While the United States has hit a record low marriage rate, the story behind 'I do' is far more complex than a single statistic, revealing dramatic generational, geographic, and demographic shifts in how—and if—we tie the knot.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the US crude marriage rate was 6.2 per 1,000 total population according to provisional data
- The US marriage rate in 2021 dropped to 5.1 per 1,000 population, the lowest in recorded history
- In 2020, US marriages totaled 1,676,911 with a rate of 6.1 per 1,000, impacted by COVID-19
- Nevada had the highest US state marriage rate in 2021 at 25.9 per 1,000 population
- Utah's marriage rate in 2021 was 20.5 per 1,000, second highest in US
- Hawaii marriage rate 2021: 14.2 per 1,000 population
- US marriage rate peaked at 16.4 per 1,000 in 1946 post-WWII
- In 1970, US marriage rate was 10.6 per 1,000 population
- 1990 US marriage rate: 9.8 per 1,000
- In 2021, US women aged 25-29 had median age at first marriage of 28.6 years
- Median age at first marriage for US men 2021: 30.1 years for ages 25-29 cohort
- 18-19 year olds US first marriage rate 2020: 5 per 1,000 population
- College-educated US women have 78% first marriage rate by age 40 vs 48% for less educated
- Black Americans marriage rate 2021: 4.1 per 1,000 vs 10.7 for whites
- Hispanic US marriage rate 2021: 6.0 per 1,000 population
U.S. marriage rates have dropped by sixty percent since 1990.
Age-Specific Marriage Rates
1In 2021, US women aged 25-29 had median age at first marriage of 28.6 years
Verified2Median age at first marriage for US men 2021: 30.1 years for ages 25-29 cohort
Verified318-19 year olds US first marriage rate 2020: 5 per 1,000 population
Verified4US women 30-34 first marriage rate 2021: 35.7 per 1,000 unmarried women
Directional5Men aged 25-29 US first marriage rate 2021: 42.3 per 1,000 unmarried men
Single source6Teen marriage rate (15-19) US 2021: down 75% since 1970 to 4.7 per 1,000
Verified7US women 20-24 first marriage rate 2021: 25.1 per 1,000 unmarried
Verified8Men 30-34 US first marriage rate 2021: 43.2 per 1,000 unmarried men
Verified935-39 women US first marriage rate 2021: 22.8 per 1,000 unmarried
Directional10Historical median age first marriage US women rose from 20.3 in 1950 to 28.6 in 2021
Single source11US boys 15-19 first marriage rate 2021: 2.8 per 1,000 unmarried
Verified12Women 40-44 US first marriage rate 2021: 10.5 per 1,000 unmarried
Verified13Men 20-24 first marriage rate US 2021: 22.4 per 1,000
Verified1425-29 men US remarriage rate 2021: 18.7 per 1,000 married men
Directional15Median first marriage age US men 1980: 24.7 years, rose to 30.1 by 2021
Single source16Girls 15-17 US marriage rate 2021: 1.2 per 1,000 unmarried
Verified1730-34 women remarriage US 2021: 15.3 per 1,000 married women
Verified18US 18-19 women first marriage 2021: 8.4 per 1,000 unmarried
Verified19Men 35+ first marriage rates peaked at 25.6 per 1,000 for 35-39 in 2021
Directional20Women 25-29 remarriage US 2021: 12.9 per 1,000 married
Single sourceAge-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.
Demographic-Specific Rates
1College-educated US women have 78% first marriage rate by age 40 vs 48% for less educated
Verified2Black Americans marriage rate 2021: 4.1 per 1,000 vs 10.7 for whites
Verified3Hispanic US marriage rate 2021: 6.0 per 1,000 population
Verified4Asian Americans highest marriage rate 2021: 11.8 per 1,000
Directional5US men with bachelor's degree: 67% married by age 40 vs 48% high school only
Single source6Never-married rate for US adults 25+ rose from 9% in 1960 to 35% in 2021
Verified7Low-income US adults (<$30k) marriage rate 20% lower than high-income
Verified8Urban US areas marriage rate 2021: 5.2 per 1,000 vs 7.1 rural
Verified9Same-sex marriage rate US post-Obergefell 2015-2021 averaged 1.2 per 1,000
Directional10US adults with postgraduate degree: 65% married vs 50% overall
Single source11Native American/Alaska Native marriage rate 2021: 5.3 per 1,000
Verified12White non-Hispanic US rate 2021: 5.9 per 1,000
Verified13Same-sex female couples US marriages 2021: 0.8 per 1,000
Verified14High school graduates US marriage by 30: 58% vs 72% college grads
Directional15Suburban US marriage rate 2021: 6.4 per 1,000 vs urban 4.9
Single source16US adults 50+ remarriage rate higher at 12% vs first marriages
Verified17Immigrants US marriage rate 2021: 7.2 per 1,000 higher than natives
Verified18Religious US adults marriage rate 60% higher than unaffiliated
VerifiedDemographic-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.
