@Irene_L.A. wrote:
My limited (not really) experience in today's world tells me most are marrying later if at all.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov), the average age for first marriages for Jewish women is 27 and 29 for Jewish men. It's significantly less for Hispanics and Caucasians, and slightly higher for black women. The most significant factor affecting age is the education of the woman; college-educated women tend to get married later. Interesting to me is the divorce factor. The education of the woman has a relatively insignificant effect on divorce, but college-educated men are least likely to divorce, regardless of the woman's education. Black women (remembering that they marry later) are by far the most likely to divorce, especially those who marry men that have no post-high school education, or if they have none. Asian women married to college-educated men are the least likely to split.
You're right that fewer people are marrying, although it's only a few percentage points different than a generation ago. Most people DO get married by age 45.
Hawaii and Nevada post the highest marital rates, but I suspect it's out of state people traveling there to get married (Nevada also has the highest divorce rate.) Beyond that, Southerners and Northwesterners get married most often, with people in the Northeast getting married least often. Divorce rates are pretty stable across the country (save, Nevada) with Oklahoma and Wyoming slightly higher, with Iowa, Louisiana, and Texas a bit lower.
Just some interesting nerdy statistical facts. Interpret them as you will.
ETA: The statistic regarding half of all marriages ending in divorce is misleading, at best. There is a statistical probability that more than 75% of people who marry today will stay married. The 50% quote was a prediction made in the 70s based on what the authors assumed to be a continuing trend -- it didn't materialize, and divorce rates have been falling for decades. Part of the prediction was predicated on the high divorce rate of the 70s continuing and part was based on those who have been married and divorced multiple times. After the second marriage (in which most educated men stay), the odds of success drop drastically. If you've been married six times, it's likely #7 isn't going to work either.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/2019 04:55AM by iShop123.