In 2023, there were 62.18 million married couples in the United States. This is an increase from 40.2 million married couples in 1960.
Marriage in the U.S.
While the number of married couples in the U.S. has increased in the past few decades, this could very well just be due to population change, since while the U.S. population has been increasing, the marriage rate has decreased significantly since 1990. In addition, the divorce rate has almost halved since 1990 despite concerns that more people are getting divorced than in years past.
Same-sex marriage in the U.S.
After years of advocacy, same-sex marriage became legal in the United States in June 2015. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage was legal in a landmark ruling in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges. In 2015, a clear majority of Americans were in favor of the legalization of same-sex marriage, and approval has only been increasing in the years since.
Number of married couples in the United States from 1960 to 2023
(in millions)
Characteristic
Number of married couples in millions
2023
62.18
2022
61.44
2021
61.45
2020
62.34
2019
61.96
2018
61.24
2017
60.8
2016
60.25
2015
60.01
2014
59.63
2013
59.2
2012
58.95
2011
58.04
2010
60.38
2009
60.84
2008
60.13
2007
60.68
2006
59.53
2005
59.37
2004
59.06
2003
58.59
2002
57.92
2001
57.84
2000
56.5
1995
54.94
1990
53.26
1985
51.11
1980
49.71
1975
47.55
1970
45.37
1960
40.2
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US Census Bureau. (November 21, 2023). Number of married couples in the United States from 1960 to 2023 (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/183663/number-of-married-couples-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. "Number of married couples in the United States from 1960 to 2023 (in millions)." Chart. November 21, 2023. Statista. Accessed November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/183663/number-of-married-couples-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. (2023). Number of married couples in the United States from 1960 to 2023 (in millions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/183663/number-of-married-couples-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. "Number of Married Couples in The United States from 1960 to 2023 (in Millions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 21 Nov 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/183663/number-of-married-couples-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau, Number of married couples in the United States from 1960 to 2023 (in millions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/183663/number-of-married-couples-in-the-us/ (last visited November 22, 2024)
Number of married couples in the United States from 1960 to 2023 (in millions) [Graph], US Census Bureau, November 21, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/183663/number-of-married-couples-in-the-us/
