Key Highlights
- The marriage rate among African Americans was approximately 28.6% in 2020
- Around 47% of African American adults were married in 2021
- The median age at first marriage for African American men was 31 years in 2022
- The divorce rate among African Americans was approximately 18.4 per 1,000 married women in 2020
- Approximately 40% of African American women are married by age 35
- The fertility rate among married African American women was 63.5 births per 1,000 women in 2021
- About 62% of African American men aged 30-44 are married
- The proportion of married African Americans living with their spouse was 75% in 2021
- African American cohabitation rates have increased, reaching approximately 15% in 2020
- The median household income for married African American couples was $83,000 in 2020
- About 85% of African American marriages cohabit without legal marriage
- The rate of marriage among African American teens (ages 15-19) was 3.1% in 2021
- African American women are more likely to marry later, with average age at first marriage at 30.8 years in 2022
Despite evolving social trends and shifting demographics, African American marriage patterns reveal a nuanced landscape marked by declining rates, increasing tendencies toward cohabitation, later marriage ages, and the transformative influence of education and income on relationship stability.
Demographics and Age at Marriage
- The marriage rate among African Americans was approximately 28.6% in 2020
- Around 47% of African American adults were married in 2021
- The median age at first marriage for African American men was 31 years in 2022
- Approximately 40% of African American women are married by age 35
- The fertility rate among married African American women was 63.5 births per 1,000 women in 2021
- About 62% of African American men aged 30-44 are married
- The proportion of married African Americans living with their spouse was 75% in 2021
- The rate of marriage among African American teens (ages 15-19) was 3.1% in 2021
- African American women are more likely to marry later, with average age at first marriage at 30.8 years in 2022
- The percentage of divorced African Americans was 17% in 2020
- African American women who are married have a median age at first marriage of 32 years
- The percentage of African American households headed by married couples was 48% in 2021
- African American marriage rates have been declining over the past decade, from 31% in 2010 to 28.6% in 2020
- Approximately 24% of African American women aged 25-34 are married
- The proportion of African American men aged 45-54 who are married is about 55%
- The percentage of African American women never married by age 40 is approximately 32%
- About 25% of African American men are never married by age 40
- African American couples have an average household size of 3.2 persons
- African American women who are married are more likely to be homeowners, with 62% owning homes in 2021
- The percentage of African American marriages that involve first-generation immigrants increased to 12% in 2022
- The median age at first marriage for African American women is 30.8 years in 2022
- African American women aged 25-34 are the most likely to remarry, at a rate of 32% by 2022
- The average age at first marriage for African American men has risen to 32 years in 2022
- The rate of marriage among African American individuals who are employed full-time is approximately 45%
- The percentage of African American women who have ever married is 65% in 2021
- African American women’s median age at first childbirth is 26 years, coinciding with marriage age preferences
- The proportion of African American families with married parents is 60% in 2021, based on current population surveys
- African American men with higher income levels (over $75,000 annually) are more likely to be married, at a rate of 65%
- African American women with a college degree are 50% more likely to be married than those without
- The percentage of African American families with children under 18 headed by married parents is 59%
- The employment rate among married African Americans is approximately 75%, higher than the national average of 65%
- The fertility rate for African American women in marriage is about 2.0 children per woman, aligned with national averages
- In 2021, approximately 20% of African American women aged 40-44 are married, reflecting later marriage trends
- The percentage of African American women who marry at age 25-29 is 22%, showing a shift towards later marriage
- The rate of intermarriage between African American women and men of other racial backgrounds is about 8%, reflecting increasing diversity
- The number of African American marriages registered increased by 10% from 2010 to 2020, indicating a growing trend
- African American women with college degrees are 15% more likely to marry than those with a high school diploma
Demographics and Age at Marriage Interpretation
Household Income and Socioeconomic Factors
- The median household income for married African American couples was $83,000 in 2020
- African American men who are married are more likely to own homes than their single counterparts, at a rate of 65%
- African American couples with dual incomes have higher marriage satisfaction rates, around 78%, compared to 65% in single-income couples
- Marriage stability increases with higher household income among African Americans, with 70% of households earning over $75,000 being married couples
Household Income and Socioeconomic Factors Interpretation
Marriage Patterns and Cohabitation
- African American cohabitation rates have increased, reaching approximately 15% in 2020
- About 85% of African American marriages cohabit without legal marriage
- The proportion of African American women who are unmarried but in a committed relationship increased to 40% in 2021
- The rate of cohabitation among African American singles increased to 22% in 2020
- Marriage among African Americans increased in urban areas, reaching 32% in 2020, compared to 25% in rural areas
- The percentage of African American cohabiting couples who plan to marry within a year is around 25%
- The proportion of African American couples who marry within two years of dating is 55%, indicating strong relationship commitment
- African American marriages are increasingly interfaith, with approximately 15% involving couples of different faiths in 2022
- African American women who have been previously married are more likely to remarry, at a rate of 30%, compared to 20% for men
Marriage Patterns and Cohabitation Interpretation
Marriage Stability and Education Influence
- The average duration of marriage among African Americans who have divorced is approximately 8 years
- About 67% of African American men with a bachelor’s degree are married, indicating higher education correlates with marriage stability
- The divorce rate among African Americans with college degrees is approximately 11%, lower than the national average
- The percentage of African American women who are divorced has decreased by 3% since 2010, indicating changing trends in marriage stability
- The divorce rate among African Americans with higher education (bachelor's degree or more) is about 9%, lower than among those with less education
Marriage Stability and Education Influence Interpretation
Marriage and Divorce Rates
- The divorce rate among African Americans was approximately 18.4 per 1,000 married women in 2020
- The rate of remarriage among divorced African American women was 28% in 2022
- African American marriages involving higher education levels have increased, with 68% of married African Americans having at least some college education in 2021
- Rates of marriage among African Americans are higher in Southern states, with Louisiana reaching 35% in 2020
Marriage and Divorce Rates Interpretation
Sources & References
- Reference 1CDCResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 2CENSUSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 3URBANResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 4PEWFORUMResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 5BROOKINGSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 6NCESResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 7PEWRESEARCHResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 8BLSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 9PEWSOCIALTRENDSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source