A recently released 2009 report from the U.S. Census found that divorce rates vary by region, and are highest in the South, including Georgia. Highest Divorce Rates By State: New Data From'Marital Events of Americans: 2009' Report, by Ashley Reich, The Huffington Post, August 25, 2011. According to this article analyzing the census report, divorce rates are highest in thesouthern states, and lowest in the Northeast. The national average is 9.2 divorces per 1,000 men and 9.7 divorces per 1,000 women. In the south (which includes Georgia), however, there are 10.2divorces per 1,000 men and 11.1 divorces per 1,000 women. Id. The state with the highest divorce rate for men is Arkansas with 13.5 divorces per 1,000 men. Id. Alaska has thehighest divorce rate for women, with 16.2 divorces per 1,000 women. Id.
According to Diana Elliott, a family demographer at the Census Bureau, "Divorce rates tend to be higher in the South because marriage rates are also higher in the south. In contrast, in theNortheast, first marriages tend to be delayed and the marriage rates are lower, meaning there are also fewer divorces." Id.