Data from the

NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS SYSTEM

First Marriages

United States, 1968-1976

An analysis of national trends and patterns in first marriage for the

period 1968-76, incIuding national estimates, variation by State,

and first-marriage rates by age and sex. Discusses seIected characteristics of persons marrying for the first time, specifically, age, race,

residency, nativity, education, and previous marital status of spouse.

DHEW Publication No. (PHS) 79-1913

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

Public Health Service

Office of Health Research, Statistics, and Technology

National Center for Health Statistics

Hyattsville, Md. September 1979

Series 21

Number 35
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

United St2tcs. Division of Vital Statistics.

First marriages, United States, 1968-1976.

(Vital and health statistics : Series 21, Data from the National Vital Statistics System ;

I1O. 35) (DHIZW publication ; (PHS) 79-1913)

1. hlarriage-United States–Statistics. I. Title. II. Series: United States. National Center

for lIc:ilth Statistics. Vita] and health statistics : Series 21, Data from the ATational Vital

Statistics System, Data on natality, marriage, and divorce, ; no. 35. HI. Series: United

States. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare. DHEW publication ; (PIIS) 79-1913.

HA211.A3 no. 3.5 [HB1125J 312’.1’73s 79-607106

ISBN 0-8406 -0168-9 [312’.5’0973]
NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS

DOROTHY P. RICE, Director

ROBERT A. ISRAEL, Deputy Director

JACOB J. FELDMAN, Ph.D., Associate Director for Analysis

GAIL F. FISHER, Ph. D., Associate Director for the Cooperative Health Statistics System

ROBERT A. ISRAEL, A cting Associate Director for Data Systems

JAMES T. BAIRD, JR., Ph.D., Associate Director for International Statistics

ROBERT C. HUBER, Associate Director for Management

MONROE G. SIRKEN, Ph. D., Associate Director for Mathematical Statistics

PETER L. HURLEY, Associate Director for Operations

JAMES M. ROBEY, Ph.D., Associate Director for Program Deveibpment

PAUL E. LEAVERTON, Ph.D., Associate Director for Research

ALICE HAYWOOD, Information officer

DIVISION OF VITAL STATISTICS

JOHN E. PATTERSON, Director

ALICE M. HETZEL, Deputy Director

ALICE M. HETZEL, ChieJ Marriage and Divorce S tutistics Branch

RITA U. HOFFMAN, Chiej Programming Branch

MABEL G, SMITH, Chiej Statistical Resources Branch

Vital and Health Statistics-Series 21-No. 35

DHEW Publication No. (PHS) 79-1913

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 79-607106
CONTENTS

Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................

Summary ................................................................................................................................................

Composition of Marriages by Marriage Order .........................................................................................

National Trend .......................................................................................................................................

Geographic Variation .............................................................................................................................

Characteristics of First Marriages ............................................................................................................

Month of Marriage ....................................................................... ............................................. ......

Type of Ceremony ............................................................................................................................

Social and Demographic Characteristics .................................................................................................

Age at Fkst Marriage .........................................................................................................................

Race ..................................................................................................................................................

Nativity and Resident Status .............................................................................................................

Education .........................................................................................................................................

Lktof Detailed Tables ...........................................................................................................................

Appendix: Technical Notes ...................... ............................................................................................

LIST OF TEXT FIGURES

1. Marriages by marriage orde~ Marriage-registration area, 1976 .......................................................

2. First marriage rates by sex: Each region, 1970 ..............................................................................

3. Seasonal wuiation in first msmiages and remarriages of brides: Marriage-registration area, 1976 ....

4. Fwst marriages by age at marriage for brides and grooms: Marriage-registration area, 1976 ..... .....

5. First marriage rates by sex: Marriage-registration area, 1968-76 ....................................................

6. First marriage rates by single years of age 18-29, by sex: Marriage-registration area, 1976 ............

7. First marriage rates by single years of age 18-29, by sex: Marriage-registration area, 1968, 1972,

and 1976 ......................................................... ...........................................................................

8. Percent of grooms who married younger brides, brides of the same age, and older brides, when

both bride and groom were marrying for the first time, by age of groom: Marriage-registration

area, 1976 ....................................................................................................................................

9. Average number of years groom was older than bride at first marriage of both, by age of groom:

Marriage-registration area, 1976 ....................... ...........................................................................

10. Percent of brides and grooms under 25 years of age at fmt marriage, by race: Reporting States,

1970-75 .......................................................................................................................................

11. Percent of previously single (never-maried) and previously divorced brides and grooms who were

born in the State where married, by age at marriage: Marriage-registration area, 1975 ...............

1

1

2

2

3

4

4

5

5

5

12

14

17

28

37

2

3

5

6

8

9

10

12

12

15

19

...

Ill
12.

13.

14.

15.

A.

B.

c.

D.

E.

F.

G.

H.

J.

K.

L.

M.

N.

o.

P.

Q.

R.

s.

Percent distribution of first marriages by years of school completed for brides and grooms: 11

selected States, 1975 ...................................................................................................................

Median years of school completed by previously single (never-married) and previously divorced

brides and grooms, by age at marriage: 11 selected States, 1975 ................................................

Percent of previously single (never-married) and previously divorced brides and grooms who completed 16 years or more of school (equivalent to college graduation), by age at marriage: 11

selected States, 1975 ..................................................... .............................................................

Median age of bride and groom at first marriage, by years of school completed: 11 selected

States, 1975 .................................................................................................................................

LIST OF TEXT TABLES

Percent distribution of marriages by marriage order of bride and groom: Marriage-registration

area, 1969-76 ...............................................................................................................................

Estimated number and rate of first marriages by sex: United States, 1968-76 .............................

Percent distribution of first marriages by age of bride and groom: Marriage-registration area,

1968 and 1976 ............................................................................................................................

Percent of population single (never-manied), by sex and age, with change: United States, 1970

and 1976 ....................................................................................................................................

First marriage rates by single years of age 18-29, by sex, with percent change: Marriage-registrationarea, 1968 and 1976 .............................................................................................................

Median age and first and third quartiles of age at first marriage of both bride and groom (primary

marriage), with interquartile range: Marriage-registration area, 1968-76 .....................................

Median age of bride and groom at first marriage: Marriage-registration area, each region, division,

and State, 1976 ...........................................................................................................................

Number and percent distribution of first marriages of both bride and groom (primaxy marriages)

by race of qoom, according to race of bride: 35 reporting States, 1975 ....................................

Number of fiist marriages and median age and first and Wlrd quartiles of age at first marriage of

bride and groom and change from 1970 to 1975, by race, with interqurwtile range: Uniform

group of 33 reporting States, 1970 and 1975 ..............................................................................

Percent of all marriages that were first marriages for brides and grooms, by race: Reporting

areas, 1970-75 .............................................................................................................................

Percent of brides and grooms who were born in and resident of the State where married by

marriage orden Marriage-registration area, 1975 .........................................................................

Percent of previously single (never-married) and previously divorced brides and grooms who were

born in the State where married, by age at maniage, with median age: Reporting States,

1975 ............................................................................................................................................

Percent of previously single (never-manied) and previously divorced brides and grooms who were

residents of the State where married, by age at m-ge: Reporting States, 1975 ......................

Number and percent distribution of first marriages, by years of school completed by brides and

~ooms: 11 selected States, 1969-75 ...........................................................................................

Median years of school completed and percent who completed 16 yearn or more of school, for

brides and grooms at first marriage: 11 selected States and each State, 1970 and 1975 ..............

Median years of school completed and percent who completed 16 years or more of school by age

at marriage for previously single (never-mamied) and previously divorced brides and grooms: 11

selected States, 1975 ...................................................................................................................

Median age at fiist marriage for brides and grooms, by years of school completed: 11 selected

States, 1970 and 1975 .................................................................................................................

Percent of all marriages that were first marriages, by years of school completed by brides and

grooms: 11 selected States, 1970 and 1975 ................................................................................

22

24

25

27

2

3

5

7

11

11

13

14

16

17

17

18

20

21

22

23

26

26
SYMBOLS

Data not available—-——–—---–———–—— ---

Category not applicable—--—-----–——— . . .

Quantity zero--–-–--—---–—-—–-— -

Quantity more than Obut less than 0.05— 0.0

Figure does not meet standards of

reliabilityy or precision--——--—-——— *
FIRST MARRIAGES: UNITED STATES, 1968-1976

Barbara Foley Wilson and Elaine Hume,a Division of Vital Statistics

INTRODUCTION

This report presents detailed information

about the characteristics of persons wh~ first

married in the years 1968-76, a period when an

estimated 1.5- 1.7 million first marriages occurred

each year. The topics covered include the

national trend in numbers and rates of first

marriage, geographic variations, seasonal fluctuations, whether the ceremony was civil or religious, and social and demographic characteristics

of the bride and groom such as age, race, residence, birthplace, and education.

Statistics on first marriages are not available

for the entire United States. The data in this

report are based on samples of records from

States that participate in the marriage-registration area (MIL%). These are States that have central files of m-age certificates and sufficiently

complete reporting of demographic items on

their records to warrant collection, processing,

and publication in the official United States

annual reports. The MRA was composed of 41

States and the District of Columbia from 1971

to 1976. Estimates of first-marriage totals and

rates for the United States were based on detailed data from the MRA and actuzd counts of

all marriages performed in the United States.

SUMMARY

There were an estimated 1.5- 1.7 million first

marriages every year from 1968 to 1976. The

number of first marriages peaked in 1972 at 1.7

aFormerly with the Division of Vital Statistics.

million, and then dropped sharply to 1.5 million

in 1975 and 1976.

More first marriages (13 percent) took place

in June than in any other month in 1976. A

majority of brides and grooms (65 and 60 percent, respectively) were born in the State where

they first married.

Median age at first marriage was 21.0 years

for brides and 22.9 for grooms in 1976. In

marriages where both persons were marrying for

the first time (primary marriages), the median

age was lower, 20.7 for brides and 22.5 for

grooms. The older a groom was at first marriage,

the greater was the difference in age between

spouses. The median age of brides at first

marriage in 1976 was the highest it has been in

more than a decade.

First-marriage rates were highest in the

South and lowest in the Northeast. Because

more previously married men than women

marry never-married spouses, first-marriage rates

for women are higher than those for men. Agespecific rates for both sexes dropped after 1968,

some as much as 40-50 percent. The percent of

men and women 20-24 years of age who had

never married rose 7 percent between 1970

and 1976. White brides and grooms tended to be

younger than black persons marrying for the

first time, and both white and black persons

were younger than persons of other races.

Previously single grooms had, on the average,

more education than brides had. The number of

marrying persons who completed 16 years of

education (college equivalent) increased for both

sexes between 1970 and 1975, more for brides

than for grooms.

1
COMPOSITION OF MARRIAGES

BY MARRIAGE ORDER

The proportion of brides and grooms who

were single prior to this marriage, that is, never

previously married, varies from year to year,

from State to State, and with other personal

characteristics such as age, race, and education.

In 1969, 77 percent of the btides and of the

grooms in the MRA were marrying for the first

time. By 1976, the proportion dropped to 69

percent for brides. In the same period the proportion of grooms who were marrying for the

first time dropped to 67 percent (table A).

Marriages in which both the bride and the groom

were never previously married, that is, “primary

marriages,” accounted for almost 70 percent of

all marriages in the MRA in 1969, but the proportion had dropped to 59 percent by 1976.

For the MRA in 1976, figure 1 displays the proportion of primary marriages in relation to the

proportions for other combinations of first marriage or remarriage of brides and grooms.

Figure 1. Marriages by marriage order: Marriage-registration

area, 1976

NATIONAL TREND

Sample data from the MRA provided a basis

for estimating the total number of first marriages

performed in the United States from 1968 to

1976, years during which the composition of the

MRA remained fairly constant. South Carolina

and Minnesota entered the registration area in

Table A. Percent distribution of Fnarriages by marriage order of bride and groom: Marriage-registration area, 1969-76

[ Based on sample data. Excludes marriages for which marriage order was not stated for either bride or groom]

Sex and year

Al I

marriages

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

First marriage–

II I

Total IFor both I

Remarriage

for spouse

69.2

70.1

72.1

73.3

75.0

75.6

76.2

76.9

67.3

68.7

71.0

72.4

74.2

75.0

75.8

76.8

58.5

60.1

62.9

64.6

66.7

67.7

68.6

69.6

58.5

60.1

62.9

64.6

66.7

67.7

68.6

69.6

Remarriage–

First

Total

Remarriage

marriage

for spouse

for both

Percent distribution

10.7

9.9

9.2

8.7

8.2

8.0

7.6

7.3

8.8

8.6

8.1

7.9

7.4

7.3

7.3

7.2

30.8

29.9

27.9

26.7

25.0

24.4

23.8

23.1

32.7

31.3

29.0

27.6

25.8

25.0

24.2

23.2

8.8

8.6

8.1

7.9

7.4

7.3

7.3

7.2

10.7

9.9

9.2

8.7

8.2

8.0

7.6

7.3

22.0

21.3

19.8

18.9

17.6

17.0

16.5

15.9

22.0

21.3

19.8

18.9

17.6

17.0

16.5

15.9
1971, bringing the total for the MRA to 41

States and the District of Columbia for the years

1971-76. Approximations of national firstmarriage totals were derived by applying the

proportion of first marriages in the MRA to the

annual number of marriages performed in the

United States (table B).

First marriages increased from an estimated

1.6 million in 1968 to 1.7 million in 1972, and

declined after that to 1.5 million in 1976.

More brides than grooms were previously

single. In the second half of the 1960’s the differences between first-marriage totals for men

and those for women were small. Only 2,000

more women than men married for the first

time in 1968. The differences rose sharply to

41,000 in 1976. More divorced men than

women were marrying single partners.

Relating national first marriages estimated

for women and men to the never-married

population 15-44 years of age yields firstmarriage rates that measure the likelihood of

marriage within the broad age range where most

first marriages occur (table B). Between 1968

and 1976, first-marriage rates declined about

30 percent. During this period, first-marriage

rates for women were consistently 20-30 percent higher than those for men. In 1976 there

were 94 marriages for every 1,000 single women

aged 15-44, and 71 marriages for every 1,000

single men in this same group.

