After decades of growth, fewer U.S. adults live without a spouse or partner. By 2023, 42% of adults were unpartnered, down from 44% in 2019. Marriage and cohabitation increased modestly during the same period. Married adults rose to 51%, while cohabiting couples grew from 6% to 7%, says a Pew Research Study.
Women remain more likely than men to be unpartnered. In 2023, 44% of women were unpartnered, compared to 40% of men.
AGE SHAPES PARTNERSHIP PATTERNS
Age strongly influences relationship status. Among adults aged 18 to 24, 86% are unpartnered, the highest percentage of any age group.
By 25 to 39, only 42% remain unpartnered. Among 40 to 54-year-olds, this figure drops further to 29%. Unpartnered adults rise slightly to 32% for those aged 55 to 64. Among seniors 65 and older, 41% remain unpartnered.
GENDER AND AGE INTERSECTION
Younger men are more likely than women to be unpartnered. However, this trend reverses for those aged 40 and older. For adults 65 and older, 51% of women are unpartnered, compared to only 29% of men.
RACE AND ETHNICITY INFLUENCE TRENDS
Race and ethnicity significantly affect partnership rates. Black adults lead, with 61% unpartnered. Hispanic adults follow at 45%, White adults at 38%, and Asians at 35%.
Unpartnered rates also differ by nativity. U.S.-born adults are more likely to be unpartnered (44%) than foreign-born adults (33%).
EDUCATION LEVELS AND RELATIONSHIP STATUS
Education levels correlate with partnership rates. Among adults aged 25 and older, 44% without a high school diploma are unpartnered. By contrast, only 30% of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree remain unpartnered.
ECONOMIC CHALLENGES FOR UNPARTNERED ADULTS
Unpartnered adults face more economic struggles than partnered individuals. They earn less, report lower employment rates, and struggle financially. A Federal Reserve survey found 64% of unpartnered adults feel financially secure. Among partnered adults, this number rises to 77%.
DECLINING DIVORCE RATES DRIVE THE SHIFT
The decline in not having partners doesn’t stem from more marriages. Instead, fewer divorces contribute significantly to this change. Since 2012, divorce rates have plummeted. In 2023, only 1.4% of married adults divorced, the lowest rate on record.
KEY INSIGHTS INTO RELATIONSHIP TRENDS
- Marriage and Cohabitation: Marriage rose to 51%, and cohabitation grew to 7% since 2019.
- Gender and Age Dynamics: Women, younger adults, and Black Americans are more likely to remain unpartnered.
- Economic Outcomes: Partnered adults experience better financial stability and higher earnings.
- Divorce Rates: Lower divorce rates, not more marriages, drive fewer unpartnered adults.
FUTURE IMPLICATIONS
Understanding these trends helps policymakers, researchers, and organizations support individuals navigating relationships. The shifting dynamics reveal societal and economic challenges influencing modern partnerships.
