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Interesting Marriage Statistics

Common marriage statistics are discussed frequently in our day-to-day lives. Divorce rates, marriage age, and single mothers are topics of many conversations. The following marriage statistics are interesting facts that you may use to strike up a conversation.

Age Has Not Really Changed

Many people believe that over the last hundred years, both men and women are getting married for the first time at an older age. It is believed that individuals got married at a younger age because higher education was not the standard and it was in the best interest to start families young.

Because more men and women now attend college and start careers before getting married, it is assumed that the average age has risen. This is one of the marriage statistics that is in fact not quite true. The average first marriage age in the year 1900 was 25.9 for men and 21.9 for women. In the year 2000, the average first marriage age was 26.8 for men and 25.1 for woman. So, while the average age has risen, the amount is not as significant as most believe.

More Second Marriages Fail

Marriage statistics show that more second, third, etc. marriages fail than first marriages in the United States. While 47% of first marriages end in divorce, 60-80% of subsequent marriages end in divorce. So, chances are, if you could not make it work the first time, you are less likely to be able to make it work again.

Good Marriages Do Not Start as Affairs

This is one of the marriage statistics that seems logical – if you cheat, you probably will not be able to make a lasting relationship of it. Studies show that only 1-3% of affairs result in a lasting marriage.

How Many Are Married?

Now for some standard marriage statistics; of all adults living in the United States, about 60% are married. Of those 60%, 4% are not living with their significant other. About 10% of all US adults are divorced, and 24% have never been married.

Remarriage Statistics

Many marriage statistics also involve how quickly an individual is likely to get remarried after a divorce. The average time between divorce and remarriage is two and a half years. Remarriages occur within five years of the divorce in 75% of all cases. White women are more likely to remarry than black women.

Children Weigh in on Marriage Statistics

Children are involved in many marriage statistics. In the United States, children occupy 34.6 million households. Two parents run 24.9 million of those households. One parent runs 9.7 million households. Of the one-parent households single moms run 8.4 million, and single dads run 1.4 million. Over ten times as many children of separated parents live with their biological mom and step dad than their biological dad and step mom.

Career Women and Marriage

Many studies have shown that women with careers are more likely to cheat and more likely to get divorced. Professional women are less likely to have children, and more likely to be unhappy if they do have children.

Factors for Divorce

Many factors increase the likelihood of divorce. The younger you are when you get married, the more likely you are to divorce. Your race, your economic status, and your religious beliefs all factor into your marriage statistics as they relate to divorce. If your parents are divorced, you have a higher risk of divorce.

It’s All Relative

When considering marriage statistics, do not get hung up on how you measure up. All statistics are simply numbers. If the statistics stack up against you, simply ignore them and work on achieving a happy lifestyle that makes you comfortable.