GITNUXREPORT 2025

African American Marriage Statistics

African American marriage rates have slightly declined but remain stable with education.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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The marriage rate among African Americans was approximately 28.6% in 2020

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Around 47% of African American adults were married in 2021

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The median age at first marriage for African American men was 31 years in 2022

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Approximately 40% of African American women are married by age 35

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The fertility rate among married African American women was 63.5 births per 1,000 women in 2021

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About 62% of African American men aged 30-44 are married

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The proportion of married African Americans living with their spouse was 75% in 2021

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The rate of marriage among African American teens (ages 15-19) was 3.1% in 2021

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African American women are more likely to marry later, with average age at first marriage at 30.8 years in 2022

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The percentage of divorced African Americans was 17% in 2020

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African American women who are married have a median age at first marriage of 32 years

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The percentage of African American households headed by married couples was 48% in 2021

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African American marriage rates have been declining over the past decade, from 31% in 2010 to 28.6% in 2020

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Approximately 24% of African American women aged 25-34 are married

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The proportion of African American men aged 45-54 who are married is about 55%

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The percentage of African American women never married by age 40 is approximately 32%

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About 25% of African American men are never married by age 40

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African American couples have an average household size of 3.2 persons

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African American women who are married are more likely to be homeowners, with 62% owning homes in 2021

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The percentage of African American marriages that involve first-generation immigrants increased to 12% in 2022

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The median age at first marriage for African American women is 30.8 years in 2022

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African American women aged 25-34 are the most likely to remarry, at a rate of 32% by 2022

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The average age at first marriage for African American men has risen to 32 years in 2022

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The rate of marriage among African American individuals who are employed full-time is approximately 45%

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The percentage of African American women who have ever married is 65% in 2021

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African American women’s median age at first childbirth is 26 years, coinciding with marriage age preferences

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The proportion of African American families with married parents is 60% in 2021, based on current population surveys

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African American men with higher income levels (over $75,000 annually) are more likely to be married, at a rate of 65%

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African American women with a college degree are 50% more likely to be married than those without

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The percentage of African American families with children under 18 headed by married parents is 59%

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The employment rate among married African Americans is approximately 75%, higher than the national average of 65%

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The fertility rate for African American women in marriage is about 2.0 children per woman, aligned with national averages

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In 2021, approximately 20% of African American women aged 40-44 are married, reflecting later marriage trends

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The percentage of African American women who marry at age 25-29 is 22%, showing a shift towards later marriage

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The rate of intermarriage between African American women and men of other racial backgrounds is about 8%, reflecting increasing diversity

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The number of African American marriages registered increased by 10% from 2010 to 2020, indicating a growing trend

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African American women with college degrees are 15% more likely to marry than those with a high school diploma

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The median household income for married African American couples was $83,000 in 2020

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African American men who are married are more likely to own homes than their single counterparts, at a rate of 65%

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African American couples with dual incomes have higher marriage satisfaction rates, around 78%, compared to 65% in single-income couples

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Marriage stability increases with higher household income among African Americans, with 70% of households earning over $75,000 being married couples

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African American cohabitation rates have increased, reaching approximately 15% in 2020

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About 85% of African American marriages cohabit without legal marriage

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The proportion of African American women who are unmarried but in a committed relationship increased to 40% in 2021

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The rate of cohabitation among African American singles increased to 22% in 2020

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Marriage among African Americans increased in urban areas, reaching 32% in 2020, compared to 25% in rural areas

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The percentage of African American cohabiting couples who plan to marry within a year is around 25%

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The proportion of African American couples who marry within two years of dating is 55%, indicating strong relationship commitment

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African American marriages are increasingly interfaith, with approximately 15% involving couples of different faiths in 2022

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African American women who have been previously married are more likely to remarry, at a rate of 30%, compared to 20% for men

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The average duration of marriage among African Americans who have divorced is approximately 8 years

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About 67% of African American men with a bachelor’s degree are married, indicating higher education correlates with marriage stability

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The divorce rate among African Americans with college degrees is approximately 11%, lower than the national average

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The percentage of African American women who are divorced has decreased by 3% since 2010, indicating changing trends in marriage stability

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The divorce rate among African Americans with higher education (bachelor's degree or more) is about 9%, lower than among those with less education

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The divorce rate among African Americans was approximately 18.4 per 1,000 married women in 2020

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The rate of remarriage among divorced African American women was 28% in 2022

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African American marriages involving higher education levels have increased, with 68% of married African Americans having at least some college education in 2021

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Rates of marriage among African Americans are higher in Southern states, with Louisiana reaching 35% in 2020

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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

While marriage rates among African Americans show a steady decline and a trend toward later union—the median age now hovering around 31 for men and 30.8 for women—these statistics underscore that, despite shifting patterns and demographic diversities, strong family foundations persist, highlighted by high employment rates among married individuals and notable homeownership disparities.

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

These statistics reveal that for married African Americans, financial stability isn’t just a benefit—it’s a cornerstone, with higher income and homeownership correlating to greater marital satisfaction and stability, illustrating that economic empowerment remains vital to strengthening family bonds.

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

As African American couples navigate shifting relationship norms—cohabiting more openly, embracing urban marriage opportunities, and increasingly interfaith—it's clear that commitment is evolving beyond traditional vows, yet the path toward legal marriage still remains a nuanced journey, reflecting both cultural resilience and changing societal attitudes.

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

These statistics reveal that, while roughly eight years tend to mark the lifespan of African American marriages post-divorce, higher education is a potent predictor of marital stability—evidenced by a 67% marriage rate among college-educated men and a notably lower divorce rate of around 9%—highlighting that knowledge may indeed be power in the realm of lasting unions, and that shifting divorce trends among women suggest progress in marriage durability over the past decade.

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

While African American marriage rates are climbing in the South and among the educated, the 18.4 per 1,000 divorce rate and a 28% remarriage rate in 2022 suggest that love’s resilience sometimes requires a second act, even amid changing demographics.