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According to statistics from the US government, marriage rates in the United States are falling year upon year. The numbers indicate that millennial couples are choosing to live together, whilst delaying or even forgoing marriage altogether.
In a related 2019 study completed by the Pew Research Center, only 44% of millennials aged 25-34 were married at the time. This is contrasted sharply by the previous generations’ marriage rates in a similar age range: 53% of Generation X, 61% of baby boomers, and 81% of the silent generation.
#2
It coincides with changing attitudes to the traditions and ideals of marriage for the younger generations. Another important factor is the financial costs associated with getting hitched.
Millennials are well-known for their struggle of growing up in the aftermath of the 2008 market crash. Buying a house in this era may seem like an unachievable goal and when considering the costs of a wedding, it could be considered more of a luxury than a necessity.
Even with getting married, there’s also the risk and fear that if it’s unsuccessful, there will be the literal price to pay for the divorce. Marriage may not look like a fruitful investment for many, so a safer option may be to live together as a couple.
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However, all this does not point to eliminating weddings altogether. As a result of postponement, the average age for a millennial’s first marriage is steadily increasing. In the 2019 study, the average man was first married at the age of 30. In comparison, the average was 26 years old in 1987, and 23 years old in 1968.
The choice for postponing marriage is often attributed to the need for financial stability too. By choosing to focus on their work and careers instead, many are just waiting for better conditions to start the rest of their life together.
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