The US marriage rate hit a historic low of 5.1 per 1,000 people in 2021. This long-term decline coincides with a significant rise in the median age for a first marriage. The data reveals stark differences in who marries, shaped by education, race, and geography.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, US women aged 25-29 had median age at first marriage of 28.6 years
- College-educated US women have 78% first marriage rate by age 40 vs 48% for less educated
- US marriage rate peaked at 16.4 per 1,000 in 1946 post-WWII
- Globally, marriage rate in 2021 averaged 4.5 per 1,000 across 100+ countries
- In 2022, the US crude marriage rate was 6.2 per 1,000 total population according to provisional data
- Nevada had the highest US state marriage rate in 2021 at 25.9 per 1,000 population
Marriage rates have declined in recent years, signaling shifting attitudes toward long term commitments.
Related reading
01 · Category
Age-Specific Marriage Rates20 stats
01
In 2021, US women aged 25-29 had median age at first marriage of 28.6 years
02
Median age at first marriage for US men 2021: 30.1 years for ages 25-29 cohort
03
18-19 year olds US first marriage rate 2020: 5 per 1,000 population
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US women 30-34 first marriage rate 2021: 35.7 per 1,000 unmarried women
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Men aged 25-29 US first marriage rate 2021: 42.3 per 1,000 unmarried men
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Teen marriage rate (15-19) US 2021: down 75% since 1970 to 4.7 per 1,000
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US women 20-24 first marriage rate 2021: 25.1 per 1,000 unmarried
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Men 30-34 US first marriage rate 2021: 43.2 per 1,000 unmarried men
09
35-39 women US first marriage rate 2021: 22.8 per 1,000 unmarried
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Historical median age first marriage US women rose from 20.3 in 1950 to 28.6 in 2021
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US boys 15-19 first marriage rate 2021: 2.8 per 1,000 unmarried
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Women 40-44 US first marriage rate 2021: 10.5 per 1,000 unmarried
13
Men 20-24 first marriage rate US 2021: 22.4 per 1,000
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25-29 men US remarriage rate 2021: 18.7 per 1,000 married men
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Median first marriage age US men 1980: 24.7 years, rose to 30.1 by 2021
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Girls 15-17 US marriage rate 2021: 1.2 per 1,000 unmarried
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30-34 women remarriage US 2021: 15.3 per 1,000 married women
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US 18-19 women first marriage 2021: 8.4 per 1,000 unmarried
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Men 35+ first marriage rates peaked at 25.6 per 1,000 for 35-39 in 2021
20
Women 25-29 remarriage US 2021: 12.9 per 1,000 married
Interpretation
Age-Specific Marriage Rates Interpretation
It seems we’ve collectively decided to treat marriage less like a race and more like a carefully negotiated merger, waiting until our late twenties and thirties to finally sign the partnership agreement, with the teens wisely opting out altogether.
02 · Category
Demographic-Specific Rates18 stats
01
College-educated US women have 78% first marriage rate by age 40 vs 48% for less educated
02
Black Americans marriage rate 2021: 4.1 per 1,000 vs 10.7 for whites
03
Hispanic US marriage rate 2021: 6.0 per 1,000 population
04
Asian Americans highest marriage rate 2021: 11.8 per 1,000
05
US men with bachelor's degree: 67% married by age 40 vs 48% high school only
06
Never-married rate for US adults 25+ rose from 9% in 1960 to 35% in 2021
07
Low-income US adults (<$30k) marriage rate 20% lower than high-income
08
Urban US areas marriage rate 2021: 5.2 per 1,000 vs 7.1 rural
09
Same-sex marriage rate US post-Obergefell 2015-2021 averaged 1.2 per 1,000
10
US adults with postgraduate degree: 65% married vs 50% overall
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Native American/Alaska Native marriage rate 2021: 5.3 per 1,000
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White non-Hispanic US rate 2021: 5.9 per 1,000
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Same-sex female couples US marriages 2021: 0.8 per 1,000
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High school graduates US marriage by 30: 58% vs 72% college grads
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Suburban US marriage rate 2021: 6.4 per 1,000 vs urban 4.9
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US adults 50+ remarriage rate higher at 12% vs first marriages
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Immigrants US marriage rate 2021: 7.2 per 1,000 higher than natives
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Religious US adults marriage rate 60% higher than unaffiliated
Interpretation
Demographic-Specific Rates Interpretation
Marriage in America is a tale of two economies, a racial achievement gap, and a postgraduate project, but one that persistently favors those with a degree, a steady income, and a pew to sit on.
03 · Category
Historical Trends20 stats
01
US marriage rate peaked at 16.4 per 1,000 in 1946 post-WWII
02
In 1970, US marriage rate was 10.6 per 1,000 population
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1990 US marriage rate: 9.8 per 1,000
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2000 US marriage rate: 8.2 per 1,000 with 2,329,000 marriages
05
1950 US marriage rate: 11.1 per 1,000 population
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From 1940-1960, US marriage rates averaged 12.5 per 1,000 amid baby boom
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1980 US marriage rate: 10.6 per 1,000, similar to 1970 levels
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2010 US marriage rate: 6.8 per 1,000 population
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Pre-1920 US marriage rates hovered around 12 per 1,000 from 1900-1919
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1929 US marriage rate hit 10.1 per 1,000 before Great Depression dip
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1960 US marriage rate: 8.5 per 1,000, lower than 1950s peak
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1930 US marriage rate: 9.2 per 1,000 during Depression recovery
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1947 marriage boom: 16.4 per 1,000 US population
14
1972 US marriage rate: 10.0 per 1,000, start of decline
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1999 US rate: 8.0 per 1,000 with 2,345,000 marriages
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2008 financial crisis saw US marriage rate drop to 7.1 per 1,000
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1918 US marriage rate: 11.7 per 1,000 post-WWI
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2020 COVID drop: US marriages fell 17% to 6.1 per 1,000
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1984 US marriage rate: 8.6 per 1,000
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Long-term trend 1900-2020: US rate halved from 10 to 5 per 1,000
Interpretation
Historical Trends Interpretation
Modern America seems to have replaced the frantic post-war rush to the altar with a more leisurely, and perhaps more skeptical, stroll toward it, as the marriage rate has steadily been halved over the last century despite temporary booms for war, peace, and economic turmoil.