Table B. Estimated number and rate of first marriages, by

sex: United States, 1968-76

[Based on sample data. Rates are first marria

persons 15-44 years of age

-

1976 ................... I 1,491,000

1975 ...................

1974 ...................

1973 ...................

1972 ...................

1971 ...................

1970. ..................

1969 ...................

1968 ...................

,507,000

,605,000

,672,000

,708,000

,656,000

,643,000

,650,000

,604,000

1.450,000

1.479,000

1,581,000

1,654,000

1,691,000

1,641,000

1,636,000

1,646,000

1,602,000

s per 1,000 single

Yn_l.uRate

93.7

97.7

108.1

116.4

121.5

119.6

123.3

129.6

129.5

71.0

75.2

82.9

89.9

93.3

91.4

99.8

102.9

101.3

GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION

The number of first marriages for each year

from 1968 to 1976 is shown in table 1 for each

reporting State. Most States reached a peak

number in the early 1970’s and then experienced

a decline.

Regional rates.–In 1970 data were available

to compute estimates of first-marriage rates per

1,000 single persons aged 15-44 years for each

geographic re$on. As might be expected, there

were noticeable regional differences. The South

led the Nation for women, with a first-marriage

rate of 143.2, followed by the West with a rate

of 127.5. The North Central Region ranked

third at 112.3, and the Northeast had the Iowest

first-marriage rate (97.2).

The regional pattern in the first-marriage

rate for men was similar. The highest rate

occurred in the South (111. 1). Rates for the

West and North Central were very close, 95.7

and 93.7, respectively, and the lowest rate was

in the Northeast (84.4). Thus there was a narrower range for men than for women in the

first-marriage rates across the country (figure 2).

~ 150

: 140

J

m

0

: 130 m

y<120

: 110

Northeast

Men

REGION

Figure 2. First marriage rates by sex: Each region, 1970

3
The rates shown in figure 2 are based on

data from the MRA plus three States–Colorado,

Minnesota, and Nevada–that were specially

sampled in 1970. These three States recorded

marriage order or previous marital status, so that

this information could be combined with data

from the registration States to make a more

complete picture.

State variations. – Differences in first-marriage rates were much more pronounced among

States than among regions (table 2). In 1970

rates among women ranged from as low as 72.1

in the District of Columbia to as high as 177.3

in South Dakota, more than twice as great.

However, among men, Alaska ranked lowest,

with a rate of 66.5, and South Dakota ranked

highest (138.5). Wide variations are observed,

in part because the rates relate the number of

first marriages occurring in each State, rather

than the number of State residents who first

married in a given year, to the eligible population residing in the respective States. State laws

regulate minimum age at marriage, blood test

and other medical requirements, and waiting

periods before and after issuance of a license.

If the laws in one State are more lenient than

those in another, residents may cross State

lines to marry. First-marriage rates are, therefore, influenced to some extent by the number

of nonresident marriages performed in each

State. They are also influenced by the age and

sex composition of the population of the State.

In considering variation among States,

Nevada is a special case. Although it is frequently regarded as a State for divorce, in fact,

marriages (97,605 in 1970) are more than 10

times as frequent as divorces (9,138 in 1970).

Of these marriages, 44 percent were first marriages for brides, of whom over 90 percent were

not residents of Nevada. Because the number of

out-of-State residents who marry in Nevada is

large in comparison with the number of Nevada

residents who are eligible to marry, the firstmarriage rates based on occurrence are difficult to interpret; for example, in 1970 there

were 1,789.9 first marriages per 1,000 single

resident women aged 15-44 years.

Rate differentials among States can be expected to change as the result of a 1971

Supreme Court ruling that laws discriminating

on the basis of sex are unconstitutional. Prior to

1971 most States set an older minimum age at

marriage for men than for women. In response

to the 1971 Supreme Court ruling, the age

minimums have been equalized. By late 1975

the minimum age for marriage without parental

consent was 18 years in 47 States. The minimum

age was 19 for both sexes in Wyoming and

Nebraska and 21 in Mississippi. 1 In general,

this equalization enables men 18-20 years of

age to marry in most States where they previously would have needed parental permission

or else would have had to cross a State border

to marry under a more lenient law.

CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRST

MARRIAGES

Month of Marriage

If first marriages occurred randomly throughout the year, 8 or 9 percent of the annual total

would take place each month. But, in fact, only

5 or 6 percent of first marriages are performed

in January and February; about 13 percent take

place in June. Approximately half as many first

marriages are perfotied during the first 3

months of the year as in the 3 months of June

through August.

First marriages are more closely linked to

the seasons than remarriages are. In remarriages,

December is chosen about as frequently as June

(figure 3).

Seasonality is also related to age at marriage.

First marriages involving brides under 18 years

of age are distributed more evenly throughout

the year than are those involving brides in older

age groups. First marriages of brides 20-24 years

of age are most seasonal, dipping very low in the

first quarter of the year and peaking sharply in

summer.

1Council of State Governments: The Book of the

States, 1974-75. Lexington, Ky. Council of State Governments, 1975. P. 236.
160

r

140 -

j\,

; \,

i \. .’; ,,/

g 120 i ‘!,

5 i \,First mamaw

2

: 100

/’ \,.-.

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6 60

EC

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40

‘L—__!__ Jan, Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. SepI. Oct. No., Dec.

MONTH OF MARRIAGE

Ficmre 3. Seasonal variation in first marriages and remarriages

of brides: Marriage-registration area, 1976

Type of Ceremony

Approximately 80 percent of first marriages

are performed in a religious setting. The percent

is even higher for brides and grooms 20-24 years

of age.

In comparison, about 60 percent of remarriages occur in a religious setting and about 40

percent are civil in setting.

The proportion of first-marriage ceremonies

performed in 1976 that were religious in nature

varied among States from under 45 percent in

South Carolina to around 99 percent in West

Virginia.

SOCIAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC

CHARACTERISTICS

Age at First Marriage

The age of bride and groom at first marriage

is an important demographic characteristic

because it relates to fertility, mobility, education, and divorce. For instance, it has been

found that the younger the age at first marriage

during the childbearing years, the higher the

fertility.2

Percent distribution.–The number of first

marriages in the MlL4 distributed by age is

shown in figure 4. In 1976, about 18 percent

of single grooms were under 20 years of age,

52 percent were 20-24, and 30 percent were

25’ years and older (table C). The modal age for

grooms was 21 years. In comparison, numbers of

single brides were concentrated at younger ages.

About 38 percent of the brides were under 20

years of age, 45 percent were 20-24 years, and

17 percent were 25 years of age and older. The

modal age for brides at first marriage was 19 in

1976. In general, the distribution of grooms by

age at first marriage was less concentrated than

that of brides. For every age after 20 years there

were more grooms than brides marrying for the

first time.

Between 1968 and 1976 these proportions

changed slightly. The distribution by age at first

marriage shifted upward as proportionately

more people married at ages over 24 years. The

effect of these changes can be seen in the single

population, according to information published

Table C. Percent distribution of first marriages by age of bride

and groom: Marriage-registration area, 1968 and 1976

[Based on sample data]

1976 1968

Age

Bride Groom Bride Groom

Percent distribution

Total .... .............. 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Under 18 years ............. 11.9 2.1 12.3 1.8

18-19 years ..... .............. 26.4 15.4 29.2 16.1

20-24 years .... ............... 44.8 52.2 46.2 56.6

25-29 years ................. .. 11.6 21.0 7.8 16.7

30-34 years ................... 2.7 5.2 1.9 4.3

3544 years ................... 1.6 2.7 1.6 3.0

45 yaars and over .......... 0.9 1.4 0.9 1.5

2U.S. Bureau of the Census: The Methods and

Matem”ak of Demography, by H. S. Shryock, J. S. Siegel,

and associates. 2d printing (rev.). Washington. U.S.

Government Printing Office, 1973. P. 789.

5
160

140

120

6C

40

2C

c

Br,dw

TotalMRA fmt marriages 1,162,528

Mean agm 22.1 years

Median age: 21,0 years

Modal age 19 years

Grooms

Total MRA fmt marriage% 1,132,320

Mean age: 24.1 years

Median age: 22.9 years

Modal age 21 years

4-. l\

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1 \,

~ 1,

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-------- ._.-,

, 1 , , t , # I ,

16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 38 38 40

AGE AT FIRST MARRIAGE IYEARS)

Figure 4. First marriages by age at marriage for brides and grooms: Marriaga-registration area, 1976

6
Table D. Percent of population single (naver-married), by sex and age, with change: United States, 1970 and 1976

[Based on sample data]

Age

Total, 14 years and over ....................................................................

Under 35 years ..................................................................................................

35 years and over ............... .............. .............................................. ............ .......

14-17 years ........................................................... .. .... ............................ .... .. .....

18 yaars ....................................... .................... ..................................................

19 years ...................................................................................... .......................

20-24 years ........................................................................................................

20 years ............................ .................. .. .................................................. .. ...

21 years. ......................................... .............................................................

22 years ................................................................................ ............ ...........

23 years ............................................................ ...........................................

24 years ................................................ ...... .............. ............ .. .....................

25-29 years ........................................................................................................

25 years .......................................... .. ...... .............. .......................................

26 years ............................................................... ........................................

27 yaars .......................................................................................................

28 yaars ............................................. ..........................................................

29 years .................................................... ............................................ .......

30-34 years ...................................................... ............ ........ ........... ...................

35-39 years ............................................. ............................. ..............................

40-44 yean ................................. ................................................ .................. .....

45-54 years . ........ ............. ........................................................... .......................

55-64 years .............................................................. ..........................................

65 years and over ................................................................ ........ .............. ........

Percent

23.0

45.3

5.0

97.0

84.0

72.1

42.6

60.9

51.2

41.4

31.2

26.4

14.8

22.7

17.4

13.4

10.9

10.1

7.0

5.2

4.2

4.4

4.9

5.9

22.1

44.4

6.1

97.3

82.0

68.8

35.8

56.9

43.9

33.5

22.4

17.9

10.5

14.0

12.2

9.1

8.9

8.0

6.2

5.4

4.9

4.9

6.8

7.7

0.9

0.9

-1.1

-0.3

2.0

3.3

6.8

4.0

7.3

7.9

8.8

8.5

4.3

8.7

5.2

4.3

2.0

2.1

0.8

-0.2

-0.7

-0.5

–1.9

–1.8

29.8

56.2

5.8

99.4

95.6

87.9

62.1

80.9

72.7

61.6

52.2

39.8

24.9

32.1

30.6

23.6

22.4

16.7

12.3

7.9

6.6

5.6

5.6

4.4

28.1

54.8

7.3

99.4

95.1

89.9

54.7

78.3

66.2

52.3

42.1

33.2

19.1

26.6

20.9

16.5

17.0

13.8

9.4

7.2

6.3

7.5

7.8

7.5

1.7

1.4

-1.5

0.5

-2.0

7.4

2.6

6.5

9.3

10.1

6.6

5.8

5.5

9.7

7.1

5.4

2.9

2.9

0.7

0.3

-1.9

-2.2

-3.1

lDifferen~es Shorn were derived by using roumkl Percentages.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, “Marital Status and LMng Arrangements: March 1976,” Current Population Reports, Series

P-20, NO. 306.

by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Between 1970

and 1976 the percent of the population that had

never married rose for both sexes at every

specified age between 18 and 29 except for

males of age 19 (table D).

As noted, in 1971 the Supreme Court rtded

that laws discriminating on the basis of sex are

unconstitutional. Most States responded by

lowering the age for marriage without parentaI

consent to 18 years for men. For first marriages

in 1972 the number ,of grooms 18-20 years of

age rose 8 percent. This was more than the increase in first marriages for grooms of all ages (4

percent). In 1973, as the effect of the statutory

changes receded, the number of grooms 18-20

years dropped by 4 percent; the number of first

marriages for grooms of all ages dropped by 3

percent.

First-marriage rates. –Because different numbers of men and women reach man-iageable age

each year, rates provide better indexes for

studying change than the numbers alone.

The rates described in this section are based

on first marriages that occurred in the IMRA

between 1968 and 1976 and are calculated per

1,000 single persons 14 years of age and over.

The rates decIined between 1968 and 1971,

rose slightly in 1972 (when the number of

marriages peaked), and then dropped again each

year through 1976 (figure 5).

The first-marriage rate for women was consistently higher than that for men throughout

7
01 1 , 1 1 1 1 I I

1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976

YEAR OF MARRIAGE

Figure 5. First marriage rates by sex: Marriage-registration

“area, 1968-76

this period, but rates for both sexes dropped.

The first-mamiage rate for women was 88.0 per

1,000 single women 14 years of age and over in

1968 and dropped 26 percent to 64.8 in 1976.

The first-man-iage rate for men was 73.8 per

1,000 in 1968 and dropped 28 percent to 53.1

in 1976.

First-marriage rates by single years of age

from 18 to 29 are charted in figures 6 and 7 and

are listed in table 3 for 1968-76. Like the numbers of first marriages, first-marriage rates vary

sharply with age, but they peak at ages about 4

years older (figure 6). In 1976 the first-marriage

rate was highest at age 23 for women ( 155.3

per 1,000 single 23-year-old women) and at age

25 for men ( 135.8 per 1,000 single 25-year-oId

men). The rates for both sexes at each age

under age 30 are shown for 1976 in figure 6.

They form a distinct curvilinear pattern, with

higher rates for women than men under 25

years of age and the consistently lower rates

for women at age 25 and older.

The rates by single years of age in 1968,

1972, and 1976 are plotted in figure 7. It can

be seen that the rates dropped in that time

period across all ages from 18 to 29, as much

as 40-50 percent for some ages (table E).

Median and range. –The median age of

brides at first marriage was 21.0 years and that

of grooms was 22.9 years in 1976. When both

bride and groom were marrying for the first

time (primary marriage), the ages were slightly

less: 20.7 years for brides, 22.5 years for grooms.

