Declining Marriage Rates in the U.S.

Marriage rates have seen a notable decline over the decades, dropping from 10.6 marriages per 1,000 individuals in 1980 to 6.1 in 2023. Interestingly, last year, American adults reported that marriage rates were relatively high compared to historical records since the Census Bureau began tracking marital status back in 1940. Currently, only 47.1% of U.S. households consist of married couples.

This growing disinterest in marriage raises concerns—not just for American children, who generally thrive academically and face lesser chances of incarceration or depression when raised by married parents, but also for adults. Married individuals tend to report better health benefits, increased happiness, and longevity compared to their single counterparts.

Some experts express that “disrespecting the value of marriage and motherhood has consequences.” A Pew Research Center analysis of University of Michigan survey data hints that this trend might persist, particularly as young women’s reluctance to marry appears to grow.

Interestingly enough, two decades ago, 80% of 12th graders believed they would opt for marriage in the long run. Fast-forward to 2023, and only 67% still feel that way. Meanwhile, 24% expressed uncertainty about marriage, an increase from 16% back in 1993.

The causes for this shift seem to stem partly from changing attitudes among young women. In 1993, 83% of girls and 76% of boys aspired to wed. By 2023, only 61% of girls maintained that desire—representing a decrease of 22%—while 74% of boys still held the intention to marry eventually.

Professor Pugh pointed out another concerning trend: the number of 12th graders who want children when they marry has also sharply declined. In 1993, 82% of girls wished to have children; by 2023, this figure dropped to 73%. Even more striking is the decrease in those who feel “very likely” to have children after marriage, from 64% in 1993 to just 48% now.

The Alabama Policy Institute observed that years of undervaluing marriage and motherhood are starting to show their effects. Katie Faust, founder of the child advocacy group Them Before Us, voiced her concerns, stating that the messages young women receive today might be alarming and detrimental. The shift in these values brings significant implications.

Dr. Brad Wilcox, a sociology professor at the University of Virginia, describes the anti-marriage trend among young women and adolescent girls as “disastrous.” He referenced a recent survey indicating that women who are married with children generally report higher happiness levels compared to their single counterparts, regardless of parental status.

• 19% of married women claim to be “very happy,” compared to only 13% of single women with children and 10% of those without.
• 47% of married women reported feeling happy in life most or all of the time over the past month, unlike 40% of unmarried women with children and 34% of unmarried women without.
• 11% of married women say they experience loneliness frequently; that’s significantly lower than the 23% and 20% of single mothers and childless singles, respectively.
• Moreover, 51% of married women receive physical affection, in contrast to 29% of single mothers and only 17% of those without kids.
• Additionally, 28% of married women claim to have a clear sense of purpose, outperforming their single counterparts—25% among mothers and 16% among those without children.

Andrew Corbett, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, remarked that there is something seriously amiss, reflecting on the findings of the Pew report.