Gitnux/Report 2026

Marriages Statistics

134Statistics
5Sections
1Visuals
12mRead
July 13, 2026Updated
Marriages Statistics
Ryan TownsendWritten by Ryan Townsend·Edited by Lars Eriksen·Fact-checked by Rajesh Patel
Published ·Updated
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

An editor sets the topic, the inclusion criteria, and the evaluation framework before research starts.

02Source Research

AI search agents locate sources and extract each figure together with the document it came from.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 36 days

Key Takeaways

  • In the US, median duration of marriages ending in divorce is 8 years for women, 7.8 for men per 2019 data
  • Globally, mean age at first divorce is 30 in high-income countries per 2020 studies
  • In England and Wales, average marriage length before divorce was 12.9 years in 2021
  • In US, college-educated adults have divorce rate 30% lower after 10 years marriage
  • Black Americans have first marriage rate 40% lower than whites, 17.1% ever married by age 35 vs 37%
  • US Hispanic marriage rate higher at 7.2 per 1,000 vs 5.9 non-Hispanic white in 2021
  • In 1970, US divorce rate was 3.5 per 1,000 population, peaking at 5.3 in 1981, now 2.5 in 2021
  • About 42% of US first marriages end in divorce within 15 years per 2015-2019 data
  • In the EU, average divorce rate was 1.7 per 1,000 in 2020, highest in Lithuania at 3.1
  • Married US adults have 15% higher wealth accumulation by age 50 vs singles
  • Wedding costs in US averaged $29,000 in 2022, up 15% from 2021 inflation
  • Married couples US median net worth $244,500 vs $109,000 unmarried age 35-44
  • In 2021, the US marriage rate was 6.1 per 1,000 total population, the lowest since 1867 excluding pandemic years
  • Globally, the crude marriage rate averaged 4.9 per 1,000 people in 2019 across 100+ countries tracked by UN data
  • In Japan, marriages dropped to 474,000 in 2022, a record low with a rate of 3.8 per 1,000, driven by aging population

Related reading

01 · Category

Age And Duration28 stats

01
In the US, median duration of marriages ending in divorce is 8 years for women, 7.8 for men per 2019 data
02
Globally, mean age at first divorce is 30 in high-income countries per 2020 studies
03
In England and Wales, average marriage length before divorce was 12.9 years in 2021
04
US men marry first at median 30.2 years, women 28.1 in 2021, up from 23/20.8 in 1970
05
Japan's mean age at first marriage is 31.1 for men, 29.7 for women in 2022
06
In South Korea, first marriage age is 33.4 men, 30.9 women in 2022, highest OECD
07
EU average age at first marriage is 32.5 men, 30.2 women in 2020
08
Australia's median age at first marriage was 30.9 men, 29.0 women in 2021
09
China first marriage age rose to 28.7 women, 30.4 men by 2020 census
10
France mean age first marriage 37.1 men, 34.8 women in 2022 including all marriages
11
Germany's first marriage age 34.0 men, 31.7 women in 2022
12
Canada median age first marriage 30.7 men, 29.1 women in 2020
13
Italy first marriage age 34.6 men, 32.3 women in 2022
14
Sweden age at marriage 36.4 men, 33.9 women in 2021 for first
15
Spain first marriage age 34.9 men, 32.9 women in 2022
16
In US, marriages lasting 20+ years have 75% survival rate vs 50% for 10 years
17
Brazil median marriage duration before divorce 7 years in 2019 urban data
18
Russia's mean first marriage age 28.5 men, 26.2 women in 2021
19
Turkey first marriage age 27.2 men, 24.7 women in 2022
20
Mexico age at first marriage 30.4 men, 27.9 women in 2020
21
In 2021, 20% of US marriages dissolved within 5 years, 33% by 10 years
22
India average marriage age 22.1 women, 26.1 men per 2019-21 survey
23
Poland first marriage age 29.7 men, 27.6 women in 2022
24
Thailand mean age first marriage 29.8 men, 27.3 women in 2022
25
New Zealand median first marriage age 31.2 men, 29.5 women in 2021
26
In high-income countries, marriages after age 25 have 24% lower divorce risk per year
27
UK median duration to divorce 12.2 years for men, 11.9 for women in 2021
28
Globally, women initiate 69% of divorces in heterosexual marriages per 2020 meta-analysis
Interpretation

Age And Duration Interpretation

Across countries, people are marrying later and also spending about a dozen years in marriages before divorce, with England and Wales averaging 12.9 years before divorce while the US median age at first marriage rises to 30.2 for men and 28.1 for women in 2021 and Japan and South Korea show mean first marriage ages above 29 years, reinforcing the Age and Duration pattern of later life partnerships tied to relatively moderate marriage lengths.

