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Marriage Trends

December 15, 2011 by Oren Pardes

Around the world, the cost of getting married is rising – so is both the rate and cost of divorce.
The number of new marriages in the U.S. seems to be declining.

This may not necessarily be related to recent economic conditions, since a similar trend of fewer new marriages exists in Europe regardless of business cycles.

Just 51% of adult Americans are married today, compared with 72% in 1960.

20% of adults today aged 18 to 29 are married, compared with 59% in 1960.

The median age of first marriage has hit a new high, of 26.5 for brides and 28.7 for grooms.

The number of adults living together, single-person households, and single parents have all increased in recent decades.

It is unclear whether singles are delaying matrimony or abandoning it altogether.

The percentage of Americans who have been married at least once has declined as well – 72% in 2010, from 85% in 1960.

If the trend persists, in a few years less than half of Americans will be married.

The marriage rate for college-educated adults declined “far less” than among the less-educated.

Four out of 10 Americans believe marriage is becoming obsolete, but 61% people who have never married would like to (someday).

© 2011 – 2012, Oren Pardes. All rights reserved.


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