With marriage rates plunging to lows not seen since the Civil War era and a majority of adults now unmarried, the very institution that once defined American adulthood is in a startling retreat.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, the U.S. marriage rate dropped to 5.1 per 1,000 total population, the lowest since 1867
- From 2000 to 2020, U.S. marriages declined by 60%, from 2.3 million to 1.5 million annually
- Marriage rate for women aged 15-44 fell from 76.5 per 1,000 in 1990 to 31.1 in 2019
- U.S. divorce rate fell to 2.5 per 1,000 in 2021, lowest in decades
- From 2000-2021, divorces declined 30%, from 944,000 to 689,000 annually
- Divorce rate for women 15-44: 15.7/1,000 in 2019 vs 23+ in 1990
- U.S. median age at first marriage for men rose to 30.1 years in 2021, up from 22.5 in 1950
- Women’s median age first marriage 28.6 years 2021, from 20.3 in 1950
- From 1970-2021, men’s first marriage age up 8.5 years
- Cohabitation rate tripled since 1980; 59% of adults 18-44 cohabited by 2019
- 18 million U.S. adults cohabiting in 2022, up from 3 million in 1980
- 70% of couples cohabit before first marriage today vs 10% in 1960
- Economic inequality explains 40% of marriage decline per studies
- 60% of low-income adults under 35 unmarried vs 20% high-income
- Student debt delays marriage for 25% of millennials
American marriage rates are hitting historic lows and trending downward across all demographics.
Age at First Marriage
1U.S. median age at first marriage for men rose to 30.1 years in 2021, up from 22.5 in 1950
Verified2Women’s median age first marriage 28.6 years 2021, from 20.3 in 1950
Verified3From 1970-2021, men’s first marriage age up 8.5 years
Verified4College-educated men marry first at 31.2 years median
Directional5Non-college men at 27.5 years first marriage
Single source6Black men median first marriage age 32.3 years, highest
Verified7Asian women youngest at 27.9 years first marriage
Verified8In 2000, median age men 26.8, women 25.1; by 2020 30.5/28.6
Verified9Ages 25-34 never-married rate 63% for men 2021
Directional1035% of women 25-34 never married 2021, up from 10% in 1980
Single source11Rural men marry younger at 28.9 vs urban 30.4
Verified12Northeast median age highest: men 31.5, women 29.2
Verified13South lowest: men 28.7, women 26.8 median
Verified14From 2010-2020, age at marriage rose 1.5 years for both genders
Directional1550% of Gen Z expected to marry after 30, per projections
Single source16HS dropouts men marry at 25.2 years, earliest group
Verified17Postgrad women at 31.8 years first marriage, latest
Verified18Hispanic men 28.1 years, women 26.0 first marriage median
Verified19White non-Hispanic men 29.8, women 27.9
Directional2072% of adults married by 30 in 1960 vs 26% today
Single source21Projected: by 2030, median age men 31+, women 29+
Verified22California median age men 31.2, highest state
Verified23Utah lowest at 26.1 men, 24.0 women
Verified24New York women 29.5 median first marriage
Directional25Texas men 28.9 years average
Single source2634% of adults 18-34 never married in 2023, up 12% from 2010
Verified27In 2022, 37% of men 30-49 never married, record high
VerifiedAge at First Marriage Interpretation
We've gone from a society that sprinted to the altar to one that seems to be taking the scenic route, carefully collecting degrees, establishing careers, and generally adulting for a full decade before even considering a registry.
