // Flickr

#14. Alaska

Average percent of people married two or more times: 28.65%

Estimated population in 2016: 741,894
Number of people that never married: 200,106
Number of people that married once: 274,234
Number of people that married twice: 80,610
Number of people that married three times or more: 24,371

James McCauley // Flickr

#13. West Virginia

Average percent of people married two or more times: 28.7%

Estimated population in 2016: 1,831,102
Number of people that never married: 419,573
Number of people that married once: 778,320
Number of people that married twice: 255,755
Number of people that married three times or more: 78,513

Robert Lawton // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Missouri

Average percent of people married two or more times: 29%

Estimated population in 2016: 6,093,000
Number of people that never married: 1,482,368
Number of people that married once: 2,417,775
Number of people that married twice: 743,579
Number of people that married three times or more: 259,574

UltraView Admin // Flickr

#11. Florida

Average percent of people married two or more times: 29.95%

Estimated population in 2016: 20,612,439
Number of people that never married: 5,187,602
Number of people that married once: 8,021,785
Number of people that married twice: 2,583,283
Number of people that married three times or more: 785,211

Brent Moore // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Mississippi

Average percent of people married two or more times: 30%

Estimated population in 2016: 2,988,726
Number of people that never married: 797,540
Number of people that married once: 1,105,136
Number of people that married twice: 355,106
Number of people that married three times or more: 123,019

Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce // Flickr

#9. Idaho

Average percent of people married two or more times: 30.1%

Estimated population in 2016: 1,683,140
Number of people that never married: 340,362
Number of people that married once: 650,233
Number of people that married twice: 206,584
Number of people that married three times or more: 78,471

Tennessee Valley Authority // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Kentucky

Average percent of people married two or more times: 30.3%

Estimated population in 2016: 4,436,974
Number of people that never married: 1,008,934
Number of people that married once: 1,777,319
Number of people that married twice: 577,774
Number of people that married three times or more: 205,461

Jeffrey Johnson // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Oregon

Average percent of people married two or more times: 30.5%

Estimated population in 2016: 4,093,465
Number of people that never married: 991,647
Number of people that married once: 1,597,381
Number of people that married twice: 505,076
Number of people that married three times or more: 174,081

Colin.faulkingham // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Wyoming

Average percent of people married two or more times: 30.6%

Estimated population in 2016: 585,501
Number of people that never married: 126,641
Number of people that married once: 235,042
Number of people that married twice: 77,323
Number of people that married three times or more: 27,171

IIP Photo Archive // Flickr

#5. Alabama

Average percent of people married two or more times: 31.4%

Estimated population in 2016: 4,863,300
Number of people that never married: 1,181,823
Number of people that married once: 1,887,649
Number of people that married twice: 626,233
Number of people that married three times or more: 233,001

Samartur // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Nevada

Average percent of people married two or more times: 31.5%

Estimated population in 2016: 2,940,058
Number of people that never married: 747,539
Number of people that married once: 1,064,169
Number of people that married twice: 348,089
Number of people that married three times or more: 125,615

Todd Van Hoosear // Flickr

#3. Tennessee

Average percent of people married two or more times: 31.5%

Estimated population in 2016: 6,651,194
Number of people that never married: 1,561,788
Number of people that married once: 2,562,594
Number of people that married twice: 864,812
Number of people that married three times or more: 318,294

#2. Oklahoma

Average percent of people married two or more times: 33.6%

Estimated population in 2016: 3,923,561
Number of people that never married: 865,437
Number of people that married once: 1,472,506
Number of people that married twice: 525,588
Number of people that married three times or more: 214,057

#1. Arkansas

Average percent of people married two or more times: 34.55%

Estimated population in 2016: 2,988,248
Number of people that never married: 655,270
Number of people that married once: 1,123,886
Number of people that married twice: 415,272
Number of people that married three times or more: 186,047