Full Citation
Title: Median Age of Never Married Adults in the U.S., 1940-2020
Citation Type: Working Paper
Publication Year: 2023
ISBN:
ISSN:
DOI: 10.18128/D010.V12.0
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Abstract: As the U.S. marriage rate has decreased over the past few decades (Schweizer, 2020), the share of those who have never married has increased, reaching 31% in 2020 (Marino, 2023a). Additionally, the median age of unmarried men and women, including those who are divorced, widowed, or never married, has increased over the past few decades (Marino, 2023b). These trends suggest the need to examine patterns among a specific subset of this growing share of Americans: adults who have yet to or may never marry. Using data from the 1940 to 1990 U.S. Decennial Census the American Community Survey 1-year estimates from 2000, 2010, and 2020, this family profile examines trends in the median age of adults (aged 18 and older) in the U.S. who reported they had not been married. We also describe differences in the median age of never married adults by gender, race and ethnicity, and educational attainment. The share of the population that was unmarried has changed according to these characteristics (Marino, 2023a), and may be a factor in driving these age patterns. Changing patterns in the median age of never married adults signal that those who marry may be doing so at later ages or that more adults are forgoing marriage.
User Submitted?: No
Authors: Marino, Francesca A
Series Title: National Center for Family and Marriage Research
Publication Number: 10
Institution: Bowling Green State University
Pages: 1-3
Publisher Location:
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Family and Marriage
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