02 · Category

Demographic Variations25 stats

01
In US, college-educated adults have divorce rate 30% lower after 10 years marriage
02
Black Americans have first marriage rate 40% lower than whites, 17.1% ever married by age 35 vs 37%
03
US Hispanic marriage rate higher at 7.2 per 1,000 vs 5.9 non-Hispanic white in 2021
04
Women with bachelor's degree or higher have 78% chance of first marriage by 40 vs 56% high school only
05
In US, 65% of adults with postgraduate degree are married vs 48% with high school diploma
06
Asian Americans have highest share married at 61% vs 53% overall in 2019
07
US rural adults 57% married vs 49% urban in 2020 data
08
Evangelical Protestants in US 65% married vs 50% unaffiliated, per 2014 GSS
09
US immigrants 54% married vs 48% US-born adults age 18-36 in 2020
10
In EU, higher education correlates with 20% lower divorce risk across 27 countries
11
US men earning $100k+ 65% married vs 30% low-income men under 35
12
Black women in US 60% unmarried at 30 vs 20% white women, per 2021 data
13
LGBTQ+ adults 19% married in US 2019 vs 50% heterosexual
14
In US, 72% of adults 55+ married vs 35% under 30 in 2021
15
Hindu Indians 95% ever married by 40 vs 85% Muslims, per NFHS-5
16
US military personnel 55% married vs 50% civilians, higher stability
17
In Canada, Indigenous peoples 45% married vs 52% non-Indigenous 2021
18
France urban areas 45% married vs 55% rural adults 25-54
19
Australia Aboriginal 38% married vs 52% non-Indigenous
20
In US South, 54% adults married vs 45% Northeast 2021
21
College grads US divorce 25% less than non-grads after 20 years
22
Jewish Americans 60% married vs 45% overall under 40
23
In Japan, urban Tokyo marriage rate 3.2 per 1,000 vs 5.1 rural 2022
24
US disabled adults 42% married vs 56% non-disabled 2019
25
Sweden high-income 60% married vs 40% low-income cohorts

03 · Category

Divorce Statistics26 stats

01
In 1970, US divorce rate was 3.5 per 1,000 population, peaking at 5.3 in 1981, now 2.5 in 2021
02
About 42% of US first marriages end in divorce within 15 years per 2015-2019 data
03
In the EU, average divorce rate was 1.7 per 1,000 in 2020, highest in Lithuania at 3.1
04
Russia's divorce rate was 4.7 per 1,000 in 2021, with 683,000 divorces vs 923,000 marriages
05
US divorce rate for second marriages is 60-67% higher than first, per 2020 studies
06
In England and Wales, 2021 divorce rate was 2.5 per 1,000 married women, 113,505 petitions
07
Japan's divorce rate steady at 1.8 per 1,000 in 2022, but 1 in 3 marriages end in divorce lifetime
08
Australia granted 49,000 divorces in 2021, rate 1.9 per 1,000, median duration 12.6 years
09
China's divorce rate hit 3.2 per 1,000 in 2021 before cooling-off policy reduced it 70%
10
Canada's divorce rate was 5.6 per 1,000 married couples in 2020, down from 11.7 peak in 1991
11
France saw 124,000 divorces in 2022, rate 1.9 per 1,000, with 44% consensual
12
Germany's divorce rate was 1.7 per 1,000 in 2022, 144,000 cases, median marriage length 14.4 years
13
South Korea's divorce rate fell to 1.7 per 1,000 in 2022 from 2.5 peak
14
In the US, Nevada has highest divorce rate at 4.2 per 1,000 in 2021, Utah lowest at 1.6
15
Italy's divorce rate was 1.5 per 1,000 in 2022, 53,000 divorces, up from civil unions dissolutions
16
Brazil recorded 331,000 divorces in 2019, rate 1.6 per 1,000, 45% after 0-5 years marriage
17
Sweden's divorce rate is 2.3 per 1,000 in 2021, high among cohabiting to married transitions
18
Spain granted 49,000 divorces in 2022, rate 1.0 per 1,000, lowest in decade
19
India's divorce rate is 0.01 per 1,000 officially, but urban areas see 1-2% of marriages dissolving
20
Turkey's divorce rate rose to 2.5 per 1,000 in 2022, 155,000 divorces
21
Mexico's divorce rate was 1.3 per 1,000 in 2020, doubling since 2000 in urban zones
22
In 2021, 689,000 US divorces occurred, rate 2.5 per 1,000 population
23
Globally, divorce rates peaked in 2000s, now declining in 60% of countries per UN data
24
UK divorce rate for marriages 10-14 years old was highest at 27 per 1,000 in 2021
25
Poland saw divorce rate of 1.6 per 1,000 in 2022, stable despite economic pressures
26
Thailand's divorce rate is 1.4 per 1,000 in 2022, up 20% in last decade
Interpretation

Divorce Statistics Interpretation

Divorce remains a major, long term issue in the category of Divorce Statistics, with the US peak rising from 3.5 divorces per 1,000 people in 1970 to 5.3 in 1981 before falling to 2.5 in 2021, while about 42% of first marriages still end in divorce within 15 years.

