Any way to translate this divorce rate stat into a %?

Factual Questions
1

I’m no statistician. Is it possible to say that 1.67% of current marriages will end in divorce this year? Or is some similar percentage statement possible?

2

That’s how I’d read it.

3

Your percentage is right, but I don’t see how a 2005 number necessarily relates to 2008. Also two numbers do not make a trend.

4

Here’s a chart showing the divorce rate in the U.S. since 1950:

http://www.bsos.umd.edu/socy/vanneman/socy441/trends/divorce.html

The rate rose rather fast between about 1958 and 1981, but it’s fallen slowly since then.

5

You’re right. I should have said “…in 2005” instead of “…this year.” And I was less concerned about determining a trend than getting a relatively current number.