The mean ages of brides and grooms are a year

or so higher than the median ages, reflecting

the positively skewed distributions in which

many spouses are over 30 but none is under 10

years of age (table 4).

From 1968 to 1974 there was considerable

stability in these measures (table 4). In primary

marriages, the median age of grooms dropped

from 1970 to 1971, the year of the Supreme

Court decision, but the mean and mode showed

no change. From 1974 to 1976, however, both

median and mean ages increased 0.3-0.4 years

for brides and grooms, both in first marriages

and in primary marriages. The large proportions

of single men and women shown in table D will

cause a rise in these measures when, and if,, the

postponed marriages occur.

The interquartile range (difference between

the 25th and 75th percentiles) is a measure of

the dispersion, or spread, of a distribution

around its median (the 50th percentile). From

1968 to 1976 the interquartile range of age of

brides in primary marriages widened from 3.4

to 4.2 years. At the same time the interqua.rtile

range in age of grooms widened from 4.1 tc) 4.6

years (table F).

Differences in age. —Men usually marry

women younger than themselves. In 1976

approximately 71 percent of grooms were older

than their brides when both were marrying for

the first time, 15 percent were the same age,

and 14 percent of the grooms were younger

than their brides. The percent of grooms marrying younger or older brides varied by age at

marriage. The percent of grooms who married

younger women rose with age from 44 percent

of grooms 18 years of age to 86 percent of

grooms aged 35 and over. The opposite pattern

8
16(

14C

12[

1Oc

80

60

40

20

0

I t ( I 1 t 1 I I I ! )

)der 18 19 20

16

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

AGE AT FIRST MARRIAGE (YEARS}

Figure 6. First marriage rates by single years of age 18-29, by sex: Marriage-registration area, 1976

9
280

r

WOMEN

60 -

40 -

20 -

01 1 1 1 1 1 I

18 20 22 24 26 28 30

AGE AT FIRST MARRIAGE (YEARS)

280

[

MEN

260

t

---- 1968

‘--- 1972

— 1976

240 -

.~’h.

l\

i ‘N,

220 -

i

\

i

‘\.

\

i

‘\.

200 - i

\,

\

i \’\,

i

.“--.m~ ,~. \

180- i J“ ---,~ ‘. ‘\

i /’ .\ ’\.

. \

i: \

\

‘\,

i; \

160 - \

\,

i{

\ \

\

i;

\

\

i4’

\

140 – ,

i;

i;

120 - i;

i;

i:

100-

i;

it’

2

80 -

/’

$

J

60 !

40

I

I

20

t

01 I 1 I I 1

16 20 22 24 26 28 :;0

AGE AT FIRST MARRIAGE (YEARSI

Figure7. First marriage rates bysingle years ofage18-29, by sex: Marriage-registration area, 1968, 1972, and 1976

was apparent for grooms who married older was 2.0 years. However, at 18 years of age the

brides and brides of the same age (figure 8 average difference was 0.3 years. The difference

and table 5). rose steadily to almost 5 years for grooms at

The age difference between bride and groom age 30 and to 10 years for grooms at age 44

also increased as age of the ,groom increased. (figure 9).

Over all

between

10

.-

ages the average (mean) age difference Previous marital

brides and grooms in primary marriages first marriage varies

status of spouse. —Age at

with the previous marital
Table E. First marriage rates by single years of age 18-29, by sex, with percent change: Marriage-registration area, 1968 and 1976

[Based on sample data. Rates are first marriages per 1,000 single persons of specified age]

Age

18 years .......................................................................................

19 years ............... ........................................................................

20 years ...................................................................................... .

21 years ............................................................ ........ .................. .

22 years ..... ..................................................................................

23 years .................................. .................... .................. .............. .

24 years ........... .. ..........................................................................

25 years ...................................................................... .................

26 years ........................................................... ............................

27 yaars ...................................................................... .................

28 years ............. .......................................................... ................

29 years .......................................................................................

Table F. Median age and first and third quartiles of age at first

marriage of both bride and groom (primary marriage), with

interquartile range: Marriage-registration area, 1968-76

[Based on sample data. Medians computed on single years of

Sex and year

EM&

1976 .............. ........

1975 ....... .............. .

1974 ...... .............. ..

1973 ......................

1972 ......................

1971 ...... ................

1970 ..................... .

1969 ......................

1968 ....... ...............

Groom

1976 ......................

1975 ................ ......

1974 ......................

1973 ................ ......

1972 ......... .............

1971 ................ ......

1970 ......................

1969 ......................

1968 ......................

age ]

Age at first marriage of

both bride and groom

(primary marriage)

First

quartile

18.8

18.7

18.6

18.6

18.6

18.7

18.7

18.8

18.8

20.5

20.4

20.3

20.3

20.3

20.4

20.4

20.5

20.5

Median

20.7

20.5

20.3

20.3

20.3

20.3

20.4

20.4

20.4

22.5

22.4

22.2

22.2

22.1

22.2

22.3

22.2

22.1

Third

quartile

23.0

22.8

22.6

22.5

22.5

22.4

22.5

22.3

22.2

25.1

24.9

24.7

24.7

24.6

24.5

24.4

24.4

24.6

lnterquartile

range

4.2

4.1

4.0

3.9

3.9

3.7

3.8

3.5

3.4

4.6

4.5

4.4

4.4

4.3

4.1

4.0

3.9

4.1

Women

J_1976 1968

Rate

98.4

112.7

119.3

128.4

144.1

155.3

137.0

121.6

110.7

108.6

99.5

90.1

140.8

180.8

209.0

257.8

273.4

225.6

194.1

182.2

153.9

167.4

140.5

130.7

Percent

change,

1968 to 1976

–30.1

–37.7

–42.9

-50.2

. –47.3

-31.2

-29.4

-33.3

–28.1

-35.1

–28.2

-31.1

Men

L

1976 1968

Rate

38.8

64.4

85.4

109.5

126.8

132.6

131.7

135.8

129.3

114.8

105.9

98.0 I

-

53.7

95.8

137.5

206.4

238.1

229.2

215.4

206.0

197.8

178.6

172.1

154.0

Percent

change,

1968 to 1976

-27.7

-32.8

-37.9

-46.9

-46.7

–42.1

-38.9

–34.1

-34.6

-35.7

-38.5

-36.4

status of spouse.

a The median age of single men

marrying single women in 1976 was 22.5 years;

of single men marrying divorcees, 26.2 years;

and of single men marrying widows, 36.0 years.

The median age of single women marrying single

men was 20.7 years; of single women marrying

divorced men, 23.4 years; and of singIe women

marrying widowers, 35.0 years (table 6). The

median ages and the first and third quartiles of

age at first marriage are also shown in tabIe 6.

As might be expected, the median age and the

first and third quartiles of age at first marriage

for both women and men were lowest when

both partners were single and highest when

either was previously widowed.

The difference between brides and grooms

in median ages was about 2 years when single

women married single men, 6 years when they

married divorced men, and 14 years when they

married widowers.

Geographical variations in age at first marn“age.—There are pronounced geographic differences in age at first marriage. As shown by

data for 1976, brides were youngest in the

South, particularly in the East South Central

Region, and, specifically, in Kentucky where

the median age of bride at first marriage was

19.5 years

Northeast,

(t~bIe G). They were oldest ~n the

particularly in the MiddIe Atlantic

11
90

[

, .- .,------

~.~--.

/.

/.

80 ,-- —--- Groomswho married

/ younger br,des

,/. ‘- -- Grooms who roamed

,/ br,desof sameage

70 ~./-- — Groomswho married

olderbrtdes

,/’

60

t

,/

!

I

30 ,

.

.

10

-.

------

-.

,,

-------

01 I t 1 I I 1 1 I

18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34

AGE OF GROOM (YEARS)

Figure 8. Percent of grooms who married younger brides,

brides of the same age, and older brides, when both bride

and groom were marrying for the first time, by age of

groom: Marriage-registration area, 1976

Division; in the State of New York, the median

age at first marriage was 22.3 years for brides.

Outside the Northeast, one state, Hawaii, had a

higher median age of bride at first marriage

(22.6 years). Brides and grooms marrying in

the District of Columbia were older still. In

California, the median age of bride at first

marriage was 21.7 years, higher than in several

of the northeastern States (table G).

The ages of grooms showed the same geographic variations as those of brides did. In

every State the median age of groom was higher

than that of the bride by about 2 years.

Race

In this section, statistics on first marriage by

race are presented mainly for 1975. These

statistics are based on information from the 35

States in the MRA that reported the race of

AGE OF GROOM (YEARS)

Figure 9. Average number of years groom was older than

bride at fir~ marriage of both, by age of groom: Marriageregistration area, 1976

brides and grooms with at least 9 O-percent

completeness in 1975. Six large States (California, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New

York, and Ohio) and the District of Columbia

did not identify race on their marriage records.

Marriages by race.–In the United States

men and women who marry are generally of

the same race. In 1975, 86.7 percent of the

primary marriages for which race was reported

paired white brides and grooms; 11.3 percent

paired black brides and grooms; and 0.8 percent

paired brides and grooms both of other races; ~

less than 2 percent of the marriages were interracial. The category “other” races includes all

races and national origins except white or

black, that is, Japanese, Chinese, Filipinos,

American Indians, Hawaiians, and Eskimos.

Interracial marriages in the “other” category

have not been separately identified from marriages between partners of the same “other”

race and are not included in the data on interracial marriages.

12
Table G. Median age of bride and groom at first marriage: Marriage-registration area, each region, division, and State, 1976

[ Based on sample data. Medians computed on single years of age]

Area

Marriage-registration area ............ ..........

REGION

No~heast ............... .............................. ............

North Central ................. .................... ..............

South ...............................................................

West ................. ................................................

GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION

New England ... ...... ...... .....................................

Middle Atlantic .... .............. ..............................

East North Central ............................ ...............

West North Central .... ............................ ..........

South Atlantic ............ .................... .................

East South Central ...........................................

West South Central ........... .............. ........ .........

Mountain .................... ...... ................ ...............

Pacific ......... .....................................................

New England

Maine ................ ......... .................... ....... ...........

New Hampshire .......... ............ ................ ..........

Vermont .... ...... ............................... ....... ...... .. ..

Massachusetts ......................... ..........................

Rhode island .................................. ..................

Connecticut ...... ...............................................

Middle Atlantic

New York ....................................................... .

New Jersey ............................................... ........

Pennsylvania ....................................................

East North Central

Ohio. ..... ...... .....................................................

Indiana ............................ ............................... ..

lllinois ............ .......... ........................................

Michigan ..... ........ .. ............ .................... .......... .

Wisconsin. ...................................... .. ...... ..........

West North Central

Minnesota .................................................... ....

lowa .................. ...............................................

Missouri ............ ................. ......................... .....

11970 data from a special samPleZIIE

Median age at

first marriage

21.0

21.9

20.7

20.2

21.3

21.7

22.0

20.8

20.5

20.5

19.6

*

●

*

20.3

21.4

20.9

22.1

21.6

22.1

22.3

22.2

21.4

20.7

20.1

21.2

20.8

21.1

21.2

20.5

20.1

22.9

23.8

22.5

22.3

23.3

23.6

23.8

22.6

22.3

22.6

21.7

*

*

●

22.3

23.2

23.1

23.9

23.4

23.8

24.2

24.1

23.1

22.5

21.9

23.0

22.7

22.8

23.0

22.2

22.0

Area

West North Central–Con.

North Dakota .. ...... ............ ...............................

South Dakota ..................... ..... .............. ..........-

Nebraska ............... .................. ........................-

Kansas ............. ................. .......................... .....-

South Atlantic

Delaware ...... ........ .... .................... .............. ......

Ma~land .................. .. .................. ........ ............

District of Columbia ....................................... .

Virginia ........ ...... .... ................ .................... ......

West Virginia ........... .................... .. ...................

North Carolina ... .... ........ ................... ...............

South Carolina ................ ............ .. .......... .........

Georgia .............. ............................... ........ .......

Florida .............. ................................. ..............

East South Central

Kentucky .........................................................

Tennessee .........................................................

Alabama ............... .................................. .........-

Mississippi .. ....... .................................... ...........

West South Central

Arkansas ......................... ............ ........ ...... .......

Louisiana .......... .... ..................... ..................... .

Oklahoma .................................. ......................

Texas ...... ... ..... ........................... ......................

Mountain

Wontana ...........................................................

Idaho ...... .............. ...... .. ...... ...................... .... .. .

Nyoming ........................................................ ..

Coloradol ................... ........ ............. ................

New Mexico ... ...... .................... .. ............ ...... ....

Arizona ....................... ........ ............ .................

Utah .............. ...................................................

Nevada 1 ..... ...................................... ................

Pacific

Washington ...... ....................... ........ .... .............

Oregon ....... ........ ...... .................... ........ ............

California ............... ................ ..........................

Alaska ..............................................................

Hawaii .............. .................................. ..... .........

Bride ] Groom

Median age at

first marriage

—

20.3

20.7

19.9

21.4

21.2

24.2

20.6

19.7

20.3

19.9

20.2

20.7

19.5

19.6

19.7

19.8

-.

20.0

-.

-.

20.4

19.9

20.3

20.3

—

.-

20.3

21.1

--

20.9

21.7

20.8

22.6

.-

22.3

22.5

22.0

23.1

23.3

25.7

22.7

21.9

22.1

22.1

22.2

22.8

21.6

21.7

21.8

21.8

...

21.9

--

.-

22.6

22.0

22.2

22.2

---

...

22.4

23.8

—

22.7

23.6

23.4

24.4

13
The most frequent interracial pairing was

that of black grooms to white brides, but this

represented only O.4 percent of the primary

marriages in the 35 reporting States. There

were almost as many white grooms who married

brides of “other” races, and white brides who

married grooms of “other” races, about 0.3

percent each (table H).

Race differentials in age at first marriage.–

There was a distinct differential in age at first

marriage by race. White persons were youngest;

black persons were intermediate; persons of

other races were oldest (figure 10 and table 7).

In 1975 the median age at first marriage for

white brides was 20.4 years. Black brides were a

year older (21.4 years), and brides of other

races were older still (22.4 years). The ages of

grooms showed similar differentials by race.