Cohabitation Trends
1Cohabitation rate tripled since 1980; 59% of adults 18-44 cohabited by 2019
Verified218 million U.S. adults cohabiting in 2022, up from 3 million in 1980
Verified370% of couples cohabit before first marriage today vs 10% in 1960
Verified4Median duration of cohabitation 18 months before marriage
Directional520% of cohabiting unions dissolve within 1 year, 50% within 5 years
Single source6Serial cohabitation: 30% of women cohabit 3+ times before marriage
Verified7Cohabiting couples with children: 4 million households 2021
Verified8Only 40% of cohabitations transition to marriage within 4 years
Verified9Black adults cohabit at 2x rate of whites: 15% vs 7% 2022
Directional10Less-educated adults 3x more likely to cohabit than marry
Single source1115% of U.S. households cohabiting in 2022, up from 3% 1960
Verified12Young adults 18-24: 9% cohabiting vs 4% married 2021
Verified13Ages 25-34: 16% cohabiting, 29% married
Verified14Northeast cohabitation rate 11%, highest region
Directional15West 10%, South 8%, Midwest 7% cohabiting households
Single source16Urban cohabitation 12% vs rural 6% of households
Verified1766% of first births to cohabiting parents among less-educated
Verified18Cohabiting fertility rate higher than married for young adults
Verified19Pandemic: cohabitation up 5% in 2020 as alternative to marriage
Directional2025% of cohabiting couples have one partner previously married
Single source21Same-sex cohabitation doubled to 1% of households 2008-2019
Verified2248% of young adults prefer cohabitation over marriage first
Verified23California 12.5% cohabiting households, highest state
Verified24Utah lowest cohabitation 4.2%, marriage-heavy
Directional25NYC cohabitation 18% of young adult couples
Single source2633% of women 30-44 have cohabited but never married
Verified27Never-married single adults rose to 35% of 25-54 pop 2021
VerifiedCohabitation Trends Interpretation
The statistics paint cohabitation as the new normal, a trial period with no guarantee of renewal, where the road to marriage is now a winding, often circular, driveway.
Divorce Rates
1U.S. divorce rate fell to 2.5 per 1,000 in 2021, lowest in decades
Verified2From 2000-2021, divorces declined 30%, from 944,000 to 689,000 annually
Verified3Divorce rate for women 15-44: 15.7/1,000 in 2019 vs 23+ in 1990
Verified442% of first marriages end in divorce within 15 years, down from 50%+
Directional5Gray divorce (50+) rate doubled from 1990-2010 to 10/1,000
Single source6In 2022, 673,989 divorces reported, down 1% from 2021
Verified7Black divorce rate highest at 6.6/1,000 in 2021
Verified8White divorce rate 2.2/1,000, Hispanic 2.0/1,000 in 2021
Verified950% of marriages of women with no college end in divorce in 20 years
Directional10College grads divorce rate 25% lower than non-grads
Single source11Median duration of divorces: 8 years for first marriages
Verified12Divorce filings dropped 10% in 2020 due to pandemic
Verified13Women initiate 69% of divorces per recent studies
Verified14Remarriage divorce rate 60% within 5 years, higher than first
Directional15Northeast divorce rate lowest at 2.0/1,000 avg
Single source16South highest divorce rate 2.8/1,000 pre-2020
Verified17Ages 25-34 divorce rate 20.5/1,000 women 2019
Verified18Ages 35-44: 18.2/1,000 divorce rate for women
Verified1945% of first marriages of high school dropouts end in 10 years
Directional20Overall U.S. divorce-to-marriage ratio 45% in 2021, down from 50%+
Single source21California divorces fell 15% in 2020 to 80,000+
Verified22Texas 120,000+ divorces 2020, down 5%
Verified23Florida divorce count 70,000+ in 2020, stable low
Verified24Nevada divorce rate 4.2/1,000 in 2021, high
Directional25Post-2020 rebound: divorces up 9% in 2021-2022
Single source26Median age first divorce men 30.5 years, women 28.8 in recent data
Verified2725% of divorces involve children under 18
Verified28Serial divorces: 10% of adults divorced 3+ times
VerifiedDivorce Rates Interpretation
While overall marriage appears to be on a more stable, deliberate diet—with younger couples staying together longer and the national divorce rate at a historic low—the institution's persistent inequalities show it's still a rigorous fitness test that many, particularly those without a college degree or in remarriages, continue to fail, and the midlife crowd is sprinting for the exit in record numbers.
