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Divorce and marriage rates down in U.S.

NEWARK, N.J., July 18 (UPI) -- Both divorce and marriage rates are declining in the United States in what a Rutgers University sociologist describes as bad news for children.

The New Jersey university's annual "The State of our Unions" report released Monday said the U.S. divorce rate is 17.7 per 1,000 married women, down from 22.6 in 1980. The marriage rate also fell 50 percent since 1970 from 76.5 per 1,000 unmarried women to 39.9.

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Researchers said the numbers suggest couples who once might have wed and then divorced now are not marrying at all, USA Today reported.

"I don't think it's good news, especially for children," said Rutgers sociology Professor David Popenoe. "As society shifts from marriage to cohabitation -- which is what's happening -- you have an increase in family instability."

The report also said the United States has the lowest percentage -- 63 percent -- among Western nations of children who grow up with both biological parents.

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