Cancún, Quintana Roo — As storefronts fill with hearts and red flowers for Valentine’s Day, official statistics tell a different story about marriage in Mexico. One in three marriages ended in divorce in 2024, according to data from INEGI, the national statistics agency.
The average marriage lasted approximately 12 years before divorce, with a national divorce rate of 1.79 per 1,000 adults aged 18 and older.
Most divorces — about 67% — were processed as “no-fault” dissolutions that don’t require stating a reason, while mutual consent accounted for over 31% of cases.
State-by-State Breakdown
While national figures show stable trends, significant regional differences exist. Quintana Roo ranked 10th among states with the highest divorce rates per 1,000 adult residents in 2024, with approximately 2.2 divorces per 1,000 people.
Campeche, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas recorded the highest divorce rates, significantly above the national average. States like Veracruz, Chiapas and Estado de México reported lower rates.
Expert Analysis
Family sociology experts say these figures reflect changing relationship dynamics, individual expectations and reduced social barriers to formal separation. While marriage remains a life goal for many, the statistics show a social context where unions may dissolve after more than a decade together.
On this Valentine’s Day, the numbers serve as a reminder that human relationships, while celebrated, also face challenges requiring emotional support, communication and, in some cases, complex legal decisions for those choosing to end their marriages.
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