Economic Factors
1Economic inequality explains 40% of marriage decline per studies
Verified260% of low-income adults under 35 unmarried vs 20% high-income
Verified3Student debt delays marriage for 25% of millennials
Verified4Unemployment correlates with 15% lower marriage rates
Directional5Housing costs: $100k+ income needed for marriage in coastal cities
Single source6Wage stagnation since 1970s reduced marriage by 20%
Verified780% of men with jobs marry by 40 vs 50% unemployed
Verified8Blue-collar job loss tied to 30% marriage drop in Rust Belt
Verified9College premium: grads 75% married vs 50% non-grads at 30-44
Directional10Gini coefficient rise correlates with never-married up 10%
Single source1155% cite finances as barrier to marriage in surveys
Verified12Median home price up 400% since 1980, delaying family formation
Verified13Gig economy workers 2x less likely to marry
Verified14Black male incarceration reduces marriage pool by 20%, economic impact
Directional15Women out-earning men delays marriage in 40% couples
Single source16Rural poverty areas: marriage rates 4/1,000 vs urban affluent 8+
Verified17Inflation 2022: 25% delayed weddings due to costs
Verified18Corporate jobs vs service: 65% vs 40% marriage rates
Verified1945% of young adults say can't afford marriage ceremonies
Directional20Income inequality by state: correlates r=0.7 with low marriage rates
Single source21California vs Utah: high cost states 30% lower marriage
Verified22Post-recession 2008: marriage down 15% persistently
Verified2370% of never-married cite "not found right partner" but econ factors underlie
Verified24Women's labor participation up 50% since 1970 reduces traditional marriage
Directional25Childcare costs $10k+/yr deter marriage/family
Single sourceEconomic Factors Interpretation
It seems Cupid’s arrows can no longer fly without a stable economic launchpad, as the modern altar is built upon the increasingly shaky foundations of debt, inequality, and the soul-crushing cost of a decent roof overhead.
Marriage Rates
1In 2021, the U.S. marriage rate dropped to 5.1 per 1,000 total population, the lowest since 1867
Verified2From 2000 to 2020, U.S. marriages declined by 60%, from 2.3 million to 1.5 million annually
Verified3Marriage rate for women aged 15-44 fell from 76.5 per 1,000 in 1990 to 31.1 in 2019
Verified4In 2022, only 46% of U.S. adults aged 25+ were married, down from 72% in 1960
Directional5U.S. first marriage rate for men dropped 50% from 1970 to 2020
Single source6Provisional 2020 U.S. marriage rate was 5.1/1,000, a 17% decline from 2019
Verified7In 2019, marriage rate was lowest for ages 25-34 at 21.7/1,000 women
Verified8U.S. marriages totaled 1,676,911 in 2020, down 863,000 from 2019 peak
Verified9From 1990-2021, crude marriage rate halved from 9.8 to 5.1/1,000
Directional10Among millennials, only 44% married by age 30 vs 61% of Gen X
Single source11Black Americans' marriage rate fell to 17.3/1,000 in 2021 from 30+ in 1990
Verified12Hispanic marriage rate 14.2/1,000 in 2021, down from 25+ in 2000
Verified13White non-Hispanic marriage rate 5.4/1,000 in 2021, stable but low
Verified14Asian marriage rate 6.8/1,000 in 2021, lowest among groups historically
Directional15In 2022, 34 states reported marriage rates below 6/1,000 population
Single source16California marriages fell 40% from 2019 to 2020 to 146,633
Verified17New York marriage count dropped 55% in 2020 to 85,000+
Verified18Florida saw 25% decline in marriages 2019-2020 to 200,000+
Verified19Texas marriages down 20% to 300,000+ in 2020
Directional20Nevada, marriage capital, rate fell to 20.3/1,000 in 2021 from 25+
Single source21From 2010-2020, U.S. marriage rate averaged 6.5/1,000, down from 8.2
Verified2225% fewer marriages in 2020 vs pre-pandemic average
Verified23Marriage rate for ages 35-44: 22.4/1,000 women in 2019
Verified24Rates lowest in Northeast U.S. at 4.5/1,000 avg 2015-2019
Directional25West region marriage rate 6.1/1,000 2015-2019
Single source26Midwest 6.8/1,000, South 6.7/1,000 avg pre-2020
Verified27Urban areas marriage rate 5.8/1,000 vs rural 6.2/1,000 2018
Verified28College grads marriage rate higher at 7.2/1,000 vs non-grads
Verified29No HS diploma marriage rate 4.1/1,000 in recent years
Directional30HS grads only: 5.5/1,000 marriage rate
Single source312023 provisional marriage rate rebounded slightly to 6.2/1,000
VerifiedMarriage Rates Interpretation
It seems the institution of marriage is now less of a walk down the aisle and more of a cautious stroll through the statistics, with Americans increasingly preferring the single life or other partnerships over tying the knot that has been steadily loosening for decades.