Longest + Shortest Marriages by State: Where Pennsylvania Ranks

Some people wonder about the "secret sauce" that makes some marriages go the distance while others fizzle. From old-timers dishing out advice to experts writing books, many people claim they have the answer. A recent report suggests that the secret to a long-lasting marriage might have a lot to do with the place you call home.

For generations, the notion of a successful marriage has often been tied to abstract ideals like love, compatibility, and communication. Indeed, these elements do form the foundation of a thriving relationship, yet they might not be the sole contributors to longevity.

CNBC has a report on marriages that determines which states have the longest-lasting marriages and the places where marriages don’t last. They analyzed divorce data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Their findings revealed that the Northeast and Midwest are the regions where marriages tend to last the longest. West Virginia, Wisconsin, Vermont, Montana, and Michigan are standout states for enduring unions. Pennsylvania also joined the ranks of states that tend to go the distance with marriage. It has an average duration of about 21.8 years in the state according to the report.

On the other hand, Washington, D.C. takes the lead for the shortest marriages, with an average duration of 10.5 years. Alaska, Texas, Nevada, and Utah are not too far behind when it comes to relatively shorter unions.

Interestingly, the overall picture seems to be on the upswing. As mentioned in the report, marriages are now more successful than they were 20 years ago. Back in 2000, about half of all marriages ended in divorce or annulment. However, fast forward to 2021, and the statistics have improved significantly, with only four divorces for every ten marriages in the U.S. This marks a drop of about 20% and shows a positive trend in the realm of long-lasting relationships.

If you want to take a deeper dive into the report, you can check it out here.