Marriage Statistics 2026
100+ research-backed statistics about marriage. Average age, marriage rates, satisfaction levels, and more. Updated January 2026.
Key Findings
30.5
years old is the average age at first marriage in the US
2.0 million
marriages occur in the United States each year
64%
of married people describe their marriage as "very happy"
60%
decline in marriage rate since 1970
Data Visualization
Interactive research-backed charts
Average Age at First Marriage (1970-2024)
Marriage Happiness Levels
Marriage Rate Decline (1970-2024)
Marriage Rates and Trends
How many people get married and how rates have changed over time.
2.0 million
marriages occur in the United States each year
Approximately 2 million marriages take place in the US annually, though this number has declined from its peak of 2.4 million in the early 1980s.
🏛️ Gov
U.S. Census Bureau (2023)
6.0
marriages per 1,000 people in the US (marriage rate)
The US marriage rate is about 6.0 per 1,000 people, the lowest it has been in over a century. For comparison, it was 16.4 in 1946.
🏛️ Gov
CDC National Center for Health Statistics (2023)
60%
decline in marriage rate since 1970
The marriage rate has dropped by approximately 60% since its modern peak in 1970, reflecting changing social norms, delayed marriage, and increased cohabitation.
📊 Survey
Pew Research Center (2023)
35%
of adults aged 25-54 have never been married
Over a third of prime working-age adults in the US have never been married, up from just 9% in 1970.
🏛️ Gov
U.S. Census Bureau (2023)
50%
of American adults are currently married
About half of all American adults (18+) are currently married, down from 72% in 1960.
🏛️ Gov
U.S. Census Bureau (2023)
Age and Timing of Marriage
When do people get married and how has this changed?
30.5
years old is the average age at first marriage in the US
The median age at first marriage is now 30.5 for men and 28.6 for women, the highest in recorded history. In 1960, it was 22.8 for men and 20.3 for women.
🏛️ Gov
U.S. Census Bureau (2023)
28.6
years old is the average age women first marry
Women are now marrying later than ever before, with the median age at first marriage being 28.6 years. This is up from 20.3 in 1960.
🏛️ Gov
U.S. Census Bureau (2023)
2.8 years
is the average time couples date before getting engaged
On average, couples date for about 2.8 years before getting engaged, with an additional 14-month engagement period before the wedding.
📈 Industry
The Knot (2023)
14 months
is the average engagement length
The average engagement lasts about 14 months, giving couples time to plan their wedding and prepare for married life.
📈 Industry
The Knot (2023)
37
years old is the average age for second marriages
People who remarry do so at an average age of 37, with most waiting at least 3-5 years after their divorce.
🏛️ Gov
U.S. Census Bureau (2022)
Marriage Satisfaction & Success
How happy are married couples and what predicts marriage success?
64%
of married people describe their marriage as "very happy"
About two-thirds of married Americans say they are in very happy marriages, while an additional 33% say they are "pretty happy." Only 3% report being unhappy.
📊 Survey
General Social Survey (NORC) (2022)
19.1 years
is the average length of a first marriage that ends in divorce
For marriages that do end in divorce, the average duration is about 19.1 years. However, marriages that last tend to last much longer.
🏛️ Gov
U.S. Census Bureau (2023)
7-8 years
is when divorce risk peaks (the "seven-year itch")
The highest risk period for divorce is around years 7-8 of marriage. Couples who make it past this point have significantly lower divorce rates.
🎓 Academic
Journal of Marriage and Family (2021)
2nd year
of marriage is when satisfaction typically first dips
Research shows that marital satisfaction often experiences its first decline in the second year of marriage as the honeymoon phase ends.
🎓 Academic
The Gottman Institute (2020)
70%
of couples in marriage counseling report improvement
About 70% of couples who participate in marriage counseling report significant improvements in their relationship satisfaction.
📈 Industry
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (2022)
How Married Couples Met
Where do couples meet before getting married?
40%
of couples who married in 2023 met online
Online dating has become the most common way couples meet, surpassing traditional methods like meeting through friends or at work.
🎓 Academic
Stanford University Study (2023)
17%
of married couples met at work or through work
About 17% of married couples met through their workplace, making it the second most common way to meet after online dating.
📊 Survey
Pew Research Center (2023)
15%
of married couples met through mutual friends
Meeting through friends used to be the most common way to find a partner, but has declined significantly with the rise of online dating.
🎓 Academic
Stanford University Study (2023)
10%
of married couples met in school or college
About 10% of married couples met while attending school, including high school and college relationships.
📊 Survey
Pew Research Center (2022)
Cohabitation Before Marriage
How many couples live together before getting married?
69%
of couples live together before marriage
Nearly 70% of couples today live together before getting married, up from just 10% in the 1960s.
🏛️ Gov
National Center for Health Statistics (2023)
2.2 years
is the average length of cohabitation before marriage
Couples who live together before marriage typically cohabit for about 2.2 years before tying the knot.
🏛️ Gov
National Survey of Family Growth (2022)
53%
of cohabiting couples eventually marry
About 53% of couples who live together go on to marry within 3 years, while 27% break up and 20% continue cohabiting.
🏛️ Gov
National Center for Health Statistics (2023)
Marriage & Finances
Financial aspects of marriage including wedding costs and income.
$30,000
is the average cost of a wedding in the US
The average wedding in the United States costs around $30,000, not including the honeymoon. This varies significantly by region.
📈 Industry
The Knot (2023)
$16,000
more per year is earned by married vs. single workers
On average, married workers earn about $16,000 more per year than their single counterparts, known as the "marriage premium."
🏛️ Gov
Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023)
61%
of married couples are dual-income households
Most married couples today have two incomes, up from 36% in 1970 when single-earner families were the norm.
🏛️ Gov
Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023)
35%
of married couples argue about money regularly
Money is one of the top sources of conflict in marriages, with about 35% of couples reporting regular disagreements about finances.
📊 Survey
American Psychological Association (2022)
Download Data
Export all statistics as a spreadsheet for research or analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average age to get married in the US?
The average age at first marriage is 30.5 for men and 28.6 for women, the highest in recorded history. This is up from 22.8 for men and 20.3 for women in 1960.
How many people get married each year in the US?
Approximately 2 million marriages occur in the US each year, with a marriage rate of about 6.0 per 1,000 people.
What percentage of marriages are happy?
About 64% of married people describe their marriage as "very happy," while an additional 33% say they are "pretty happy." Only 3% report being unhappy.
How long does the average marriage last?
For marriages that end in divorce, the average length is about 19.1 years. However, many marriages last much longer, with couples celebrating 25, 50, or more years together.
How do most married couples meet?
About 40% of couples who married recently met online, making it the most common way to meet. This is followed by meeting through work (17%) and through friends (15%).
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