These data are based on the 35 States that

reported race in 1975.

Between 1970 and 1975, the distribution

of age at first marriage shifted upward for all

races, but the shift was most pronounced for

black brides and grooms. This finding is based

Table H. Number and percent distribution of first marriages of

both bride and groom (primary marriagas) by race of

groom, according to race of bride: 35 reporting States,

1975

[Based on sample data. Excludes primary marriages for which

race was not stated for either bride or groom. A list of

reporting States appears in table 11]

=

White

“’”~m

Black ........... ...........

Other ...................... ,

I

Percent distribution

White

“’’”m

Black ......................

Other ......... .............

on data from a uniform group of 33 States

(described in table J) that report~d race both

years with sufficient completeness for comparison. The effect of removing two States

(Illinois and South Carolina) from the group of

35 States reporting race in 1975 was to change

the medians by 0.1 or 0.2 of a year, but the

interracial differentials remained.

There was more variability in the age of

grooms than of brides, as measured by the interquartile range, and the difference was greatest

for grooms of “other” races and least for white

grooms.

Race differentials in marriage order.–The

proportion of all marriages that were first

marriages varied among the races (table K).

The proportion was lowest among white persons, intermediate for black persons, and highest

for persons of “other” races. Between 1970 and

1975 these proportions dropped for all races

as divorce and remarriage became more common

in all racial groups; but the differences by race

remained.

Nativity and Residence Status

In the United States, weddings customarily

take place near the home of the bride. According to statistics for the MRA in 1975, 92 percent

of brides lived in the State where they first

married and 65 percent were born there as well.

At first marriage, grooms married in their State

of residence somewhat less often than brides

did; about 88 percent married in the State

where they lived and 60 percent were also lborn

there. At remarriage, fewer brides and grc~oms

were born in, or were residents of, their State of

marriage, as compared with first-mamying brides

and grooms (table L).

Of course, brides and grooms are older at

remarriage and have had more time to move out

of the State where they were born. Comparing

single with divorced brides and grooms (in the

38 States that report this information) Shlows

that age alone does not account for the difference (table M). The percent who were born

in the State where they married was generally

higher for previously single than for previously

divorced persons for most ages through the

14
BRIDES

---------

---+

------- .- ______--

-------

------- ------- ---

-----+

<

100

90

80

70

oL———— 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975

YEAR OF FIRST MARRIAGE

60

50

GROOMS

----- Whke

. ..c - Black

Oxher

..-. -.--%.-

-----

---------

.-.__-~

---

---

-.. ----------

-z. ----

---

--

---

--

-.

--

--

--

-.

o~1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975

YEAR OF FIRST MARRIAGE

Figure lO. Percent of brides andgrooms under 25years ofageat first marriage, by race: Reporting States, 1970-75

mid-twenties. After these ages the relationship generally reverses (figure 11).

Like the difference in nativit y status between

single and divorced brides and grooms, there is

also a difference in residency status. Single

persons in their early twenties were more likely

to be residents of their State of marriage than

the previously divorced (table N).

For the year 1970 only, data on first marriages are available from two States that are not

in the MRA, Colorado and Nevada. The characteristics of marriages in Colorado were rather

typical of those in-the MRA. With 24,988 marriages in 1970, approximately 72 percent of

brides and grooms were marrying for the first

time. The median age was 20.3 years for brides

and 22.2 years for grooms. Of those marrying in

Colorado, about 92 percent of brides and 82

percent of grooms were residents of that State,

not very different from the average for the MRA

States. However, Colorado did record a low

proportion of marrying persons who were born

15
Table J. Number of first marriages and median age and first and third quartiles of age at first marriage of bride and groom and change

from 1970 to 1975, by race, with interquartile range: Uniform group of 33 reporting States, 1970 and 1975

[Based on sample data. Computed on single years of age. Reporting States are Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida,

Georeia. Hawaii. Idaho. Indiana. Iowa. Kansaa. Kentucky, Louisiana. Maine, Minnesota. Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska,

New-Hampshire, New ‘Jersey, North Carolina; Oregon, ‘Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Smath Dakota, Tenne~ee, Utah; Vermont;

Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming]

—

Number of I

Age at first marriage I lnterSex and race

Bride 1975

663,050 18.6 20.5 22.9 4.3

579,493 18.6 20.3 22.7 4.1

68,917 19.1 21.3 24.7 5.6

8,073 19.8 22.5 25.7 5.9

6,567 19.3 21.2 23.5 4.2

Total .. .......................................................... ...................................

1970

Total ............... ................................... ........ ..................................... 704,766 18.6 20.3 22.4 3.8

614,305

79,240

7,216

4,005

18.6

18.7

19.7

18.8

20.3

20.6

22.1

20.6

22.3

23.3

24.9

22.9

3.7

4.6

5.2

4.1

Change from 1970 to 1975

+0.2

7

+0.5 +0.5

—

+0,4 +0.4

+1.4 +1.0

+0.8 +0.7

+0.6 +0.1

-41,716

-34,812

-10,323

+857

+2,562

652,400

+0.7

+0.4

+0.6

1975

22,4

+0.4

+0.1

+0.5

20.3

Groom

t

25.2 4.9

—

24.9 4.7

26.9 5.9

28.2 6.5

25.6 4.6

568,987

69,232

7,680

6.501

20.2

21.0

21.7

21.0

22.3

23.3

24.8

23.2

1970

Total ...............................................................................................

Change from 1970 to 1975

m

Total ........... ............................................................... ..................... -53,952 +0,8

-47,345

-10,015

+890

+2,518

+0.6

+0.7

+0.2

+0,2

16
Table K. Percent of all marriages that were first marriages for brides and grooms, by rase: Reporting areas, 1970-75

[ Based on sample data. Excludes marriages for which race and marriage order were not stated for eitherbrideor groom]

Sex andrace 19751 1974* 1973* 19722 19713 19704

Bride

Total ........................... .............. ...... .................... .................. .......... .. ..

White .................................... ....... .................... ..... .........................................

Black ............................. ......... ................................ ....................... .................

Other ................ .................... ...... ...... ...... ........ .............................. .. ...... ...... ...

Groom

Total ..... ...... ...... .. .... ........ ...... ...... .. .... .............. .................. .. .... ...... .. ....

White ................... .......................... .. ...... ................... .....................................

Black ................................... .................. .............. .................. .........................

Other .......................................................... ............ .............. .................. ...... .

Percent of all marriages that were

first marriages

1percents based on data from the 42 areas in the m~iage.registration area excludlng California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,

New York, Ohio, and the District of Columbia.

*percent5 based on data from the 42 area5 in the marriage-registration area excludlng California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,

New York, and Ohio.

3~ercent5 ba5ed on data from the 42 ~ea5 ~ the m~age.registration area excluding California, Maryland, Massachusetts Michigan!

New York, Ohio, and parts of Illinois.

4Percent5 ba5ed on data from the 40 ~ea5 in the ~fiage-re@.tration area excluding California, Michigan, New York. Ohio. Dints ‘f

Illinois, and marriages performed after July 1, 1970, for Mar~lan~.

. .

Table L. Percent of brides and grooms who were born in and

residents of the State where married, by marriage

order: Marriage-registration area, 1975

[ Based on sample data]

Sex and nativity and resident

status in State where married

Bride

Born in and resident of

State where married ....................

Resident of State where

married ........... .............................

Groom

Born in and resident of

State where married ... .. ...... .........

Resident of State where

married ........................................

e

Percent

64.8

91.9

60.1

87.9

50.8

85.9

48.1

84.7

there: 50 percent of brides and 41 percent of

the grooms were born in Colorado, quite a bit

lower than the 66 percent of brides and 60 percent of grooms averaged over States in the 1970

MRA.

Nevada, with 97,605 marriages in 1970, was

not at all typical of the MM States. Among

these Nevada marriages, W percent of brides and

45 percent of grooms were marrying for the first

time, comparatively very low proportions. The

median age at first marriage was 21.1 years for

brides and 23.8 years for grooms compared with

20.6 years and 22.5 years, respectively in the

MRA. The most unusuzd characteristics of

Nevada marriages were the residency statuses of

the spouses: most of the persons marrying in

Nevada did not live there. Approximately 8

percent of brides and grooms were residents of

Nevada, 71 percent of California, 4 percent of

Oregon, 3 percent of Utah and Arizona each,

and 1 percent of Washington and Idaho.

In Nevada, marriage applications do not

show State of birth, so such information is not

available for anaIysis.

Education

In 1975, 16 States reported education,

but the analysis presented here deals with the

17
Table M. Percent of previously single (never-married) and previously divorced brides and grooms who were born in the Stati? where

married, by age at marriage, with median age: Reporting States, 1975

[ Based on sample data. Reporting States are those in the marriage-registration area excluding South Carolina, Micjigan, and Ohio where

previous marital status is not recorded, and the District of Columbia where State of birth is not recorded]

Age

Total ............ ...................... ................... ....... .............. ...........................

Under 18 years ...................... ...... ........ ............ .................... .............. ...................

Median age .. ...................... ............................ ........................................................

11 States that reported education for the

period 1969-75 and did so with at least 90-

percent completeness of reporting. The reporting States span the country from West to East

and include Hawaii, California, Utah, Nebraska,

Kansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia,

Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

There were approximately 300,000 first marriages in the 11 States selected for analysis in

1969 (table O). The number peaked in 1972,

as it did in the entire MRA, and then dropped

about 15 percent by 1975. Except for college

graduates, the number of brides and grooms in

each education group was lower in 1975 than it

had been in 1969 in the 11 States. In contrast,

the number of brides who had completed 16

years or more of school increased more than

10 percent and the number of grooms increased

more than 5 percent in the 6-year period.

Bride Groom

Previously

single

Previously I

Previously

I

Previously

divorced single di vcwced

Percent born in State where married

65.4

67.6

69.7

70.1

68.6

69.0

67.6

66.2

63.9

59.8

54.1

53.4

50.4

44.7

43.1

34.0

37.9

44.3

49.0

20.6

51.5

64.5

60.2

60.6

56.8

58.5

58.5

57.9

58.4

56.9

57.4

55.7

53.9

54.1

50.5

45.8

41.9

37.5

37.6

29.0

60.9

64.3

67.2

68.0

67.2

66.1

64.1

62.5

60.9

58.4

56.3

53.5

51.2

47.0

43.3

40.6

41.6

39.2

35.0

22.4

49.2

67.4

60.2

57.5

59.3

56.1

55.3

62.7

60.2

58.1

58.1

52.9

54.0

52.2

49.0

45.2

43.4

38.9

38.9

32.6

——

Percent distribution.– Figure 12 shows the

percent distributions of ye;rs of school completed for both brides and grooms. In 1975

about 42 percent of brides and 40 percent of

grooms had completed 12 years of school, 4

percent of brides and 5 percent of grooms had

8 years or less, and 14 percent of brides and 17

percent of grooms had 16 years or more.

Between 1969 and 1975 the distribution of

marriages by education shifted upward slightly.

Proportionately fewer persons with 9-11 years

of school married, and proportionately more

had completed 16 years or more before maniage.

inter-State differential.-Two sum]mary

measures to compare educational differentials

across States are median years of school completed and the percent that have passed some

milestone such as high school or college graduation.

18
80 r

8RIDES

J

40

T

o~

18 20 22 24 26 28 30

AGE AT MARRIAGE (YEARS)

80

70 [

GROOMS

A

l—————— 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

AGE AT r,tARRIAGE (YEARS)

Figure 11. Percent of previously single (never married) and previously divorced brides and grooms who were born in the State where

married, by aga at marriage: Marriage-registration area, 1975

Among individual States reporting in 1975,

the median years of school completed by brides

ranged from 12.4 in Tennessee to 13.0 in Utah.

The median for grooms ranged from 12.5 in

Tennessee and Virginia to 13.3 in Utah. Between 1970 and 1975 some of the medians increased slightly. The medians declined only in

Utah, but were still much higher than in any

other reporting State (table P). In almost every

State the percent of grooms who finished

16 years or more was higher than that of brides.

For grooms, the percent in 1975 ranged from

11 percent in Tennessee to 25 percent in Rhode

Island. The percent of brides who had 16 years

of school ranged from 9 percent in Tennessee

to 20 percent in Hawaii.

Between 1970 and 1975 the percent of

brides and grooms who had finished 16 years

of school rose slightly for both sexes in most

States.

Age at marriage and previous marital

status. —Up to age 25, education of brides

increased with age at first marriage (table Q).

On the average, just as men are older at

first marriage than women m-e, grooms tended

to have more years of school than brides had.

19
Table N. Percent of previously single and previously divorced brides and grooms who were residents of the State where married, by age

at marriage: Reporting States, 1975

[Based on sample data. Reporting States are those in the marriage-registration area excluding South Carolina, Michigan, and Ohio wh;re

previous marital status is not recorded]

Age

Total ............................ .................................... .................... .................

However, at almost every specified age, brides

had as much, or more, education than grooms

of the same age.

Over all ages, persons who were first marrying had only slightly more education than those

remarrying after divorce. But there is a distinct

difference between these two groups at specific

ages. For every specified age under 30 years

and for the age group 30-34 years, single brides

and grooms had higher median years of school

completed than those divorced (figure 13).

After age 35 the differences diminished, and

even reversed.

Another way to analyze the relationship

between previous marital status and education

is to compare how many in each group completed 16 years or more of school. About 14

percent of first-married brides had completed

16 years of school (college graduation equivalent) compared with 9 percent of previously

divorced brides, over all ages. At specific ages,

Bride IGroom

Percent resident of State where married

92.2

90.0

93.7

94.1

94.0

93.9

93.4

92.5

91.7

89.9

89.8

88.5

87.2

88.2

86.4

86.0

80.5

84.6

88.3

86.1

90.1

88.3

85.3

85.2

87.5

88.5

87.3

88.6

88.1

88.0

86.8

86.6

88.5

87.0

83.9

82.4

80.6

87.7

88.2 84.9

83.0 *

89.2 95.8

90.5 80.8

91.3 83.9

90.4 83.6

88.8 85.2

87.2 88.0

86.6 85.9

86.6 86.7

87.3 88.7

87.2 86.9

85.7 86.6

85.7 87.4

85.3 85.2

83.8 64.4

83.6 81.8

82.5 82.2

88.0 84.4

the difference between groups was even greater

(figure 14). In contrast, over all ages, more

divorced grooms (18.2 percent) than single

grooms (17.2 percent) had completed 16 years

or more of school.

