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Why are millennials and Gen Z waiting to get married?

The average age of a groom is 30 years old, while the average age of a bride is 28 years old

Jun 6, 2023, Deseret News

Are young married people a “vanishing breed”? Some new data reported on by The Hill shows people are delaying marriage until later in life.

There are a number of reasons why younger generations delay marriage — some are economic and some have to do with what these generations prioritize.

Here’s a look at when people are getting married, why the age of married people is increasing and the potential impacts of this societal trend.

What age do most people get married now?

The average age of a groom is 30 years old, while the average age of a bride is 28 years old, according to the latest U.S. Census data. The Hill produced a graph showing the average age at which men and women get married, from 1950 to present day.

In 1950, the average age of married young people was in their early 20s. After 2000, the average age increased to above 25 and has steadily increased since — the exception being men marry slightly younger now than they did in 2020.

Not only are people delaying marriage, fewer people overall are marrying. According to The Hill, “In the prime adult years, ages 25 to 54, the share of married Americans has dwindled from more than two-thirds in 1990 to barely half today. Roughly 1 adult in 10 cohabits with a partner. Everyone else, in romantic terms, lives alone.”

Even though marriage overall is on the decline, midlife marriage also may be becoming slightly more popular. The Wall Street Journal reported, “The rates of first marriages in midlife have increased by 74% for women and 45% for men between 1990 and 2019, according to a study published in June. The study also found that about 10% of people marrying for the first time are ages 40 to 59.”

Why is marriage being delayed?

There are a number of reasons people are delaying marriage — economic stability, religious demographic shifts, the threat of divorce and having other priorities which take precedence over starting a family.

The threat of divorce and financial instability may be a reason younger people delay marriage, according to the Bentley University Newsroom. Millennials may see marriage as a financially risky move and delay it until they reach financial stability. Individuals are achieving financial stability at a later age, which may be a reason why some are delaying marriage.

Yet, marriage correlates with greater economic stability. Brad Wilcox, writing for Institute for Family Studies, said, “Nevertheless, marriage and marital transitions also appear to independently influence the accumulation of wealth in America. Married couples, for instance, benefit from economies of scale that allow them to share housing, food and utilities and devote more of their household income to building wealth.”

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