More related reading

04 · Category

Economic Aspects25 stats

01
Married US adults have 15% higher wealth accumulation by age 50 vs singles
02
Wedding costs in US averaged $29,000in 2022, up 15% from 2021 inflation
03
Married couples US median net worth $244,500vs $109,000 unmarried age 35-44
04
Globally, married men earn 10-40% wage premium over singles same quals, meta-analysis 2020
05
US divorce costs average $7,000-$15,000 legal fees, higher for contested 2023
06
Households with married couples 75% of US top 10% income bracket 2022
07
Average UK wedding £18,400 in 2023, 40% couples debt-financed
08
Married workers 17% less likely unemployed, US BLS 2022 data
09
Australia average wedding $36,000AUD 2023, destination weddings 20% cheaper
10
US alimony awarded in 10-15% divorces, median $5,000/year 2022
11
Married couples save 30% more for retirement vs cohabiting, Vanguard 2023
12
Global wedding industry $300 billion annually pre-COVID, $180B 2022 recovery
13
In US, single women 35% poverty rate vs 15% married women 2021
14
France average wedding €12,000 2022, 25% state-subsidized civil costs
15
Corporate US tax deductions for employee weddings averaged $1,500benefit 2023
16
Married households US 2.5x wealthier median than singles age 55-64, Fed 2022
17
India average wedding cost ₹20-50 lakhs urban 2023, 50% family funded
18
Prenups signed in 15% US marriages 2023, up from 5% 1990s, avg cost $2,500
19
Canada wedding average $30,000CAD 2023, elopements 40% cheaper
20
Health insurance for spouses saves US $5,000/year avg family premium 2023
21
Divorced individuals US lose 45% retirement assets on average, EBRI 2022
22
Japan average wedding ¥3.5 million 2022, down 20% due fewer guests
23
US married tax filers 80% get $2,500 avg savings vs filing single 2022
24
Social Security survivor benefits avg $15,000/year for widowed spouses US
25
Brazil wedding avg R$80,0002023 urban, micro-weddings 50% cost cut
Interpretation

Economic Aspects Interpretation

From an economic aspects perspective, being married appears to substantially improve long term financial outcomes, with married US adults accumulating 15% more wealth by age 50 and median net worth reaching $244,500 versus $109,000 for unmarried people aged 35 to 44.
report visual · Key figures

Marriages Statistics statistics snapshot

Selected headline statistics from verified sources for a stable visual baseline.

8
In the US, median duration of marriages ending in divorce is 8 years for women, 7.8 for men per 2019 data
30
Globally, mean age at first divorce is 30 in high-income countries per 2020 studies
12.9
In England and Wales, average marriage length before divorce was 12.9 years in 2021
30.2
US men marry first at median 30.2 years, women 28.1 in 2021, up from 23/20.8 in 1970
31.1
Japan's mean age at first marriage is 31.1 for men, 29.7 for women in 2022
33.4
In South Korea, first marriage age is 33.4 men, 30.9 women in 2022, highest OECD
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Marriages Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/marriages-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "Marriages Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/marriages-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Marriages Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/marriages-statistics.

Sources & references

48 sources cited across this report

  1. cdc.gov
  2. ourworldindata.org
  3. stat.go.jp
  4. kostat.go.kr
  5. data.un.org
  6. ec.europa.eu
  7. census.gov
  8. stats.gov.cn
  9. ons.gov.uk
  10. abs.gov.au
  11. ibge.gov.br
  12. www150.statcan.gc.ca
  13. insee.fr
  14. destatis.de
  15. inegi.org.mx
  16. istat.it
  17. rosstat.gov.ru
  18. scb.se
  19. data.tuik.gov.tr
  20. nigerianstat.gov.ng
  21. pewresearch.org
  22. amar.org.ir
  23. ine.es
  24. stats.govt.nz
  25. nso.go.th
  26. stat.gov.pl
  27. bls.gov
  28. mhlw.go.jp
  29. rchiips.org
  30. ifstudies.org
  31. psychologytoday.com
  32. williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu
  33. militaryonesource.mil
  34. federalreserve.gov
  35. theknot.com
  36. nber.org
  37. nolo.com
  38. hitched.co.uk
  39. abia.com.au
  40. vanguard.com
  41. grandviewresearch.com
  42. shrm.org
  43. wedmegood.com
  44. forbes.com
  45. kff.org
  46. ebri.org
  47. irs.gov
  48. ssa.gov