What percentage of couples divorce in the first year of marriage?

Only a small share of marriages end in the first year, and no official US statistic tracks year one on its own. The best benchmark comes from the CDC's National Survey of Family Growth: about 20% of first marriages end in separation or divorce within five years, and about a third within ten (Bramlett and Mosher, National Center for Health Statistics, 2002). Because that five-year figure is spread across all five years, the chance of a marriage ending in year one, or between years one and two, is a small fraction of it. The first year is rarely the end; it is very often the hardest adjustment.

What are the odds of divorce between year one and year two?

Low, but not zero, and higher than in year one. Survey data consistently show that the risk of divorce is highest in the early years of marriage, peaking somewhere in years two to eight rather than in the first twelve months, and then falling the longer a marriage lasts. In practice, that means most couples who struggle in year one and year two are going through a normal, predictable adjustment, not heading for divorce. What does matter is how you handle conflict while you adjust, which the rest of this guide covers.

If you're in your first year and wondering if the struggles you're facing are normal, you're not alone. The first year of marriage is a major transition, and many couples experience increased conflict, disappointment, and loneliness. The good news is that these challenges are predictable, and you can work through them together.

Why the first year is so hard for many couples

Before marriage, you might have lived separately, had your own routines, and only shared the fun parts of life. After the wedding, the pressure of merging finances, dividing chores, and navigating in-laws can create tension. It's not a sign your relationship is doomed, it's a sign you're both adjusting.

Research from the Gottman Institute shows that 69% of conflict in marriage is about perpetual problems that never fully go away. In the first year, couples often fight about these differences for the first time. It feels jarring, but it's actually healthy: you're learning to navigate your differences together.

What predicts early divorce?

Early divorce is uncommon, but certain behaviors make it more likely. Gottman identified the four horsemen of divorce, criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. Couples who use these communication patterns often struggle more. In particular, contempt (sarcasm, eye-rolling, name-calling) is the single strongest predictor of divorce.

Other risk factors include:

• Getting married very young (under 20)
• Having a child before marriage
• Low income or financial stress
• A history of divorce in your family

But these are just factors, not fate. Many couples with these risk factors build strong marriages by learning to communicate well.

How to build a strong foundation in year one

The first year is the perfect time to establish habits that protect your marriage for the long haul. Here's what helps:

• Turn toward each other's bids. A bid is any attempt to connect, a comment, a question, a touch. When you notice and respond positively, you build trust. Gottman found that couples who turn toward each other 86% of the time stay married.
• Create a shared ritual. Whether it's a weekly date night, a morning coffee together, or a nightly check-in, small routines create a sense of teamwork.
• Learn to repair after a fight. Arguments happen. What matters is how you come back together. A simple apology or a hug can reset the connection. For more on this, read our guide on how to apologize in a way that actually heals.
• Talk about your expectations. You both have assumptions about how marriage should work, talk them out openly. What does quality time look like to each of you? How do you handle money? These conversations prevent resentment.

When to seek extra support

It's normal to have disagreements, but if you feel stuck in the same argument over and over, or if one of you shuts down frequently, it can help to talk to a professional. Many couples find that a few sessions of online couples therapy gives them tools to communicate better. You don't have to wait for a crisis, early intervention can prevent bigger problems later.

If cost is a concern, there are free relationship counseling options that can help.

Common questions

Is it normal to feel disconnected in the first year?

Yes. It's very common to feel a sense of loss or loneliness after the wedding highs fade. You're both adjusting to a new shared identity. That adjustment takes time and honest conversation. You're not broken, you're just in transition.

What percentage of couples divorce within 5 years?

About 20% of first marriages end in separation or divorce within the first five years, according to the CDC's National Survey of Family Growth. The risk is higher in the early years than later on. That's why building strong patterns early matters so much. If you're thinking about divorce, it's worth reading Thinking about divorce? Read this first for perspective.

Can a marriage survive a rough first year?

Absolutely. Most rough first years lead to stronger marriages if both partners are willing to learn from the struggles. The key is to avoid the four horsemen and stay curious about each other's needs. Many couples look back on their first year as the time they really learned to work as a team.

The first year can feel overwhelming, but it's also a foundation you're building together. Small, consistent efforts to understand each other make all the difference.

When you are ready to try this with some support, Coupleship gives the two of you one shared room with a Gottman-based guide, plus a private line that stays just yours. You can start alone, free and without a card.