The marriage rate in the U.S. is at its lowest rate for over a century, according to a study conducted by researchers at the National Center for Family and Marriage Research (NCFMR) at Bowling Green State University.
According to researchers, the marriage rate is now only 31.1, whereas in 1920 it was as high as 92.3.
“Marriage is no longer compulsory,” said Dr. Susan Brown, co-director of the NCFMR. “It’s just one of an array of options. Increasingly, many couples choose to cohabit and still others prefer to remain single.”
As well as the fact that fewer women are getting married, the study also found that women are waiting longer to get married. The average age for a woman’s first marriage in America is apparently now 27.
A greater number of women are also now separated or getting divorced, with figures rising from 1% in 1920 to 15% today.