A new Pew Research Center analysis of census data reveals that the number of Americans who have never married is at an all-time high. In 2012, one in five adults age 25 and above had never been married compared to one in 10 in 1960.
Researchers attribute the dramatic rise never-married adults and the emerging gender gap to a variety of factors. Adults are marrying later in life, and the share of adults living together and raising children outside of marriage have increased significantly. The median age at first marriage is now 27 for women and 29 for men, up from 20 for women and 23 for men in 1960. About 24 percent of never-married young adults ages 25 to 34 are living with a partner.
The analysis revealed that this trend cuts across all major racial and ethnic groups but has been more pronounced among blacks. Among black adults ages 25 and older, the share who have never been married has quadrupled over the past half century – from 9 percent in 1960 to 36 percent in 2012. For whites, the share has doubled from 8 percent to 16 percent.
Fully 36 percent of blacks ages 25 and older had never been married in 2012, up from 9 percent in 1960. For whites and Hispanics, the share of never-married adults has roughly doubled over that same period. In 2012, 16 percent of whites and 26 percent of Hispanics had never been married.
Why is this happening? There are a variety of circumstances contributing to this ‘I Don’t’ mindset. Many adult children of divorce are gun shy about marriage. They watched their parent’s marriage fall apart and doubt their own ability to choose a good partner and make it last.
For women living in subsidized housing, having a man around would cost them access to many benefits. Celebrity marriages are here today, gone tomorrow. Many young people look at these celebrities they admire and think, “If they can’t make it work, how could I possibly be successful in marriage?”
And many see marriage as just a piece of paper with no real value.
Survey data found a deep division in the public’s perception of the role marriage plays in society. Approximately 46 percent of those surveyed believe society is better off if people make marriage and having children a priority. While 50 percent of respondents believe society is just as well off if people have priorities other than marriage and children.
If age is taken into account, two-thirds of those ages 18 to 29 believe that society is just as well off if people have priorities other than marriage and children. Interestingly, most Americans (68 percent) continue to believe it is important for couples to marry if they plan to spend the rest of their lives together.
One in five adults 25 and up have never been married, yet 53 percent say they would like to marry some day. There is plenty of research indicating that healthy marriage positively impacts adults, children, and society.
Perhaps it isn’t that millennials have to be convinced to invest in marriage; they have to be convinced they have what it takes to make a marriage work and that it’s worth the effort for the success of generation to come.
Julie Baumgardner is president and CEO of First Things First. Contact her at julieb@firstthings.org.