According to the U.S. Bureau of Census, in 1970, the percentage of men between the ages of 20 and 24 who had never been married was 35.8, while for women, the percentage was 54.7.

For people aged 40 to 44 in 1970, the percentage of men who had never been married was 4.9, and of women, 6.3.

Compare those numbers to those for the year 2010.

In 2010, the percentage of men between the ages of 20 and 24 who had never been married was 88.7, and of women in the same age group, 79.3.

Okay, we can clearly see that by 2010, people were not getting married between the ages of 20 and 24 the way they were back in 1970.

But now look at the age group 40 to 44.

By 2010, 20.4 % of men in that age group had never been married, compared to 4.9% in 1970.

And 13.8% of women in the same age group, 40 to 44 had never been married, compared to 6.3% in 1970.

These statistics reflect the changing attitudes of people who have never been married - attitudes which were the subject of a recent study one online dating website.

Their findings were based on the study of 5200 single people ages 21 to 65 and included the following discoveries:

• singles are not desperate to marry and have children. 72% of singles would live with someone in the future without marrying
• in the age group 21-34, 62% of single women and men want to marry, 9% do not and 29% aren’t sure
• for the age group 35-44, 40% want to marry, 19% don’t, and 42% aren’t certain

On the face of it, it appears that as single people age, and have more experiences in the world of dating and relationships – and, perhaps, experience more disappointment and even heartbreak, they become less interested in marriage.

Fully, 20% fewer people between the ages of 35 and 44 want to get married than those between the ages of 21 and 24.

MARRIAGE OBSOLETE?

Marrriage satistics show an interesting statistic according to Pew Reaserach, in a study conducted in 2010. Public opinion about marriage echoes the declining prevalence of marriage. In a 2010 Pew Research Center survey, about four-in-ten Americans (39%) said they agree that marriage as an institution is becoming obsolete. Back in the 70s, only 28% agreed with that premise. When analyzed by respondents’ marital status, these differences sharpen. Just 31% of married adults agree that marriage is becoming obsolete, compared with 46% of all unmarried adults, 58% of never married single parents and 62% of cohabiting (unmarried) parents.

FEWER ADULTS THAN EVER NOW MARRIED

Barely half of all adults in the United States—a record low—are currently married, and the median age at first marriage has never been higher for brides (26.5 years) and grooms (28.7), according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census data.