Age at first marriage by education. –Predict:

ably, age at first marriage increased with education (table R). The lowest median ages were

found among the groups that had 9-11 years of

school and the highest were for the groups with

16 years or more completed. Single brides and

grooms who had never attended high school

were an exception to this pattern. These persons

were generally older than those who had completed high school, but younger than those who

had attended college (figure 15).

Between 1970 and 1975 there was a change

in median age by education, that is, a divergence

between subgroups. Brides and grooms who had

completed 12 years or less of school married at

about the same age in 1975 as in 1970. However,

20
Table O. Number and percent distribution of first marriages, by years of school completed by brides and grooms: 11 selected States,

1969-75

‘[Based on sample data. Selected States are California, Hawaii, Kansas, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia ]

Sex and years of school completed 1975

priJg! Number

Total ..... ....... ............ .. ...... ........... ....... ........

O-8 years ............ ............ ............................................

9-11 years .......... ............ .............. ..... .........................

12 years .................................. ....... .................. ..........

13-15 years .. ..................... ..................................... ....

16 years or more ..................... .............. .................. ...

Not stated ..................................................................

303,642 311,981

I

297,137

I

300,040 301,570

12,579

57,561

123,290

67,563

33,928

6,649

266,859 285,714

10,093

46,753

110,053

60.421

37,623

1,916

12,112

53,279

117,416

63,197

36,679

3,031

13,163 13,932 11,972 11,671

57,492 59,224 55,793 57,299

121,150 126,671 120,985 122,206

67,089 70,648 66,728 69,314

38,193 37,409 35,273 35,569

6,555 4,087 6,386 3,981

Percent distribution

T;tal ........ .. .................. .... .... .... ...... ........ ....

O-8 years ................................. ...... .. .... ........ ...............

9-11 years ..... .............. ............ .............. ....... ........... ...

12 yearn ...................... ...... ........ ............. ..... ...............

13-15 years ......... .................................. ...... ...............

16 years or more .......... .. ............ ............ ....................

Groom

Total ..........................................................

0-8 years ....................................................................

9-11 years ..................................................................

12 years .....................................................................

13-15 years ................................................................

16 years or more ........................................................

Not stated ..................................................................

100.0 I 100.0I 100.0] 100.0 I 100.0I 100.0I 100.0

T

4.1 3.9

19.2 19.4

41.6 41.3

23.0 23.4

12.1 12.0

3.8

17.6

41.5

22.8

14.2

4.3 4.4

18.8 19.4

41.5 40.8

22.4 22.6

13.0 12.9

4.5

19.2

41.1

22.9

12.2

4.3

19.5

41.8

22.9

11.5

Number

263,610 284,191 302,356 I 311,511 I 297,797 301,575 304,066

13,015

39,348

103,221

60,915

45,080

2,021

100.0

14,496

44,028

111,265

66,782

44,831

2,789

100.0

16,335 16,928 15,391

45,441 48,967 45,726

116,483 120,086 114,691

70,387 75,677 72,844

47,115 45,669 42,884

6,595 4,186 6,261

Percent distribution

T

100.0 100.0 100.0

5.5 5.5 5.3

15.4 15.9 15.7

39.4 39.1 39.3

23.8 24.6 25.0

15.9 14.9 14.7

16,514

46,319

116,061

74,512

44,455

3,714

100.0

17,265

48,100

117,356

72,032

42,709

6,604

Total .......................................................... 100.0

O-8 years ....................................................................

9-11 years ..................................................................

12 years .....................................................................

13-15 years ................................................................

16 years or more ........................................................

5.0

15.0

39.5

23.3

17.2

5.2

15.6

39.5

23.7

15.9

5.5

15.6

39.0

25.0

14.9

5.8

16.2

39.5

24.2

14.4

over this period, there was a distinct rise in the

median age at first marriage among brides and

grooms who had attended or compIeted coIlege.

Marriage order by education.–As noted

previously, about 70 percent of all brides were

marrying for the first time in 1975. However,

the proportion of all marriages that were first

marriages varied with education. Only 52 percent of brides with elementary education were

single compared with 78 percent of the brides

wi{h college or graduate ‘educations (table S).

For grooms the trend is in the same direction but the proportion single is highest for

those with incomplete college educations. In

1975 about 49 percent of all grooms with O-8

years of education, 73 percent of grooms with

13-15 years, and 68 percent of those with 16

years or more were single. The proportion of

21
first marriages to all marriages is roughly the

same for the two sexes across all education

groups except the highest. Proportionately

more brides with 16 years or more of school

were marrying for the first time than grooms

were.

A time trend is also apparent in the data

that shows proportion of all marriages that are

first marriages. The proportion of brides who

were single dropped between 1970 and 1975

for all educational groups except for brides

Table P. Median years of school completed and percent who

completed 16 years or more of school, for brides and

grooms at first marriage: 11 selected States and each State,

1970 and 1975

[ Based on sample data. Medians computed on single years of

school. Percents based on figures excluding education not

stated. Selected States are California, Hawaii, Kansas,

Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Rhode Island,

Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia ]

State

with O-8 years of education.

Total .. ........ ...... ..........

California .... .... ......................

Hawaii ..................................

Kansas .... ..............................

Nebraska .. .... ........ ........ .........

New Hampshire .......... ....... ...

North Carolina ......................

Rhode Island ..... ...................

Tennessee ................ .... .........

Utah ............... ......................

Vermont ..... ...... .... .............. ..

Virginia ........ ...... .. ............... ..

01 I I 1 0 t I I !

Less 9.11 12 13.15 16

than or

s more

YEARS OF SCHOOL COMPLETEO

Total .. .................... .. ..

California .... ...... ...... .......... ....

Hawaii ............ ......................

Kansas ...... .............. ...... .. ......

Nebraska ...... .......... .............. .

New Hampshire .................. ..

North Carol ina .... ........ .... ......

Rhode Island .................... ....

Tennessee .. ...... .. .... .. ...... .. .....

Utah ...................... ...............

Vermont ............... ...... .. ........

Virginia .. ...... .........................

Bride

E-r_

Median ye:

12.7

12.8

12.9

12.8

12.9

12.7

12.6

12.7

12.4

13.0

12.7

12.5

Groom

1975

1-

1970

of sch(ool

completed

12.6

12.7

12.8

12.8

12.8

12.7

12.6

12.7

12.4

13.1

12.7

12.5

12.8

12.9

12.9

12.9

12.9

12.7

12.7

12.8

12.5

13.3

12.1

12.5

12.7

12.8

12.8

12.9

12.9

12.7

12.6

12.8

12.5

13.7

12.7

12.5

Percent who completed 16

years or more of school

14

16

20

13

15

1’6

14

19

9

15

17

13 I

12 17

13 20

17 22

13 18

13 19

11 19

10 16

17 25

9 11

14 16

14 19

12 13

15

16

17

15

16

14

11

21

12

16

17

14

Figure 12. Percent distribution of first marriages by years of

school completed for brides and grooms: 11 selected

States, 1975

22
Table Q. Median years of school completed and percent who completed 16 years or more of school, by age at marriage for previously

single (never-married) and previously divorced brides and grooms: 11 selected States, 1975

[Based on sample data. Medians computed on single years of school. Percents ba:ed on figures excluding education not stated. Selected

States are California, Hawaii, Kansas, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Rhode IsIand, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and

Virginia ]

Age at marriage

Total .................................................................................. ...................

Under 18 years ...................... ............................................ ...... .. ...... .....................

18 years ...................... .............. .... .. ......................................................................

19 years .. .............. ........ ........ .... ...... ........ ..............................................................

20 yearn .................. ............ ................... ............. ............. ..... ................................

21 yearn ...................................... .................... ............ ........................ ............ ......

22 yean .......................... ...... ............................................. ...................................

23 years .................... ........ ................... ................. ...... ..........................................

24 years ..................... .............. ................... ..........................................................

25 years .......................................... ...... ...... ........ ..................................................

26 yea ffi.................................... ............................................................................

27 years ................ .............. ................... ......................... .......................... ............

28 yea~ ...... ............ .... ... ............. ...... ................ .... ................................................

29 years ....... ......................................................... ............ .......................... ..........

30-34 years .. .............. .......................... .................. ........ ...... .................. .............. .

35-44 years ................... .............................. ...... .................................................. ..

45-54 years ............................................. ....................................................... .. .... .

55-64 yea= ..................................... .................................. ................. ...................

65 years and over ...... .................. ...... ............ .............. ........ .... .. .... ........ ...... ..........

Total .......................... ...................................................................... .....

Under 20 years ......... .................. .. .... .................... ...... ................................ ..... .....

20 years ................... ...... ........ .................. .............................................................

21 years .................................. ............................................................... ...... ........ .

22 years ...................... ................ .... .. ...... .................................... ..........................

23 years ................................ .... ............................................................................

24 years .................................................. .............. .......................... ......................

25 years .................. .................... .................... ...... ............................... .................

26 years ................................ .................................. ............................... ............. ..

27 years ....... ...... ...................... ........................ ............................ .......... ...............

28 years .................................... ........ .... ...... ..........................................................

28 years ..... ............ .............. ........ .............................. ...........................................

30-34 years ....... ...................... ...... .................. ...... ...... ........ ..................................

35-44 years .............. ...................... .............................. .......................... ...............

45-54 years .. ................ ...... ...... .................... .... ................... ......... .........................

55-64 yea ffi..................................................................... ............ ..................... .....

65 years and over .............................. ..... .............................................. .................

Bride I Groom

Previously Previously Previously Previously

single divorced single divorced

Median years of school completed

12.7

10.9

12.4

12.6

12.8

13.3

14.3

14.4

14.7

14.7

14.6

14.3

14.7

14.5

13.3

12.4

12.2

12.4

12.2

12.5

9.9

10.9

11.9

12.1

12.3

12.4

12.5

12.5

12.6

12.6

12.7

12.7

12.7

12.7

12.5

12.4

12.5

10.1

12.8

10.9

12.1

12.4

12.5

12.7

13.0

13.7

13.7

14.4

14.5

14.6

14.5

14.5

13.8

12.6

12.1

8.4

12.1

12.7

*

*

11.1

12.0

12.2

12.4

12.5

12.6

12.6

12.7

12.9

12.9

12.9

12.8

12.8

12.5

12.5

11.3

Percent who completed 16years ormore of school

14.2

0.2

0.9

10.7

32.0

35.3

40.7

41.3

40.3

37.6

42.2

40.0

34.2

19.9

11.0

18.1

10.3

9.1

0.2

0.7

2.1

3.3

4.0

7.7

11.0

10.0

13.3

15.1

13.2

9.3

10.2

12.1

7.9

17.2

0.7

5.2

17.8

25.3

28.0

34.3

35.7

39.8

39.6

34.0

34.7

23.9

16.0

2.2

7.2

18.2

0.8

0.1

2.4

2.1

6.2

7.2

11.6

19.8

23.6

21.0

21.1

21.7

19.9

19.0

16.4

23
BRIDES 15

14

13

,—. —.-.

,./

,,-,

,/ Prev,O.51Y

J dwxmd

I

i

12

i

~

!

I

i

11

10

9

8

GROOMS

:~ L_U_L_L. Um# 20 25 3034 3544 45.54 55.a4 u~$r 20 25 30.34 3544 45.54 55-64

AGE AT MARRIAGE (YEARS) AGE AT MARRIAGE (YEARS)

Figure 13. Median years ofschool completed bypreviously single {nevar-married) andpreviously divorced brides andgroorns; by age at

marriage: 11 selected States, 1975

24
BRIDES

I

i

i Previously divorced L---- .20 25 30-34 3544 45-54 55-64

AGE AT MARRIAGE (YEARS)

-Ar 21

Pmvioudy single

.- .----+ .

I

i

i

i

jPrwiously dworced

i

i

,;

I

i

i

I I I I I

25 30.34 3s44 4554 55.s4

AGE AT MARRIAGE [YEARS)

Figure 14. Percent of previously single (never-married) and previously divorced brides and grooms who completed 16 years or more of

school (equivalent to college graduation), by age at marriage: 11 selected States, 1975

25
Table R. Median age at first marriage for brides and grooms, by

years of school completed: 11 selected States, 1970 and

1975

[Based on sampIe data. Median age computed on single years of

age. Selected States are California, Hawaii, Kansas,

Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Rhode Island,

Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia ]

Years of school completed

Total ............... ...........

O-8 years ...............................

9-11 years .... .........................

12 years ...... .. .. .... .. ...... ........ ..

13-15 years .. ...... ........ ...... .....

16 years .................. ........ ......

More than 16 years ...............

i

Bride I Groom

1975 1970

I

1975 1970

Median age

20.7

21.0

18.0

19.9

21.4

23.7

26.0

20.4

21.3

17.8

19.9

21.1

23.2

24.9

22.7

24.5

20.2

21.7

23.1

25.0

26.9

22.4

24.4

20.5

21.8

22.2

23.9

26.3

Table S. Percent of all marriages that were first marriages, by

years of school completed by b~ides and grooms: 11

selected States, 1970 and 1975

[ Based on sample data. Selected States are California, Hawaii,

Kansas, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Rhode

Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont and Virginia ]

Sex and years of school completed

Bride

Total ...................................... ...............

O-8 years ...... .................... ................ ...... ..........

9-11 years ......... .. ........ ............ .........................

12 years ............ ........ ...... ........ ...... ........ ...........

13-15 years ............. .........................................

16 years or more ...... .... .. ...... .. ............ .. ...........

Groom

Total ................ ...... .. .............................

O-8 years ...................................... ............... .....

9-11 years ............... .........................................