More related reading
04 · Category
International Marriage Rates20 stats
01
Globally, marriage rate in 2021 averaged 4.5 per 1,000 across 100+ countries
02
South Korea 2023 marriage rate: 3.5 per 1,000, lowest in OECD
03
India 2020 marriage rate: 7.2 per 1,000 population
04
Russia 2022 marriage rate: 4.8 per 1,000 amid Ukraine conflict
05
Japan 2022: 4.1 marriages per 1,000, down from 5.0 in 2019
06
UK 2022 marriage rate: 4.2 per 1,000 England/Wales
07
France 2021: 3.5 marriages per 1,000, lowest since 1946
08
Brazil 2021 marriage rate: 2.9 per 1,000 population
09
Australia 2022: 4.6 per 1,000 marriages
10
Germany 2022: 3.9 per 1,000, rebound from 2021 low
11
Canada 2022 marriage rate: 3.6 per 1,000 population
12
China 2022: 4.8 marriages per 1,000 amid declining trend
13
Mexico 2021: 3.2 per 1,000 marriage rate
14
Italy 2022: 3.1 per 1,000, record low
15
Sweden 2022: 4.3 per 1,000 including partnerships
16
Turkey 2022: 5.7 per 1,000 population
17
Nigeria estimated 2020: 8.5 per 1,000 high in Africa
18
Spain 2022: 3.4 per 1,000 marriages
19
New Zealand 2022: 4.9 per 1,000
20
Hungary 2022: 3.6 per 1,000 with pro-natal policies
Interpretation
International Marriage Rates Interpretation
While the global average suggests the institution of marriage is on a steady, if unspectacular, walk, a closer look reveals it's actually running a fever—sprinting for the exit in some nations, pausing for breath in others, and in a few stubborn cases, still breaking into a celebratory jog.
05 · Category
National Marriage Rates10 stats
01
In 2022, the US crude marriage rate was 6.2 per 1,000 total population according to provisional data
02
The US marriage rate in 2021 dropped to 5.1 per 1,000 population, the lowest in recorded history
03
In 2020, US marriages totaled 1,676,911 with a rate of 6.1 per 1,000, impacted by COVID-19
04
US marriage rate for 2019 was 6.2 per 1,000 population with 2,015,603 marriages
05
From 1990 to 2021, the US marriage rate declined 60% from 9.8 to 5.1 per 1,000
06
In 2018, US marriage rate stood at 6.5 per 1,000 with 2,132,853 marriages performed
07
Provisional 2023 US marriage rate estimated at 6.3 per 1,000 total population
08
US refined marriage rate (per 1,000 unmarried women 15+) was 31.2 in 2021
09
Between 2000 and 2020, US annual marriages fell from 2.3 million to 1.7 million
10
In 2017, US marriage rate was 6.9 per 1,000 population
Interpretation
National Marriage Rates Interpretation
While the marriage market seems to have recovered from its pandemic-induced cold feet with a slight rebound, the long-term trend reveals a sobering truth: Americans are increasingly saying "I don't" to the institution itself.
06 · Category
State/Regional Marriage Rates20 stats
01
Nevada had the highest US state marriage rate in 2021 at 25.9 per 1,000 population
02
Utah's marriage rate in 2021 was 20.5 per 1,000, second highest in US
03
Hawaii marriage rate 2021: 14.2 per 1,000 population
04
Montana 2021 marriage rate: 8.4 per 1,000
05
New Jersey lowest US marriage rate 2021: 4.5 per 1,000 population
06
California 2021 marriage rate: 4.6 per 1,000
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In 2020, Nevada's marriage rate was 21.5 per 1,000 despite pandemic
08
Wyoming 2021 marriage rate: 9.2 per 1,000 population
09
Massachusetts 2021: 4.8 per 1,000 marriage rate
10
Arkansas 2021 marriage rate: 9.0 per 1,000
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Nevada 2022 marriage rate: 24.8 per 1,000, highest US state
12
Utah 2022: 19.2 per 1,000 marriage rate
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Hawaii 2022: 13.5 per 1,000
14
Indiana 2022: 7.8 per 1,000 marriage rate
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Louisiana 2022: 4.9 per 1,000, among lower US states
16
West Virginia 2022 marriage rate: 6.5 per 1,000
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Alaska 2022: 5.9 per 1,000 population
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South Dakota 2022: 8.7 per 1,000
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Connecticut 2022: 4.7 per 1,000 marriage rate
20
Oklahoma 2022: 7.2 per 1,000
Interpretation
State/Regional Marriage Rates Interpretation
While Nevada continues to corner the market on impulse buys, with Utah following close behind as the dependable subscription service, the rest of the nation seems content to browse the aisle of marriage at a much more cautious, and increasingly skeptical, pace.
Reference
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APA
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). Marriage Rate Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/marriage-rate-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "Marriage Rate Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/marriage-rate-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "Marriage Rate Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/marriage-rate-statistics.