Remarriages and

Subsequent

Divorces

United States

The trend in remarriages and subsequent

divorces during the 1970–83 period is

presented. Data drawn from records of

remarriage provide information on

geographic variation and month of

marriage. Demographic characteristics of

the spouses such as age, race, previous

marital status, interval since last marriage

ended, and educational attainment are

described. Information drawn from records

of redivorce provide information on ages

of spouses, number of children involved,

and duration of the remarriage.

Data From the National Vital

Statistics System

Series 21, No. 45

DDHS Publication No. (PHS) 89-1923

U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services

Public Health Service

Centers for Disease Control

National Center for Health Statistics

Hyattsville, Md.

January 1989
Copyright information

All material appearing inthia report is in the public domain and may

be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source,

however, is appreciated.

Suggested citation

National Center for Health Statistics, B. F. Wilson. 19B9. Remarriages

and subsequent divorcas: United States. Vita/ and Hea/th Statistics.

Series 21, No. 45. DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 89-1923. Public Health

Service. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in- Publication Date

Wilson, Barbara Foley.

Remarriages and subsequent divorces

(Vital &health statistics. Series 21, Data

from the national vitsl statistics system ;

no, 45) (DHHS publication ; no. (PHS) 89-1 923.)

Supt. of Dots. no.: HE 20.6209:21/45

bibliography p.

1. Remarriage—United States—Statistics.

2. Divorce—United Ststes—Statistics,

3. Marriage—United States—Statistics.

4. United States—Statistics, Vital.

L National Center for Health Statistics (U. S.)

Il. Title. Ill. Series: Vital and health

statistics. Series 21, Data from the national

vital statistics system ; no. 45. IV. Series:

DHHS publication ; no. (PHS) 89-1923. [DNLM:

1. Divorce—United States—statistics,

2. Marriage— United Statea—statistics.

[W2 A N148VU no.45]

HA21 1.A3 no. 45 304.6’3’0973021

[HQ1019.U6] [306.8’4’0973021]

IS8N 0-8406 -0399-1

s 88-600249
National Center for Health Statistics

Manning Feinleib, M.D., Dr.P.H., Director

Robert A. Israel, Deputy Director

Jacob J. Feldman, Ph.D., Associate Director for ztnaly.sis

and Epidemiology

Gail F. Fisher, Ph.D., Associate Director for Planning and

Extramural Progranas

Peter L. Hurley, Associate Directorfor T’ltaland Health

Statistics System

Stephen E. Nieberding, Associate Director for Management

George A. Schnack, Associate Director for Data Processing

and Services

Monroe G. Sirken, Ph.D., Associate Director for Research

and Methodology

Sandra S. Smith, Information OfJcer

Division of Vital Statistics

John E. Patterson, Director

James A. Weed, Ph. D., Depu(y Director

Robert L. Heuser, M.A., Acting ChieJ Man-iage and

Divorce Statistics Branch

Joseph D. Farrell, Chie$ System and Programming

Branch

Mabel G. Smith, Chiej Sta[is[ical Resources Branch
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...........

Source ofdata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..........”...

Remarriages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..............”..

Marriages by previous marital status , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The ceremony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Month ofmarriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Residenceofbride and groom , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -. .. . .. .

Remarriage rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Characteristics ofmen andwomen who remarry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Interval to remarriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Educational attainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorces ofremarried persons.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Age ofhusband andwife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Duration ofremarriages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Children ofdivorce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

List ofdetailed tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Appendix-Technical notes... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

List oftext figures

1. Remarriage rates ofpreviously divorced men and women by age: Marriage-regktration area, 1983 . . . . . . . . . . .

2. Percent distribution of marriages by age of bride, accordingto previous marital status: Marriage-registration

area, 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. Cumulative percent of previously divorced and vvidowed brides and grooms who had remarried by specified

interval: Reporting States, 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

List of text tables

A.

B.

c.

