Nearly 70 percent of divorces are initiated by the wife. In addition, over 50% of divorced wives never want to remarry while only about 30% of men express that same sentiment. Seeing as most divorces are initiated by women, men can use this statistic to make sure they are being mindful of their wives' needs and wants.

Statistically, women initiate divorce significantly more often than men. Research consistently shows that in heterosexual marriages in the United States, women are the ones to file for divorce in approximately 69% to 70% of cases. This trend has remained stable through 2026 and is often attributed to several factors: women often report higher levels of emotional dissatisfaction, a greater "mental load" regarding domestic responsibilities, and a lower tolerance for marital conflict. Interestingly, this gender gap does not exist in non-marital breakups (dating or cohabiting), where men and women initiate endings at roughly equal rates. Sociologists suggest that because marriage historically offered more institutional benefits to men, women may feel more empowered in the modern era to exit a partnership that no longer meets their emotional or personal growth needs.