12 years .... .... .......... ..... ......... ...........................

13-15 years ...... ...... ............ .................. ............

16 years or more ..................... .. ......................

EPercent

69.6

-

51.5

66.6

68.7

73.2

78.3

68.7

49.2

68.9

70.2

72.8

67.7

75.1

—

49.2

71.0

74.2

83.3

84.9

75.4

51.7

74.6

75.7

83.2

76.9

26
28-

26 -

24 -

22 -

20 -

18 -

g

16 -

<

g

: 14

z

<

E

y

12 -

10 -

a -

6 -

4 -

2 -

o_

24,5

El ‘“de

= Groom

21,7

23.1

20,2

26.9

25,0

Ekmenmw

oa wws

H,gh wh.d

911 wars

H,ghmhd

12 yews

YEARS OF SCHOOL

C011eg2

1315yeam

COMPLETEO

College

16 years

More than

16years

Figure 15. Median age of bride and groom at first marriage, by years of school completed: 11 selectad States, 1975

000

27
LIST OF DETAILED TABLES

1. Number of first marriages for brides and grooms: Marriage-ragistration area and each registration State, 1968-76 ...................... 29

2. First marriage rates by sex, with percent change: Marriage-registration area and each registration State, 1960 and 1970 ............ 31

3. First marriage rates by sex and age: Marriage-registration area, 1968.76 ................................................................ ...................... 32

4. Median, mean, and modal age at first marriage of bride and of groom and at first marriage of both bride and groom (primary

marriages): Marriage-registration area, 1968.76 ................. ...................................................... .................... ................. ................ 33

5. Number of first marriages of both bride and groom (primary marriages) and percent distribution of grooms married to younger

brides, brides of the same age, and older brides, by age of groom: Marriage-registration area, 1976 ....... ............... ....................... 33

6. Median age and first and third quartiles of age of previously single (never-married) brides and grooms, by previous marital

status of spouse: Marriage-registration area, 1976 .... ..... .................... ....... ................................................................... ................. 34

7. Percent distribution of first marriages by race and age of bride and groom: Reporting States 1970-75 ....... ................................ 35

28
Table 1. Number of first marriages for brides and grooms: Marriage-registration area and each registration State, 1968-76

[Based on sample data]

1976

1,162,528

29,070

2,818

107,680

16,995

2,864

3,532

48,774

36,840

6,706

7,58o

75,540

35,680

211,420

15,445

22,960

124,680

7,654

30,960

32,260

56,240

24,290

17,410

33,079

5,132

9,775

5,483

39,720

104,731

30,290

67,040

12,555

%4,020

5,347

31,967

7,000

31,500

11,725

3,187

37,316

12,065

28,650

22,77E!

1975

1,190,562

28,280

2,727

106,260

17,190

2,950

3,348

49,259

35,040

6,712

7,445

78,100

36,040

20,100

16,150

22,930

124,590

7,708

31,280

33,190

58,220

24,990

17,150

33,352

5,114

9,776

5,811

41,240

111,036

30.110

71,620

13,060

163,580

5,281

32,456

6,820

31,000

12,150

3,32s

38,280

12,590

29,580

22,716

1974

7,271,284

30,980

2,335

115,080

18,680

3,173

4,004

53,692

38,720

6,626

7,485

83,000

38,390

21,630

16,940

23,590

225,900

8,334

32,600

35,450

62,540

26,330

16,910

35,700

5,6oO

10,665

6,116

45,000

116,780

33,670

76,720

14,150

262,780

5,822

36,020

7,576

34,750

12,436

3,469

39,920

13,015

32,370

22,916

1973

1,330,868

33,120

2,413

122,120

19,985

3,293

4,516

54,377

43,060

6,892

7,215

64,540

40,450

21,745

17,355

25,110

227,215

8,566

33,690

38,010

67,940

26,170

19,690

36,730

5,792

11,075

6,416

47,610

124,160

35,660

73,100

14,090

266,160

6,376

39,810

7,996

38,630

12,454

3,694

42,450

14,075

33,470

22,706

8rides

1972

1,363,929

35,100

2,358

127,740

19,485

3,459

5,276

50,644

43,060

7,242

7,195

85,860

42,560

21,770

17,540

26,510

227,000

6,624

36,630

39,870

70,760

26,020

19,a85

38,130

5,766

11,250

6,764

47,320

133,320

36,840

73,340

14,520

266,160

6,500

42,190

8,136

39,770

11,544

3,971

40,720

14,500

33,520

22,668

1971

1,308,536

—

34,460

2,195

122,400

18,785

3,645

5,662

48,260

40,480

7,340

7,030

174,480

40,400

20,660

17,050

27,580

225,315

37,906

38,350

39,690

69,840

24,650

20,310

37,060

5,390

11,595

6,730

46,700

133,540

37,530

69,680

13,315

261,340

6,116

40,570

7,708

35,870

10,510

3,974

38,020

13,205

30,510

22,303

1970

1.251.802 1,258,013

34,390

2,119

127,780

19,880

3,456

5,906

44,860

41,220

8,266

6,735

83.780

40,990

19,720

16,675

28,370

224,785

8,306

39,570

39,960

69,500

. .

18,805

36,650

5,322

12,040

6,950

45,220

133,220

38,750

70,340

12,940

262,860

6,332

.. .

7.832

31,440

10,038

3,699

38,050

12,410

30,280

22,236

34,950

1,969

127,480

19,880

3,261

6,562

42,190

41,680

7,822

6,375

83,380

40,800

19,670

16,770

28,410

224,790

7,940

40,440

40,050

70,680

.. .

19,015

36,750

5,024

11,775

7,108

46,620

134,300

40,440

68,520

12,995

267,600

6,292

7.878

30,970

9,702

3,671

39,540

12,375

30,170

=’2,009

1966

1,225,041

—

33,680

1,891

122,020

19,390

3,184

6,684

40,610

40,780

7,298

6,505

81,120

39,320

20,315

16,475

26,100

224,445

7,850

39,610

38,610

69,160

. ..

18,390

35,690

4,762

11,005

6,760

45,490

132,200

39,700

67,740

12,360

266,340

6,096

. ..

7,366

30,650

8,560

3,530

39,620

12,130

26,910

12,475

29
Table 1. Number of first marriages for brides and grooms: Marriage-registration area and each registration State, 1968-76–Con.

[ Based on sample data]

1976

1,132,320

28,260

2,761

104,220

16,405

2,780

3,172

47,118

36,860

6,530

7,430

73,080

34,480

211,350

15,445

22,550

123,940

7,544

29,600

31,120

55,020

24,190

17,320

32,053

5,170

9,770

5,319

38,180

100,687

30,0s0

65,320

12,310

162,580

5,170

32,005

6,7S0

30,780

11,855

3,163

36,e47

11,840

28,570

22,846

1975

1.169,029

27,440

2,710

106,960

16,640

2,892

3,130

47,870

35,500

6,546

7,390

77,460

36,2ao

19,500

16,305

22,230

124,260

7,532

30,420

32,180

56,180

25,000

16,950

32,540

5,192

9,706

5,710

39,640

107,231

30,050

70,460

12,950

162,220

5,179

32,608

6,915

31,000

12,010

3,244

36,900

12,155

29,270

22,694

1974

1,252,770

30,500

2,368

114,200

18,425

3,108

3,686

52,540

39,140

6,676

7,715

81,700

39,4eo

21,205

17,120

23,150

225,655

8,310

31,eto

35,030

61,200

26,500

18,715

34,910

5,846

10,485

6,090

43,300

113,700

33,570

74,5ao

13,085

261,500

5,740

35,790

7,592

34,700

12,500

3,400

39,710

12,855

32,330

22,954

1973

1,317,466

32,280

2,389

121,500

19,470

3,255

4,186

53,444

44,020

7,010

7,290

83,740

40,280

21,595

17,575

24,420

127,430

8,630

33,480

37,320

66,740

26,520

19,675

35,850

5,716

10,845

6,344

46,390

121,820

36,020

72,260

13,790

%4,440

6,242

40,440

7,962

38,140

12,544

3,786

42,350

13,765

33,740

22,753

Grooms

1972

1,351,500

34,500

2,380

127,460

19,090

3,432

5,022

49,938

44,040

7,106

7,445

84,640

42,250

21,370

17,535

26,610

127,070

8,856

35,750

39,190

8S ,260

26,070

20,185

37,240

5,802

11,135

6,684

46,340

130,580

39,130

73,320

14,c@5

%4,160

6,480

42,620

8,094

39,790

31,742

3,921

40,530

14,370

33,510

22,758

1971

1,289,337

34,740

2,242

121,720

18,465

3,639

5,448

46,360

41,800

7,214

7,105

173,240

40,170

20,565

16,930

27,370

225,295

37,834

37,420

39,000

69,500

25,180

20,050

35,870

5,472

11,720

6,636

45,700

130,720

38,260

67,740

13,100

260,520

6,074

41,290

7,760

36,330

10,622

3,971

38,320

13,030

30,530

22,385

1970

1,247,366

34,320

2,160

127,340

19,690

3,470

5,724

44,540

41,920

8,352

6,765

83,360

41,2s0

19,455

16,780

28,580

125,050

8,316

39,400

39,130

68,740

18,505

35,720

5,404

12,120

6,948

45,100

131,420

39,170

69,440

12,8oO

261,660

6,338

7,844

32,080

10,180

3,657

38,alo

12,425

30,240

22,323

1969

1,257,357

34,890

1,997

128,100

19,470

3,278

6,252

42,310

42,760

7,914

6,765

83,320

41,000

19,620

17,125

28,470

124,905

7,974

40,340

39,480

69,860

.

19,150

37,040

5,050

11 ,ee5

7,112

45,800

131,880

40,690

68,920

12,750

267,360

6,240

.

7,886

31,720

9,784

3,666

39,e30

12,310

30,410

22,044

1968

1,225,232

33,650

1,934

121,620

19,110

3,146

6,354

40,510

41,680

7,252

6,910

81,140

40,250

19,995

16,935

25,850

124,340

7,870

39,540

38,400

69,880

,.,

18,530

35,650

4,886

11,185

6,874

44,400

130,360

40,120

67,100

12,215

265,860

6,160

7,522

31,410

8,594

3,520

40,510

12,100

2S,290

12,5ao

lMarriaSe order was not stated for 5.0.9.9 percent of the marriages in this State.

!Marriage order was not stated for 10.0 percent or more of the marriages m this State.

‘sample was 6.7 percent low.

30
Table 2. First marriage rates by sex, with percent change: Marriage-registration area and each registration State, 1960 and 1970

[Based on sample data. Rates are fiist marriages per 1,000 singIe population 15-44 years of age]

Area

Marriage registration area ...... ........... ..................... .....

Northeast:

Maine ................... ................................................. ............ ....

New Hampshire .......................... .......................... ..................

Vermont ..... .... ................ ...... ............ ............ .........................

Massachusetts .................................... .....................................

Rhode Island ...... ...... ........ .................. .. .......... ........................

Connecticut ..................... ...... ...... ..................... ................. ....

New York ......... ............................................................. ........

New Jersey .............................. ...... ........ ....................... ..........

Pennsylvania .............. .. ............ ...................................... ...... ..

North Central:

Ohio .............. .......................................... .................. .............

Indiana ................................. ............ ......................... ........ .....

lliinois ......................... ....... ........ ...... .......................... ............

Michigan ... ........ ............ .. ...... ............ .. .... ........ ...... .................

Wisconsin ........ ...................... ...... .......................... .................

lowa ................. ............ ........ .............. .......................... ..........

Missouri ... .................................. .. .................. .. .................... ..

South Dakota .........................................................................

Nebraska ... .............. .. ...... .............. ........ ...... .................... .... ...

Kansas .............................. ..................... ....... ........................ ..

South :

Delaware ...................... ................................ ........ ...... ............

Maryland ......... .......................... .......................... ...... .. ...... .....

District of Columbia ... ...... .....................................................

Virginia ................... ...... .............. ...... .....................................

West Virginia .... ...... .. .............. .. ............ .... .. .......... ................ ..

North Carolina .......... .................. .. .... .............. .............. .........

Gaorgia ..... .. ...... ....... ................... ...... ... ................. .................

Florida .............. ...... .................... ...........................................

Kentucky ........... .............. ...... .. .... .. .... .............. .. .... .. ............ ..

Tennessee .. .................................... ........ ...... ...........................

Alabama .............. ............ .. .... .................................................

Mississippi .... ................ ........... ........ .......................................

Louisiana .................... .. .... ...... ................ .................. .............

West:

Montana ................... ............ ........ .... .. ...... ..............................

Idaho .. .. ...................................... ........ ......................... ..........

Wyoming ........................ .. .................... ................................ ..

Colorado .......................... .................... ...... ...... ...... .... .......... ..

Utah ............................................... .................. ........ ............ ..

Oregon ........................ ............ ................................ ...............

California ............. .. ............ ........ .... .................... ...... ...... .. .... ..

Alaska .................................. .................. ........ .. .......... ...... ......

Hawaii ....... ............ .. ........................................ ............ ...........

Woman

J- 1970 1960

Rate

95.9

140.3

152.8

118.9

89.9

95.4

95.2

98.1

96.5

92.1

100,2

132.1

115.8

117.9

97.4

115.5

130.0

177.3

126.7

125.0

98.0

152.8

72.1

128.9

111.3

120.7

I50.3

118.9

I53.1

133.8

163.1

133.2

113.8

125.2

I66.8

157.8

122.9

‘35.1

01.6

98.9

46.1

48.7

105.3

137.5

187.6

130.3

—

102.8

105.0

—

105.0

95.8

107.7

.-

-.

121.4

109.8

155.5

—

146.1

135.3

137.9

92.4

206.7

—

147.0

.-

184.5

128.0

135.8

131.7

145.6

137.4

112.2

147.0

237.6

162.5

—

137.7

107.5

115.4

161.6

110.1

Percent

change,

1960 to 1970

-8.9

+2.0

-18.6

–8.7

...

-7.2

-9.3

...

-8.1

-3.9

-7.0

...

...

-2.9

-10.5

-25.7

...

