Marriage Statistics 2026

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.

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.

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.

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.

of American adults are currently married

About half of all American adults (18+) are currently married, down from 72% in 1960.

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.

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.

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.

is the average engagement length

The average engagement lasts about 14 months, giving couples time to plan their wedding and prepare for married life.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

of couples in marriage counseling report improvement

About 70% of couples who participate in marriage counseling report significant improvements in their relationship satisfaction.

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.

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.

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.

of married couples met in school or college

About 10% of married couples met while attending school, including high school and college relationships.

of couples live together before marriage

Nearly 70% of couples today live together before getting married, up from just 10% in the 1960s.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.