Plus data on US relationships, moms in the workforce and more. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

The global locations of US service members

The US military oversees more than 4,790 military sites around the world. Added together, they cover an area roughly the size of Virginia. The US military’s global footprint encompasses bases and personnel in key regions. It plays a role in international relations and security. However, the recent deaths of three military members in Jordan highlight the risks faced by US forces stationed around the globe.

As of September 2023, there were 2.63 million military personnel, including active-duty troops, reserves, and civilian workers. Of those personnel, 1.3 million are on active duty, both at home and abroad.
Most of the troops stationed in the US were in California (161,052 troops), Virginia (127,020), and Texas (110,582). California hosted 40.3% of all Marine Corps members due to San Diego’s Marine Corps Recruit Depot and 25.8% of active-duty naval troops.

Countries hosting US overseas active-duty forces

The US had more than 228,390 US military personnel in countries including Japan, Germany, South Korea, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Japan has more US troops than any other country: 53,246.
There were 741,292 reserve force members across the US. Last September, 29 states reported having more reserve troops than active-duty personnel.

See maps of where service members are stationed domestically and internationally.

The state of US relationships

The dynamics of American relationships and living arrangements continue to evolve. Changes in marriage rates, the age at first marriage, and the prevalence of single-person households reflect shifts in societal norms and personal choices. With Valentine’s Day approaching, here’s a deeper look into these dynamics.

In 2022, 46.8% of households had married couples, down from 78.8% in 1949.

The median age for first marriage was 30 for men and about 28 for women, both up from 1956 when the median ages were 22.5 for men and 20 for women.
Marriage rates for white, Black, and Hispanic Americans have fallen since 1990, with the largest drop (11.1 percentage points) among Hispanic Americans.
The divorce rate for men increased from 6.8% in 1990 to 8.4% in 2022. For women, it rose from 8.9% to 10.7%.
Single-person households increased more than fivefold since 1960, from 6.9 million (13.1% of the population) to 37.8 million (28.9%) in 2022.

See even more data to track the changing nature of relationships in the US.

Data behind the news

An atmospheric river dropped heavy rainfall on Southern California last week, bringing mudslides, flooded roads, downed trees, and more destruction. How does this precipitation compare to past winters?

President Joe Biden recently criticized Israeli military operations in Gaza. However, the White House has said this does not represent a change in the administration’s stance. Here’s a history of the military aid the US has provided Israel over the decades.

Weekly fact quiz time: How much do you know?

One last fact

Labor force participation rates have particularly changed for mothers of young children. They’ve nearly doubled for women with kids younger than 3, from 34.3% in 1975 to 64.2% in 2021.

At the start of the pandemic, mothers with children from the ages of 6 to 12 had steeper declines in employment than mothers with older or very young children. It also took them longer as a group to regain pre-pandemic employment levels.

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