+21 .4

-6.4

-9.4

+6.1

-26.1

...

-11.6

...

...

-18.5

-7.8

+1 2.7

+1.6

+1 2.0

-3.1

i-l.4

-14.8

-29.8

-2.9

...

-1.9

-5.5

-14.3

-9.6

+35.1

Men

x

79.[

I ~.$

120.f

97.L

80.C

70.C

80.E

86.5

81,7

81.1

86.E

108.5

96.2

98.C

82.2

95.7

106.3

138.5

104.7

94.9

81.2

124.9

70.9

95.3

92.7

89.5

114.3

91.8

112.1

107.3

132.2

103.7

93.3

95.8

121.4

113.7

96.8

116.5

82.2

73.2

66.5

98.0

Rate

80.6

94.6

135.4

97.8

—

71.8

82.9

80.4

81.4

87.0

—

—

96.0

84.2

119.8

--

99.4

96.8

90.7

69.1

147.0

98.9

—

132.4

87.0

91.3

96.2

108.4

97.0

86.9

94.3

165.7

106.7

106.4

81.7

75.3

45.4

64.0

Percent

change,

1960 to 1970

-1.0

+16.2

-11.1

-0.4

...

-1.7

-2.8

...

+1.6

-0.4

-0.6

...

...

+2.1

-2.4

-20.1

...

+39.3

+8.2

+4.6

+1 7.5

-15.0

...

-3.6

...

...

-13.7

+6.5

+22.8

+11.5

+20.8

+6.9

+7.4

+1.6

-26.7

+6.6

...

+8.5

+0.6

-2.8

+46.5

+53.1

31
Table 3. First marriage rates by sex and age: Marriage-registration area, 1968-76

[ Based on sample data. For States in the marriage-registration area, 1968-76, see table 11 in appendix]

Sex and age 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970

82.9

1969 1968

88.0

1976 1975

64.8 68.1 74.8 81.0 84.5 82.8 87.9 — —

19.8

98.4

112.7

119.3

128.4

144.1

155.3

137.0

121.6

110.7

108.6

99.5

90.1

67.2

30.0

9.3

1.1

53.1

21.7

110.6

120.3

125.4

142.5

166.0

156.8

145.8

124.6

127.1

106.9

99.2

99.3

62.4

31.8

9.2

1.1

56.0

25.2

130.1

137.6

148.2

158.1

177.8

169.5

150.3

138.7

142.0

102.0

107.5

99.7

66.2

35.0

9.6

0.8

61.8

27.2

137.2

154.0

157.8

184.6

203.4

180.3

169.0

173.6

136.5

131.4

104.2

100.2

74.5

41.1

11.3

1.0

66.8

28.3

145.3

159.8

166.7

206.0

215.3

202.4

194,6

161.5

148.0

120.9

106.9

102.1

76.5

39.9

10.8

1.1

69.7

26.2

139.1

163.5

180.6

204.1

219.7

215.2

176.8

166.4

133.3

110.7

121.0

101.0

75.0

37.6

9.5

1.4

67.9

25.6

136.2

169.8

192.7

233.3

253.0

231.4

197.3

161.6

146.4

127.9

105.7

93.3

66.5

31.4

8.8

1.1

72.1

25.4

142.2

180.7

209.0

254.1

262.8

244.3

195.6

169.3

143.0

151.6

130.0

116.6

76.3

35.8

9.9

0.9

73.8

25.0

140.8

180.8

209.0

257.?

273.4

225.6

194.1

182.2

153.9

167.4

140.5

130.7

...

...

10.4

1.1

73.8

3.2

38.8

64.4

85.4

109.5

126.8

132.6

131.7

135.8

129.3

114.8

105.9

98.0

72.8

39.3

12.4

3.1

3.4

45.0

71.4

94.4

120.0

132.9

147.6

135.2

144.8

134.7

134.9

109.2

129.1

78.2

37.2

13.0

3.0

4.2

52.7

81.9

109.3

139.3

158.8

164.9

167.6

155.9

146.8

135.6

143.0

102.5

83.3

37.4

12.6

3.5

4.4

56.6

89.2

119,0

159.9

174.2

178.7

173.0

177.6

149.0

161.1

134.6

116.4

98.0

41.4

15.6

3.6

4.4

59.0

94.0

127.1

173.5

184.0

190.8

183.3

178.2

188.6

173.4

136.4

133.9

87.3

41.9

16.5

3.7

4.1

53.9

90.4

121.6

166.6

183.6

196.3

191.6

187.4

171.4

152.4

139.7

114.7

80.6

43.8

14.6

3.2

3.9

54.6

94.6

129.9

198.0

224.9

249.3

235.9

208.8

189.2

175.1

160.9

145.6

98.8

44.7

14.1

3.4

3.6

56.7

96.8

136.4

198.5

224.4

238.9

200.3

218.1

197.4

189.8

150.6

152.0

102.6

47.1

13.8

2.7

3.4

53.7

95.8

137.5

206.4

238.1

229.2

215.4

206.0

197.8

178.6

172.1

154.0

---

...

14.9

3.6

32
Table 4. Median, mean, and modal age at first marriage of bride and of groom and at first marriage of both bride and groom (primary

marriage): Marriage-registration area, 1968-76

[ Based on sample data]

1

First marriage

Median age Mean aga

I

First marriage for both bride and groom

(primary marriage)

Year

Modal age I Median age Mean age Modal age

Groom

24.1

24.0

23.8

23.8

23.7

23.7

23.8

23.8

23.8

8ride

19

18

18

18

18

18

19

19

19

Bride Bride Groom

21

21

21

21

21

21

21

22

21

Bride Groom Bride Groom

1976 ......................

1975 ..... .................

1974 ......................

1973 ..... ........ .........

1972 ......................

1971 ..... .................

1970 ......................

1969 ................... ...

1968 ............. .........

21.0

20.8

20.6

20.6

20.5

20.5

20.6

20.6

20.6

22.9 22.1

21.9

21.7

21.7

21.6

21.6

21.6

21.6

21.6

21.4

21.3

21.1

21.1

21.1

21.1

21.1

21.2

21.2

23.4

23.3

23.1

23.1

23.1

23.1

23.1

23.2

23.3

18

18

18

18

18

18

19

19

19

22.7

22.5 21 20.3 22.2

21 20.3 22.2

21 20.3 22.1

22.5

22.4

22.5

22.5

22.4

22.4

21 20.3 22.2

21 20.4 22.3

22 20.4 22.2

21 20.4 22.1

Table 5. Number of first marriages of both bride and groom (primaw marriaaes) and Dercent distribution of arooms married to vounaer

brides, brides-of the same age, and ;Ider brides, b; age of ~room: Marriage-registration are;, 1976

.-

[Based on sample data]

_

Groom married to–

E!EE!zE

Primary

marriages

Aga of groom Total

Number

983,005

Percent distribution

Total ..... .. .............. ........ ............ ........ ........ ...................................... ...... 100.0 70.5 15.2 14.3

Under 18 years ........................ ..............................................................................

18 years ................ ...... ...... ...... .................................. ...... ................ ......................

19 years ............ ..................... ........ ........ .......................................................... .....

20 years ..... .. ............ ........ .. .... ........ ........ ...... ........ ............ ...... ...............................

21 years ................ ................................................................................ ................

22 years ............... ...................... .................. .. ............ ............................ ...............

23 years ................ ........................................ ........................................ ................

24 years ..................... ................ ........................................ ...................................

25 years ........................................................................... ..................... ................

26 years .................. ........................................ ........... ...... .....................................

27 years ................. ......... ................................................................ ......................

28 years ....... ........................ ...... ...... .....................................................................

28 years ... .............. ......................................... ............................................ ..........

30 yaars ... .............. ........ .... ........ ...... ................ ................................ .....................

31 years ............................. ............... ....................................................................

32 years ............................................. ..... .............................................. ....... .........

33 years ........................ ........................................................................................

34 years ............ ............ .. .............. ....................................................................... .

35 yeara and over ..................................... ........................................ ............ .........

22$47

66,610

100,345

115,288

124,011

120,373

101,894

78,776

61,178

46,841

34,440

25,905

20,667

13,351

9,010

6,943

6,123

4,281

24,022

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

36.8

43.6

59.1

66.9

69.1

69.6

74.4

78.3

79.8

B2.2

84.4

86.0

86.0

87.9

87.7

88.7

87.9

88.6

86.4

27.3

31.8

22.5

18.2

15.9

16.7

14.0

11.0

9.6

7.5

6.1

5.6

5.5

2.7

2.7

3.1

3.0

4.4

2.6

35.9

24.6

18.4

14.9

15.1

13.7

11.6

10.7

10.6

10.3

9.4

8.4

8.5

9.4

9.6

8.2

9.1

7.0

10.9

33
Table 6. Median age and first and third quartiles of age of previously single (never-married) brides and grooms, by previous marital status

of spouse: Marriage-registration area, 1976

[ Based on sample data]

Sex and previous marital status of spouse

Previously single brides

All grooms ................. .............................................................................................................

Single grooms ................................................. ........................................................................................

Divorced grooms .....................................................................................................................................

Widowed grooms ............................................... ........ ........ ........ .. ...........................................................

Previously single grooms

All brides ................................................................................................................................

Single brides .................................................. ............................................................ .............................

Divorced brides .................................................. .......... ...................................... .....................................

Widowed brides ........................................................................ ..............................................................

Previously single brides

All grooms ...................... ........................................................................................................

Single grooms ....................... ..................................................................................................................

Divorced grooms .....................................................................................................................................

Widowad grooms ............................... .....................................................................................................

Previously single grooms

All brides ................................................................................................................................

Single brides ...................................... ........................ .............................................................................

Divorced brides .. .................. ............................................................................................. ......................

Widowed brides ................................................................................ ......................................................

Previously single brides

All grooms ..............................................................................................................................

Single grooms .........................................................................................................................................

Divorced grooms .................................................. ...................... .............................................................

Widowad grooms .............. ................................................................ ...... .. .............................. ................

Previously single grooms

All brides ....................................................... ................ ...... ...................................................

Single brides ..................................................................................... ......................................................

Divorced brides .......................... ............................................................................ .................................

Widowed brides ......................................................................................................................................

s!!u!+v2!HFirst quartile of age

19.0 I 20.8

18.8

20.5

25.0

20.5

25.9

35.8

19.1 I 20.7

18.8 20.5

23.4 23.1

28.4 27.2

Median aga

21.0

20.7

23.4

35.0

21.2

23.2

22.5

29.5

49.1

22.9

_

20.7 22.5

26.6 26.2

38.4 36.0

Third quartile of age

23.6 I 26.6

23.0

27.2

49.0

25.1

34.8

62.4

-1- 24.0 25.8

23.0 25.1

30.8 30.3

51.6 49.7

34
Table 7. Percent distribution off irst marriages by race and age of bride and groom: Reporting States, 1970-75

[ Based on sample data. A list of reporting States appears in table II]

Bride Groom

1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970

Race and age

White Percent distribution

Total ..........

Under 18 years...........

18-19 years ................

20-24 years ................

25-28 years ................

30-34 years ................

35-44 years ................

45 years and over .......

Black

Total ..........

Under 18 years...........

18-19 years ................

20-24 years ................

25-29 years ................

30-34 years ................

35-44 years ................

45 years and over .......

Other

Total ..........

Under 18 years...........

18-19 years ................

20-24 years ................

25-28 years ................

30-34 years ................

35-44 years ................

45 years and over .......

100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

14.9 3.0

30.7 18.7

45.3 53.3

6.1 17.6

1.3 4.1

1.0 2.0

0.7 1.2

100.0 100.0

15.7 1.0

26.2 13.6

40.0 48.9

9.5 21.1

3.4 7.0

3.2 5.1

1.9 3.2

100.0 700.0

7.2 1.1

19.3 11.7

48.9 38.8

17.1 31.9

4.3 9.9

2.7 5.5

0.6 1.1

100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

—

15.8

29.7

42.5

8.6

1.8

0.9

0.6

100.0

16.7

30.8

41.4

7.8

1.8

0.9

0.6

100.0

16.8

31.2

41.3

7.4

1.6

1.0

0.6

700.0

16.9

31.1

41.8

6.9

1.6

1.0

0.7

100.0

16.3

31.1

43.5

6.1

1.4

0.9

0.6

100.0

3.2

19.8

53.5

16.8

3.6

2.0

1.1

100.0

3.2

20.0

54.1

16.0

3.6

2.0

1.1

100.0

3.0

19.7

55.3

15.5

3.4

2.0

1.1

100.0

2.9

18.9

57.7

14.3

3.2

1.9

1.1

100.0

2.6

17.8

58.6

14.7

3.2

2.1

1.1

100.0

11.0

24.9

40.4

13.8

4.4

3.5

2.0

100.0

13.4

25.2

39.8

12.3

3.8

3.7

1.8

100.0

13.9

26.9

39.7

10.8

3.9

3.2

1.7

100.0

15.7

27.6

38.4

9.9

3.7

3.0

1.7

100.0

15.6

27.2

39.4

9.2

3.8

3.2

1.7

100.0

1.4

15.3

50.3

18.5

6.6

5.2

2.7

100.0

1.7

16.3

51.8

17.3

6.0

4.4

2.5

100.0

1.9

17.0

52.8

15.9

5.2

4.6

2.7

100.0

1.8

16.9

53.4

15.8

4.9

4.5

2.6

100.0

2.1

16.9

51.2

17.0

5.7

4.4

2.7

100.0

8.4

19.3

42.0

21.9

5.2

2.4

0.7

8.5

17.3

43.5

21.6

5.3

3.4

0.4

8.5

18.9

43.6

20.3

5.4

2.8

0.5

8.3

18.7

43.9

20.5

5.4

2.5

0.6

7.5

19.4

46.1

18.8

4.7

3.0

0.5

1.1

11.4

39.3

31.9

10.4

4.3

1.5

2.0

11.8

41.3

29,4

9.6

4.1

1.9

1.2

10.9

42.4

28.6

10.0

4.8

2.1

1.3

12.5

40.7

28.4

10.1

4.5

2.5

0.7

11.3

41.3

28.1

10.8

5.3

2.5

35
APPENDIX

CONTENTS

Technical Notes ......................................................................................................................................