Historical Trends
1US marriage rate peaked at 16.4 per 1,000 in 1946 post-WWII
Verified2In 1970, US marriage rate was 10.6 per 1,000 population
Verified31990 US marriage rate: 9.8 per 1,000
Verified42000 US marriage rate: 8.2 per 1,000 with 2,329,000 marriages
Directional51950 US marriage rate: 11.1 per 1,000 population
Single source6From 1940-1960, US marriage rates averaged 12.5 per 1,000 amid baby boom
Verified71980 US marriage rate: 10.6 per 1,000, similar to 1970 levels
Verified82010 US marriage rate: 6.8 per 1,000 population
Verified9Pre-1920 US marriage rates hovered around 12 per 1,000 from 1900-1919
Directional101929 US marriage rate hit 10.1 per 1,000 before Great Depression dip
Single source111960 US marriage rate: 8.5 per 1,000, lower than 1950s peak
Verified121930 US marriage rate: 9.2 per 1,000 during Depression recovery
Verified131947 marriage boom: 16.4 per 1,000 US population
Verified141972 US marriage rate: 10.0 per 1,000, start of decline
Directional151999 US rate: 8.0 per 1,000 with 2,345,000 marriages
Single source162008 financial crisis saw US marriage rate drop to 7.1 per 1,000
Verified171918 US marriage rate: 11.7 per 1,000 post-WWI
Verified182020 COVID drop: US marriages fell 17% to 6.1 per 1,000
Verified191984 US marriage rate: 8.6 per 1,000
Directional20Long-term trend 1900-2020: US rate halved from 10 to 5 per 1,000
Single sourceHistorical 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.
International Marriage Rates
1Globally, marriage rate in 2021 averaged 4.5 per 1,000 across 100+ countries
Verified2South Korea 2023 marriage rate: 3.5 per 1,000, lowest in OECD
Verified3India 2020 marriage rate: 7.2 per 1,000 population
Verified4Russia 2022 marriage rate: 4.8 per 1,000 amid Ukraine conflict
Directional5Japan 2022: 4.1 marriages per 1,000, down from 5.0 in 2019
Single source6UK 2022 marriage rate: 4.2 per 1,000 England/Wales
Verified7France 2021: 3.5 marriages per 1,000, lowest since 1946
Verified8Brazil 2021 marriage rate: 2.9 per 1,000 population
Verified9Australia 2022: 4.6 per 1,000 marriages
Directional10Germany 2022: 3.9 per 1,000, rebound from 2021 low
Single source11Canada 2022 marriage rate: 3.6 per 1,000 population
Verified12China 2022: 4.8 marriages per 1,000 amid declining trend
Verified13Mexico 2021: 3.2 per 1,000 marriage rate
Verified14Italy 2022: 3.1 per 1,000, record low
Directional15Sweden 2022: 4.3 per 1,000 including partnerships
Single source16Turkey 2022: 5.7 per 1,000 population
Verified17Nigeria estimated 2020: 8.5 per 1,000 high in Africa
Verified18Spain 2022: 3.4 per 1,000 marriages
Verified19New Zealand 2022: 4.9 per 1,000
Directional20Hungary 2022: 3.6 per 1,000 with pro-natal policies
Single sourceInternational 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.
National Marriage Rates
1In 2022, the US crude marriage rate was 6.2 per 1,000 total population according to provisional data
Verified2The US marriage rate in 2021 dropped to 5.1 per 1,000 population, the lowest in recorded history
Verified3In 2020, US marriages totaled 1,676,911 with a rate of 6.1 per 1,000, impacted by COVID-19
Verified4US marriage rate for 2019 was 6.2 per 1,000 population with 2,015,603 marriages
Directional5From 1990 to 2021, the US marriage rate declined 60% from 9.8 to 5.1 per 1,000
Single source6In 2018, US marriage rate stood at 6.5 per 1,000 with 2,132,853 marriages performed
Verified7Provisional 2023 US marriage rate estimated at 6.3 per 1,000 total population
Verified8US refined marriage rate (per 1,000 unmarried women 15+) was 31.2 in 2021
Verified9Between 2000 and 2020, US annual marriages fell from 2.3 million to 1.7 million
Directional10In 2017, US marriage rate was 6.9 per 1,000 population
Single sourceNational 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.
State/Regional Marriage Rates
1Nevada had the highest US state marriage rate in 2021 at 25.9 per 1,000 population
Verified2Utah's marriage rate in 2021 was 20.5 per 1,000, second highest in US
Verified3Hawaii marriage rate 2021: 14.2 per 1,000 population
Verified4Montana 2021 marriage rate: 8.4 per 1,000
Directional5New Jersey lowest US marriage rate 2021: 4.5 per 1,000 population
Single source6California 2021 marriage rate: 4.6 per 1,000
Verified7In 2020, Nevada's marriage rate was 21.5 per 1,000 despite pandemic
Verified8Wyoming 2021 marriage rate: 9.2 per 1,000 population
Verified9Massachusetts 2021: 4.8 per 1,000 marriage rate
Directional10Arkansas 2021 marriage rate: 9.0 per 1,000
Single source11Nevada 2022 marriage rate: 24.8 per 1,000, highest US state
Verified12Utah 2022: 19.2 per 1,000 marriage rate
Verified13Hawaii 2022: 13.5 per 1,000
Verified14Indiana 2022: 7.8 per 1,000 marriage rate
Directional15Louisiana 2022: 4.9 per 1,000, among lower US states
Single source16West Virginia 2022 marriage rate: 6.5 per 1,000
Verified17Alaska 2022: 5.9 per 1,000 population
Verified18South Dakota 2022: 8.7 per 1,000
Verified19Connecticut 2022: 4.7 per 1,000 marriage rate
Directional20Oklahoma 2022: 7.2 per 1,000
Single sourceState/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.
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