The latest divorce statistics show that the divorce rate in the United States is lower than ever in modern times. To go along with this, the rate of marriage has also been decreasing. In this guide, you’ll find more detail on these figures and trends, and a look at what may be the cause of it all.

The most recent annual data is from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and references 2014. Figures for 2015 have not yet been published as of this time, and all figures here are from the CDC.

In 2014, the divorce rate in the U.S. fell to 3.2 per 1,000 people. This has been on the downward swing consistently since the year 2000, when the rate was 4.0 per 1,000 people. But it’s not a new trend since 2000, either. In 1990, the rate was 4.7 per 1,000, and in 1981, the rate was 5.3 per 1,000. So year by year and decade by decade, less people are getting divorced in the United States.

Now, let’s take a look at the marriage rate in the United States. In 2014, it fell to 6.9 per 1,000 people. This also represents a new modern low point. In 2000, the figure was 8.2 per 1,000 people, and along with the divorce rate, it has also been consistently falling.

So what’s to explain this? One likely answer is that the two numbers are actually related. This would mean that the individuals who are now not getting married are the same individuals who would have been more likely to get a divorce.

It’s perhaps more culturally acceptable to not prioritize marriage now, and to focus on other personal or professional goals, or to hold off until later in life. As such, these individuals may be opting not to get married entirely, instead of making and perhaps regretting the decision. But this is just one piece of the answer as well.

To go along with the lower rate of divorce, you also have to consider the immigrants who enter the country. Many are from cultures where divorce is much more highly stigmatized than it is here. Certain ethnic groups may have a divorce rate of essentially 0%, and when high numbers of those individuals enter the country, then that has the power to incrementally move the entire divorce rate down.

As one final point, fewer divorces also means fewer individuals available to get remarried. So less divorces means a smaller pool of people who are back in the eligible category for marriage, helping to further reduce that figure as well.

Regardless of the latest divorce trends and statistics though, it’s always important to analyze your own situation based upon what’s best for you. If you may be in need of divorce, be sure to consult with an experienced attorney in your local area. Either way, it’s intriguing to look at the most recent data and what that says about the state of marriage and divorce in the U.S. right now.