Sources of Data .................................................................................................................................

Marriage Sample ................................................................................................................................

Estimating Procedures .......................................................................................................................

Information Not Stated ....................................................................................................................

Standard Errors .................................................................................................................................

Incomplete Reporting .......................................................................................................................

LIST OF APPENDIX TABLES

I. Number of marriages in marriage sample and sampling errors of estimated frequency expressed as

a percent of mea total: Marriage-registration area, 1968-76 ........................................................

II. States in the marriage-registration area that have race as an item on maniage records, 1968 -75.....

37

37

37

37

38

38

38

38

39

36
APPENDIX

TECHNICAL NOTES

The marriage statistics presented in this report were derived primarily from data published

annually by the National Center for HeaIth

Statistics (NCHS) in Vital Statistics of the

United States, volume III. Population data were

obtained, as indicated in the text, from the U.S.

Bureau of the Census.

The following notes give a technical explanation of the data analyzed here. A complete discussion of technical aspects of the marriage data

published each year by NCHS appears in the

appendix of the appropriate annuzd vital statistics

volume. Similar explanations and discussions

accompany the population enumerations and

estimates published by the Bureau of the Census.

Sources of Data

Marriage data for the United States (the 50

States and the District of Columbia) and the

marriage-registration area (MIL4) refer to events

occurring during the calendar year and registered

within the specified areas. Tabulations for States

and other areas are by place of occurrence and

include events occurring to nonresidents of the

areas. Marriages of members of the Armed

Forces or other U.S. nationals that occur outside

the United States are excluded.

Since its inception in 1957, the MRA has expanded from 30 States to 41 States and the

District of Columbia. Puerto Rico and the V@in

Islands have been a part of the MM since 1957,

but are not included in this report. States in the

MRA maintain centraI files of marriage records

and reporting forms that conform closely in

content with the U.S. Standard Certificate of

Marriage. The statistical items are reported with

sufficient completeness to warrant collection,

processing, and publication of the data in the

official U.S. annual reports. From 1968 to 1976

marriages in the MIL4 accounted for 78-81 percent of all marriages occurring in the United

States.

Marriage Sample

Marriage records were sampled at different

rates to give a minimum sample of approximately 2,500 records for each State, producing

a 4-percent relative variance on a 1-percent

estimate. All records were sampled for States

with fewer than 5,000 records. Through the

Cooperative Health Statistics System, Florida

supplied a State-coded computer tape of its

marriage records in 1972, and 100 percent were

used. This system was expanded to include 10

States in 1976–Florida, Maine, Missouri,

Nebrask~ New Hampshire, New York (except

New York City), Rhode Island, South Carolina,

Vermont, and Virginia.

Estimating Procedures

National first-marriage totals for women and

men were estimated from sample data for the

MRA. The estimates were computed by multiplying the proportion of first-marrying brides

and grooms in the registration area times the

unrounded marriage total for the United States

in each year from 1968 to 1976. The basic

assumption was made that the proportion of

first marriages in the registration area was the

same as the proportion in the entire country.

It is beIieved, however, that the figures are

slightly overestimated, because the proportion

of first marriages for States outside of the MRA

is known to be slightly lower, with a correspondingly higher proportion of remarriages, than the

37
proportion in the MRA. The unrounded estimates were used to compute first-marriage rates

per 1,000 single population 15-44 years of age

for women and men in the United States. Estimates were rounded to the nearest thousand.

Regional estimates used to compute firstmarriage rates per 1,000 single population

aged 15-44 for women and men were estimated

in a similar manner. The proportion of fh-st

marriages based on data from the registration

States in each region including three States

specially sampled in 1970 was applied to the

unrounded regional marriage total in 1970.

First-marriage totals were available for all

States in the Northeast. The North Central

Region included all States but Minnesota; the

South, all but South Carolina, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas; and in the West, all but New

Mexico, Arizona, and Washington.

Information Not Stated

“Not stated” cases arise primarily from lack

of responses to items on the reporting forms and

from variations in items requested on the forms

used by the States in the MRA. For the number

of not stated cases of each characteristic for

each State, refer to Vital Statistics of the United

States, volume III of the specified year. Marriage

order, indicating whether a person was marrying

for the first time or whether he or she was remarrying, was not stated for either bride or

groom for less than 4 percent of all marriages in

the MRA between 1968 and 1976. “Not stated”

cases were distributed proportionately to obtain

State first-marriage totals used in the numerator

of rates shown in table 2. Percent distributions

and median ages were computed excluding

figures with information not stated.

Standard Errors

Estimates computed from samples vary somewhat about the value that would be obtained

from a complete count of the same population.

The standard error, or sampIing error, is a measure of this sampling variability. On the average,

estimates will differ from the corresponding

total count by less than the standard error about

68 percent of the time. Approximate standard

errors of estimates shown in this report may be

obtained from table 1.

Incomplete Reporting

The items “race of bride” and “’race of

groom” do not appear on marriage records for

all States in the MRA. Between 1968 and 1975,

the item was no longer recorded in some States

where it had been previously reported. In table

II, reporting States are listed by year.

The data on race in table H show primary

marriages (i.e., first marriage of both bride and

groom) in the 35 States that reported race in

1975.

In order to analyze changes over time,

table J shows data from a uniform group of 33

States that reported both race and marriage

order in 1970 and 1975. Figures in table K show

data from the expanding MRA from 1970 to

1975. In spite of all the deletions and additions,

Table 1. Number of marriages in marriage sample and sampling errors of estimated frequency expressed as a percent of area total: MarriaqeYear

1976 ................

1975 ................

1974 ................

1973 ................

1972 ................

1971 ................

1970 ................

1969 ................

1968 ................

registration area, 1968-76

I

All Estimated percent

marriages

1 or 99 2 or 98 3 or 97 4 or 96 5 or 95 7 or 93 100r90 150r85 20 or 80 25 cm75 50

1

Numbar

1,706,628 424

1,718,641 448

1,791,452 459

1,846,501 466

1,848,928 488

1,770,654 471

1,674,104 457

1,660,547 457

1,603,396 450

Sampllng error (standard error) of estimated frequency expressed as percent of area total

597 728 836 930 1,088 1,279 1,523 1,706 1,847

631 768 883 982 1,149 1,351 1,608 1,802 1,850

646 787 904 1,006 1,177 1,384 1,647 1,846 1,898

659 803 922 1,026 1,201 1,412 1,681 1,883 2,038

658 802 922 1,025 1,200 1,411 1,679 1,881 2!,036

663 807 927 1,031 1,207 1,420 1,690 1,893 2!,049

843 783 899 1,000 1,171 1,377 1,639 1,836 1,987

643 783 900 1,001 1,172 1,378 1,840 1,837 1,988

633 772 886 986 1,154 1,357 1,615 1,8o8 1,959

2,132

2,252

2,307

2,353

2J52

2,366

2,295

2,286

2,262

38
Table 11. States in the marriage-registration area that have race as an item on marriage records, 1968-75

[ “X” denotes presence of race on State certificate]

State

Alabama ....... ........................ ................................ ...................... .. .. .

Alaska ............ ...................... .................. ..................... ....................

California .............................. .................. .............. ..........................

Connecticut .... .......... ...... ...... .. ...... .............. .......... ...................... .... .

Delaware ......................... ...... .............. .................. ..........................

District of Columbia .......... ................................................. .............

Florida ....................................................... .....................................

Georgia ......... ..................................................... ............. .................

Hawaii ... ...... .. .............. ...... .. ...... ...... ...... ........ ............ ...... .. ..............

Illinois ....... .... .......................................... .............. ..........................

lndiana ... .......................................................... ........................ .......

lowa ... .................................................. .................. ........ .................

Kansas ... .......................... .............. .. ...... ..........................................

Kentucky ............ ...... .. ...... ...... .. ...................................... ............ ....

Louisiana ............... ............ .......................... .. ............. ...... ...............

Maine ......................................... ..... ................................................

Maryland ..................................... ...... ................... ...........................

Massachusetts ............................. ........................... ..........................

Michigan ........... ......... ..................... ..... ............................................

Minnesota ... ..................................... ................................................

Mississippi ......................................................... ........ ...... ................

Missouri ........ .........................................<.........................................

Montana ............................. ........................... ......................... .........

Nebraska ................................................................................... ......

New Hampshire ............... .. .......................... .................... ...... ..........

New Jersey ..... ............ ........ ................................................... ..........

New York .................................. .... .......... .... ....................................

North Carolina .................................. .................... .... ......................

Ohio ..... ........ ...... .............. ............... ............. ...................................

Oregon ... .................................................... .....................................

Pennsylvania .... ................ ....... ................................... ......................

Rhode island .... .. .... .. ...... ............................................................... ..

South Carolina ................. ........................... ............... .....................

South Dakota ....... ................ .. ................ .................... .............. .......

Tennessee .............. ...... ...... .. .. ..........................................................

Utah ................ ...................... ..........................................................

Vermont ................ ................. ........... .. ................... .........................

Virginia ............. ........ ............. ................... ......................................

West Virginia .............. ...... .............. .................................. ...............

Wisconsin .......... ......... ....... ...... .. ...... ...... ............ .................... ..........

Wyoming ........................... .. ...... ...... .................................. ..............

lRacewa$ notreported after JulY 1, 1974.

2Ra~e ~5 not reported for Cook and DuPage Counties.

3Racewa5not reported after JulY 1, 1970.

4Racewa~not reported after NOVember 1971.

1975

x

x

x

x’

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

1974

x

x

x

x

1

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

1973

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

1972

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

1971

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

2X

x

x

x

x

x

x

4X

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

1970

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

2X

x

x

x

x

x

x

3X

x

5

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

y

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

1969

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

2X

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

5

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

~

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

1968

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

5

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

~

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

5South Carolina &d Minnesota were not in the marriage-registration area until 1971.

interracial differentials in a.qe at marriage remain. and nativitv status are the States in the MRA

Before 1970, race was not ;abulated b; marriage

.

except for Michigan, Ohio, and South Carolina,

order so the analysis does not go back to 1968. where previous marital status is not recorded,

In table M, the States used to compare and the District of Columbia, where State of

single to divorced brides and grooms by residence birth is not recorded.

39

*U.S. WVEFQ>K,llT FF.IPIT1l!C OFFICE , 1’37. 0..: 9:.:%9, 32
VITAL AND HEALTH STATISTICS Series

Series 1. Pzqgrarns and Collection Pi-oceduws. –Reports tvhich describe the general programs of the N.itional

Center for Health Statistics and its offices and divisions and data collection method~ used and include

definitions and other material necessa~ for understanding the data.

Series 2. Data .Ezmluation and Me.fh~ds Zi’cwarclz. –Studies of new statistical methodolo,w including experimental tests of new survey methods, studies of vital statistics collection methods, new analytical

techniques, objective evaluations of reliability of collected data, and contributions to statistical theory.

Series 3. Analytical Studies. – Reports presenting analytical or interpretive studies based on vital and health

statistics, carrying the analysis further than the exposito~ types of reports in the other series.

Swim 4. Oocunzents and Committee Reports. –Final reports of major committees concerned with vital and

health statistics and documents such as recommended model vital registration km’s and revised birth

and death certificates.

Series 10. Data Fro m the Hcaltft Irzteruiezo Surwy. –Statistics on illness, accidental injuries, disability, use of

hospital, medical, dmztaI, and other services, and other health-related topics, all based on data collected

in a continuin,q nationaI household interview survey.

Strit> 11. Data From the Health Examination Survey and the Health and ,Y’utriticm Examination Surwy.-Data

from direct examination, testing, and measurement of national samples of the civilian noninstitutionalized population provide the basis for two types of reports: (1) estimates of the medically defined

prevalence of specific diseases in the United States and the distributions of the population with respect

to physical, physiological, and psychological characteristics and (2) analysis of relationships among the

various measurements without reference to an explicit finite unii,erze of persons.

Scriis 12. Data From the Institutionalized Population Surz,eys, –Discontinued effective 1975. Future reports from

these sutveys will be in Series 13.

Seritw 13. Data on Health Resources L7tili:atiorz. –Statistics on the utilization of health manpower and facilities

providing long-term care, ambulatory care, hospital care, and family pknrsing services.

Series 14. Data on Hca[th Resources: ,Vanpo u,ez- and Facilities. –Statistics on the numbers, geographic distribution, and characteristics of health resources including physicians, dentists, nurses, other health

occupations, hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient facilities.

Series 20. Data on Mortality. –Various statistics on mortaIity other than as included in regular annual or monthly

reports. Special analyses by cause of death, aqe, and other demo~~aphic variables: geographic and time

series analyses: and statistics on characteristics of deaths not available from the vital records based on

sample surveys of those records.

Ses-ics 21. Data on Nahality, i\larriag,,, anfd Diz,orce. –Various statistics on natality, marriage, and divorce other

than as included in regular annual or monthly reports. Special analyses by demographic variables;

geographic and time series analyses; studies of fertility; and statistics on characteristics of births not

available from the vita] records based on sample sumeys of those records.

Series 22. Data From the National Mortality and ;Vatality Surwys.-D iscontinued effective 1975. Future reports

from these samp~e surveys based on vital records v:il] be included in Series 20 and 21, respectively.

Series 23. Data From the ATational Surz,ey oj’” Family Grcta,th. –Statistics on fertility, f~[mi!y formation and dis.

solution, family planning, and related maternal and infant heaIth topics derived from a biennial sumrey

of a nationwide probabili~ sample of ever-married women 15-44 years of age.

For a list of titles of reports published in these series, \.,,rite to: Scientific and Technical Information Branch

l\’ationaI Center for Health Statistics

Public Health Service

H\atts\rille, hid. 207S2
NO-IS

U S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH E

P“bl,c Hmllh Sew,.,

Of f,ce of Health Rese. rch, Statistics,

Nat(onal C.rmr for Health Swwt,m

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HwIIsvII 1,., M.wland 20782

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