---
title: "Marriage Is Obsolete"
description: "Nearly four-in-ten survey respondents say that marriage has become obsolete as an institution in American life."
date: "2011-01-06"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2011/01/06/marriage-is-obsolete/"
---

# Marriage Is Obsolete

Nearly four-in-ten survey respondents (39%) say that marriage has become obsolete as an institution in American life. In 1978, when TIME magazine posed this question to registered voters, just 28% agreed. Those most likely to agree include those who are a part of the phenomenon (62% of cohabiting parents) as well as those most likely to be troubled by it (42% of self-described conservatives). Despite these growing uncertainties, Americans are more upbeat about the future of marriage and family (67% say they are optimistic) than about the future of the country’s educational system (50% optimistic), its economic system (46% optimistic) or its morals and ethics (41% optimistic). [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1802/decline-marriage-rise-new-families)