A record-high share of 40-year-olds in the U.S. have never been married
As of 2021, 25% of 40-year-olds in the United States had never been married, a significant increase from 20% in 2010.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
As of 2021, 25% of 40-year-olds in the United States had never been married, a significant increase from 20% in 2010.
Americans are more pessimistic than optimistic about the institution of marriage and the family. At the same time, the public is fairly accepting of diverse family arrangements, though some are seen as more acceptable than others.
42% of U.S. adults say they or someone they know has used fertility treatments. This is up from 33% five years ago.
Younger women, women with a postgraduate degree and Democratic women are more likely to keep their last name after marriage.
In 2021, 18% of parents didn’t work for pay, which was unchanged from 2016, according to a new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.
Most U.S. young adults are at least mostly financially independent and happy with their parents’ involvement in their lives. Parent-child relationships are mostly strong.
Among adults ages 18 to 34, 69% of those who have never been married say they want to get married one day.
36% of Americans say that more young adults living with their parents is bad for society, while 16% say it is good for society.
Majorities of both moms and dads with a young adult child age 18 to 34 say they’re as involved in their child’s day-to-day life as they’d like to be.
14% of parents say their neighborhood is only a fair or poor place to raise kids; these parents also have greater worry for their kids’ well-being.
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