D,

E.

F.

Percent distribution of marriages by previous marital status of bride and groom 38 reporting States, 1970

and 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Percent distribution ofmarriagesby type ofceremony, according to previous marital statusof bride andgroorn

37 reporting States and the District of Columbia, 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Percentdistribution ofmarriages bymonth ofmarriage, according topreviousmarital statusofbrideand groom:

Marriage-registration area, 1983... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Percent ofbrides and groomswhowere residentsofthe State where theymarried, bypreviousmarital status:38

reporting States, 1970 and 1983. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . .

Percent distribution of marriages by previous marital statusof bride and groom: 38 reporting States and the

District of Columbia, 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Percent distribution ofmarriages byprevious marital status ofbride and groom, according to race ofbride and

groom: 33 reportingStates, 1983... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

2

4

5

5

5

6

6

7

9

9

10

12

14

16

16

16

16

18

19

27

8

10

13

5

5

6

6

9

11

...

Ill
G.

H.

J.

K.

L.

M.

N.

o.

P.

Q.

R.

s.

Percent distribution of marriages by previous marital status of bride and groom, according to race of couple: 33

reporting States, 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Percent of marriages by typeof ceremony, previous marital status, and race of bride and groom: 32 reporting

States, 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Mean age at marriage byprevious marital status and race ofbride and groom: 33 reporting States, 1983. . . . . . 12

Mean interval to remarriagebyprevious marital status ofbride and groom: Reporting States, 1970-83 . . . . . . . . 12

Mean interval to remarriage by previous marital status and age of bride and groom at remarriage: Reporting

States, 1970 and 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Mean interval to remarriage by previous marital status and race of bride and groom: 23 reporting

States, 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Percent distribution of marriages by educational attainment ofbride and groom, according to previous marital

status: 20 reporting States, 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Meanyears ofschool completed bybride and groom byprevious marital status and ageat marriage: 20reporting

States, 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Mean years of school completed bybride and groom by race and previous marital status: 19 reporting States,

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Mean ages atmarriage and divorce bynumber ofmarriage ofdivorcing wives and husbands: 30 reportingStatm,

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Mean duration of dissolving marriages by number of marriage and ageat marriage of wife and husband: 30

reporting States, 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Percent distribtltion ofdissolving marriages bynllmber ofcllildren involved in divorce, according to number of

marriage ofwife and husband: ~Oreport~ng S~ates,1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lktofappendix figures

I. U.S. Standard License and Certificate of Marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IL U.S. Standard Certificate ofDivorce, Dissolution ofMarriage, or Annulment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Listofappendix tables

I. Years central files of marriage and divorce records were established and years areas were admitted to the

marriage- and divorce-registration areas: 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II. Sampling errorof estimated number ofmarriages expressed as percent ofarea total: Marriage-registration area,

and each registration State, 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

HI. Sampling error of estimated number of divorces and annulments expressed as percent of area total: Divorceregistration area, and each registration State, 1983... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IV. Areas that report specified items on marriage and divorce records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

v. Areas that report datelast marriage ended on marriage records: 1970-83 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SYMBOLS

--- Data not available

. . . Category nonapplicable

Quantity zero

0.0 Quantity more than zero but lessthan

0.05

z Quantity more than zero but less than

500where numbers zye roundedto

thousands

17

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

* Figure does not meet standardsof

reliability or precision (25 percentor

more relative standard error)
Remarriages and

Subsequent Divorces

by Barbara Foley Wilson,

Division of Vital Statistics

Introduction

Most Americans marry, and if the marriage ends in

divorce, more than three-fourths marry again (Schoen et

al., 1985). For each year from 1963 to 1981 the annual total

of divorces climbed in the United States, passing the

1 million mark in 1975; then the number declined in

1982–83, increased in 198485, and declined in 1986, according to provisional statistics. The historic high set in

1981 has not been exceeded. This report describes the

trends and characteristics in remarriages of previously divorced men and women during the period from 1970 to

1983. During that 14-year period, 14.5 million couples

divorced, leaving the spouses eligible to remarry. Data on

first marriages and remarriages of widowed persons are

presented for comparison. This report presents information

that is collected on certificates of marriage and divorce by

the individual States. Although these certificates must serve

legal as well statistical purposes, there are several sociological and demographic items on the certificates that are

analyzed here. First, the descriptive statistics document how

many remarriages there were, where and when they occurred, and whether the ceremonies were civil or religious.

