Trends in Marriage, Cohabitation, and Divorce

The face of marriage and long-term relationships is changing, according to a recent report from the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia and the Center for Marriage and Families at the Institute for American Values.  Here are a few things you might not know about marriage and divorce.  Read the full report for more: The state of our unions.

1. Fewer people are getting married.  For the last 40 years, marriage rates have been gradually decreasing.  Some of this is attributed to people waiting longer to get married.  The average age of marriage in the United States is currently around 26 and 28 for women and men respectively.  Another factor is that more people are choosing to live together, some instead of getting married, and some as a prelude to marriage.  In fact, 60% of Americans in first marriages now live together with their partner before getting married.

2. The divorce rate is stabilizing.  Divorce rates were at their highest in the 1980s and have been steadily declining since then.  They seem to be leveling off in the past few years.  Some attribute this stability to people waiting to get married and more highly educated people marrying (both factors related to marital stability).

3. A gap seems to be growing between Americans who are highly educated and those with less education.  The report shows that highly educated Americans (having a 4-year degree or more) seem to be experiencing more satisfying, stable marriages compared to those who are less educated.  Some factors that may be negatively impacting relationships include the growing economic stress, especially for middle class Americans, and the disillusionment for the institution of marriage, especially among those who are least educated.  For example, “53% of Americans aged 25–44 who are the least educated report that ‘marriage has not worked out for most people [they] know.’”

Data from eHarmony’s own national study of marriage and divorce support this finding showing that highly educated individuals (college degree holders and above) are more satisfied in their marriages than people who were less educated (those with less than a bachelor’s degree). Read more findings from the eHarmony Marriage and Divorce Study here.

What does this mean for the long-term success of relationships? With marriage on the decline and divorce rates still high, skepticism about marriage seems to be growing.  However, marriage is still an important milestone for many Americans, most of whom will get married.  What we know from this report and other relationship research is that external stressors like the economy and personal factors like parents divorcing can have a real and substantial impact on your relationships.

What does this mean for you? For the average person getting married for the first time, the probability of divorce or separation still falls between 40-50%, according to the current report.  However, every person is different.  There are several known factors that give you a higher or lower statistical chance of getting divorced.  Some factors that increase your chances of staying married include graduating college, having a baby after marriage, and marrying over the age of 25.  For example, college graduates are 25% less likely to get divorced compared to who have not graduated from high school.

Research also shows that the efforts you make within your relationship can help improve satisfaction and stability.  At eHarmony Labs, we have blogged about the benefits of expressing gratitude, learning to be more empathetic in the relationship, and fostering good communication skills.  These are just a few examples of the small things you can do in your everyday relationships to keep them strong.  Continue reading our blog for more tips and information on current relationships research.

Further Reading:

U.S. Census Bureau. (2010, February 17). The 2010 Statistical Abstract: Births, Deaths, Marriages, & Divorces.

Wilcox, W. B. (Ed.). (2010). The state of our unions: Marriage in America.

(2010, November 18). Who Needs Marriage? A Changing Institution. Time Magazine.