America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers

Most adults born in 1940-1944 were married by age 25 (79.6% of women and 65.3% of men). Half a century later, the change was dramatic: Only 30.3% of women and 20.3% of men born from 1990-1994 were married by age 25.

But marrying later also meant fewer trips to the altar, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released today.

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The 2021 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) allows us to study trends in marital patterns and compare the marital history by sex and birth cohort, which refers to people born during a specific group of years. For this analysis, we looked at five-year birth cohorts for both women and men, starting with the population born in 1940-1944 and ending with those born in 1990-1994.

Specifically, the analysis includes interviewed women and men ages 15 and over who were born in 1940-1994. This includes both opposite-sex and same-sex couples.

Continue reading to learn more about:

• Decline in marriage rates by age and birth cohort
• Marrying later, more often

• How often men and women marry may depend on when they first marry

• SIPP and marital history

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America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. It features stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, economy, emergency management, health, population, income and poverty. Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews.

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