Demographics:
Per capita population:
There are 82 million unmarried adults in the United States.
Singles constitute more than 40% of the adult population in the nation.
In many major metropolitan areas, singles comprise the majority of the adult population.
The Census Bureau estimates that about 10% of adults will never marry.
Households:
Married couples with minor children live in fewer than 25% of the nation’s households.
Single adults living alone comprise about 25% of the nation’s households.
Another 13 million single adults are living with unmarried relatives.
Nearly 6% of the nation’s households are composed of two unrelated adults living together, with 68% of these households containing partners of the opposite sex.
Hispanic households are the most likely to contain a married couple:
63% of Hispanic households contain a married couple.
56% of Caucasian (non-Hispanic) households contain a married couple.
32% of African American households contain a married couple.
Singles tend to be renters rather than home owners. Of the nation’s 65 million owner-occupied units, 69% are occupied by married couples. Of the nation’s 34 million rental units, only 38% are occupied by married couples.
Unmarried Cohabitation:
Of people who have recently married, the majority had cohabited together prior to marriage.
Opposite-sex cohabitation is increasing rapidly, with a 28% increase between 1990 and 1994.
In 1970, there was one unmarried couple for every 100 married couples in the nation.
In 1995, there were seven unmarried couples for every 100 married couples in the nation.
Older Adults:
According to a study done by the American Association of Retired people: 15 million older adults live alone; another 1.5 million older adults live with a roommate or partner.
People with Disabilities
According to the Disability Statistics Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, of the 32 million adults in the United States who have disabilities, some 13 million (40%) are unmarried.
Marriage rate:
The marriage rate in the U.S. dropped to 9 marriages per 1,000 population in 1993, the lowest rate in 30 years.
Divorce:
Rate:
The divorce rate has remained fairly stable since 1988.
It was 2.5 divorces per 1,000 population in 1966, 5.3 divorces per 1,000 population in 1981, and 4.6 divorces per 1,000 population in 1993.
Numbers:
In 1970, 3.0% of the adult population was currently divorced.
In 1994, 9.0% of the adult population was currently divorced.
In 1997, 9.8% of the adult population was currently divorced.
Nonmarital childbearing:
In 1980, one in five births was nonmarital; in 1992 almost one in three births were to unmarried women. This a 54% increase in only 12 years.
In 1998, the Census Bureau reported that a MAJORITY of first-born children in recent years were either conceived by, or born to, unmarried parents.
Premarital sex:
Virgins at time of marriage:
Of those born between 1933 and 1942: 22% of men & 54% of women were virgins.
Of those born between 1963 and 1974: 16% of men & 20% of women were virgins.
Unmarried cohabitation prior to marriage:
Of those born between 1933 and 1942: 84% of men & 94% of women did not cohabit.
Of those born between 1963 and 1974: 34% of men & 35% of women did not cohabit.
Single parent families:
Half of all children in the nation will spend some time in a single parent family.
9.1% of all households in the nation are now single-parent families.
Public Opinion Polls:
Premarital sex is always wrong:
1972: 71% said yes
1994: 51% said yes
Women having children out of wedlock is:
Acceptable: 27%
Unacceptable: 59%
A single parent family is:
Acceptable: 61%
Unacceptable: 22%
Premarital sex is wrong:
1937: 55.0% agree
1959: 54.0% agree
1969: 68.8% agree
1973: 47.0% agree
1990: 40.0% agree
1997: 37.0% agree
Marital status and politics:
In the last three presidential elections, a majority of unmarried adults voted for the Democratic nominee, while a majority of married adults voted for the Republican nominee. In the national election held in 1998, 33% of voters were unmarried, with a large majority of unmarried voters favoring Democratic candidates for Congress.