Marriage State Laws and Marriage Statistics

Marriage Statistics

Marriages and divorces are the domain of individual states within the United States, and these laws can vary wildly from one municipality to the next. Each state has their own regulations about marriage, such as minimum age and blood tests, as well as divorce conditions such as community property and regulations about alimony and spousal support. Wise couples consult the individual laws of their state of residence before embarking on either a marriage or a divorce, because early investigation into the law can save months of heartbreaking anguish.

The U.S. Census Bureau only collects the basic marriage information about American citizens. Therefore, many statistics are gathered by other government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and National Center for Health Statistics, as well as independent institutions such as the Americans for Divorce Reform and American Association for Single People.

Marriage Statistics for 2002

Percent of the population of the United States married: 59%
Percent of population of America never married: 24%
Median age for first marriage for men: 26.9
Median age for first marriage for women: 25.3
Median age for second marriage for men: 34
Median age for second marriage for women: 32
Number of married couples in 2000: 56,497,000
Number of unmarried couples living together: 5.5 million

Statistics only reflect the reality of marriage; they are not the reality of marriage. It takes the dedication, love, and commitment of two people to make a marriage work. It is impossible to predict how a marriage will turn out, and if a marriage does dissolve, it’s important to have a family law divorce lawyer who understands your particular circumstances and who can make sure that your rights are protected. If you have any questions about your situation, contact an experienced family law, marriage, and divorce attorney today.

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