Never-Married Americans at Record High
Newsmax
Marriage rates in the United States have been declining for decades and the share of adults who have never wed is now at a record high.
In 2012, 1 in 5 Americans ages 25 and older, about 42 million people, had never been married, according to a Pew Research Center analysis based on the most recent Census Bureau figures.
In 1960, just 9 percent of Americans in that age range had never been married.
Men are more likely than women to have never been married — 23 percent of men and 17 percent of women hadn't wed in 2012, compared to 10 percent of men and 8 percent of women in 1960.
"The dramatic rise in the share of never-married adults and the emerging gender gap are related to a variety of factors," Pew observed. "Adults are marrying later in life, and the shares of adults cohabiting and raising children outside of marriage have increased significantly."
The median age at first marriage is now 27 for women, up from 20 in 1960, and 29 for men, up from 23.
And about one-quarter of never-married young Americans ages 25 to 34 are living with a partner, according to the March 2013 Current Population Survey.
Recent Pew Research Center survey data show that Americans are divided over the role of marriage. Half of survey respondents believe society is just as well off if people have priorities other than marriage and children, while 46 percent say society is better off if people make marriage and children a priority.
But 67 percent of younger Americans, ages 18 to 29, agree with the former assertion, while 55 percent of those ages 50 and older agree with the latter.
Nevertheless, most Americans, 68 percent, still believe it is important for couples to marry if they plan to spend the rest of their lives together.
A new Pew survey disclosed that 53 percent of never-married adults would like to marry eventually. About 32 percent say they are not sure if they would like to wed, and 13 percent say they do not want to marry.
Among survey respondents who have never wed but say they may eventually marry, 30 percent say they have not yet married because they have not found someone who has what they are looking for in a spouse, 27 percent say they are not financially prepared for marriage, and 22 percent feel they are too young or not ready to settle down.
Due to a declining labor force participation among men, there are now only about 65 employed unmarried men per 100 unwed women.
One more interesting Pew finding: Previously married adults are less interested in marriage than are never-married adults. Just 21 percent of previously married adults say they would like to marry again and 45 percent say they don't want to wed again.