Later Marriage, Longer Singlehood: What It Means for Sex Before Marriage
In short
In 2024 the median age at first marriage in the United States was about 30.2 for men and 28.6 for women, up from 23.1 and 21.1 in 1974, according to the Census Bureau. Since federal survey data show about three in four Americans have had sex by age 20, most spend years as sexually active unmarried adults.
What the full article will cover
- How old are Americans when they first marry?
- How has the marriage age changed since the 1970s?
- Why are Americans marrying later?
- How does later marriage affect premarital sex?
- Does later marriage increase cohabitation?
Frequently asked questions
- Which states have the youngest brides and grooms?
- Do religious Americans marry younger?
- Is later marriage linked to lower divorce rates?
Sources
- census.gov — https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/families-and-living-arrangements.html
- pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1802108
- pewresearch.org — https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2019/11/06/marriage-and-cohabitation-in-the-u-s/
General information, not legal or religious advice.