Marriage rate dives to new lows since economic downturn
Recession accelerates pace of decline and marriage rate is expected to remain low in foreseeable future.
U.S. marriage rates are at historic lows but may soon rebound a bit, demographers predict.
Numbers are rising among women ages 25-34, the college-educated and the affluent
Declines likely to set in again at end of decade
Average marriage age for U.S. men could reach 30
The marriage rate is at its lowest point in more than a century, and the number of marriages across the USA fell more than 5% during the recession. But a new analysis projects that pent-up demand and the large population of marriage-eligible Millennials, ages 18-34, means more will be headed to the altar over the next two years.
Cultural changes about whether and when to marry, the fact that two-thirds of first marriages are preceded by cohabitation and the recession’s financial fallout — including unemployment and underemployment — fueled the wedding decline. Projections from the private company Demographic Intelligence of Charlottesville, Va., says the signs are right for a temporary boost in weddings.
The company projects a 4% increase in the number of weddings since 2009, reaching 2.168 million this year; 2.189 million in 2014. Depending on the economic recovery, the report projects a continuing increase to 2.208 million in 2015.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/17/marriage-trends-demographics/2424641/
