Marital status and living arrangements: March 1986.

Abstract

This report presents detailed information on the marital status and living arrangements of the noninstitutional population of the US, based on the results of the March 1986 Current Population Survey. The text of this report compares current survey data with data collected from earlier surveys. Highlights from this comparison follow. 1) The proportions of men and women in their early 30s who had never married have doubled since 1960. Between 1970 and 1986, the proportion of never-married women aged 25-29 rose from 11% to 28% and from 6% to 14% for women aged 30-34. The proportion of never-married men rose from 19% to 41% for ages 25-29, and from 9% to 22% for ages 30-34. 2) The median age at first marriage for men (25.7) in 1986) now stands at a level close to the figure for men in 1900. The median age at first marriage for women (23.1 in 1986) has been higher during the 1980s than at any previously recorded level. 3) In 1986, there were 131 divorced persons/1000 persons in an intact marriage, compared to 35/1000 in 1960. 4) 24% of all children (18 lived with 1 parent in 1986, compared to 9% in 1960. 5) 53% of all young adults 18-24 lived in their parent's home in 1986, compared with 43% in 1960. 6) There were 2.2 million unmarried-couple households in 1986, 4 times the number in 1960.

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