Next, marriage rates specific for age and previous marital

status are presented. Then, the characteristics of the bride

and groom are described-their residence, birthplace, age,

race, and educational attainment. Also, interval to remarriage is analyzed as it varies by sex, age, and race. Finally,

data from the divorce file are used to study dissolutions of

remarriages—numbers, ages of spouses, duration of the

unions, and numbers of children involved.

1
Highlights

During the 1970–83 period the annual totals of remarriages of previously divorced men and women increased by

82 percent. The estimated national number of previously

divorced brides increased from 404,000 in 1970 to 736,000

in 1983. The estimated number of previously divorced

grooms increased from 423,000 in 1970 to 773,000 in 1983.

In the 14-year period, 8.2 million previously divorced

women and 8.7 million previously divorced men remarried.

In contrast, marriages of single and widowed persons declined. Currently about 1 out of 3 American brides and

grooms have been married before, LIp from 1 out of 4 in

1970.

Analysis of marriage rates shows differences among

age, sex, and marital status groups. First, divorced men and

women marry at higher rates than do single or widowed

men and women. Second, divorced men remarry at higher

rates than divorced women at all ages 25 years and over.

Finally, remarriage rates for both men and women decline

with increased age. For example, 1 out of every 4 divorced

men and women who were 20–24 years of age remarried

during 1983. The rates for each older age group declined,

faster for women than for men. By age 65 years and over,

less than 3 percent of divorced men and less than half of

1 percent of divorced women remarried.

Remarriage rates for both divorced men and women

declined during the 1970–83 period. Remarriage rates

dropped even though the number of remarriages was increasing because the pool of divorced persons available for

remarriage was increasing faster than the number of remarriages. In 1983 the remarriage rate for previously divorced

women was 91.6 per 1,000, 26 percent Iowcr than in 1970

(123.3). The remarriage rate for previously divorced men

was 142.1 per 1,000 in 1983, 31 percent lower than in 1970

(204.5). Thus, only 9 percent of divorced women and 14

percent of divorced men remarried in 1983 compared with

12 percent of divorced women and 20 percent of divorced

men in 1970.

Age at marriage differed distinctly for different marital

status groups. In 1983 the average age of previously single

brides was 23.5 years; that of previously divorced brides,

33.7 years; and of previously widowed brides, 52.6 years.

Average ages of previously single, clivorccd, and widowed

grooms were 25.5, 37.3, and 60.2 years, respectively. Thus,

previously divorced brides were a dccacle older than single

brides, and previously widowed briclcs were a score of years

older than previously divorced brides. Ages of grooms tend

to be more dispersed. Previously divorced grooms are a

dozen years older than single grooms, and previously widowed grooms are nearly a quarter century older than

previously divorced grooms.

Men are usually older than their brides and the age

differences vary with previous marital histories. For marriages in 1983, if both bride and groom had been single, the

age difference was 2.0 years. If the bride was single and the

groom divorced, the difference was 6.8 years. If both bride

and groom were divorced, the difference was 3.9 years. The

only combinations in which the brides were typically older

than their grooms were in marriages of previously divorced

and widowed women to single grooms. Widowed brides

were 2.1 years older and divorced brides were 0.9 year

older than their single grooms.

Black brides and grooms are more likely than white

brides and grooms to be marrying for the first time. In 1983

only 24 percent of black brides were previously divorced

compared with 33 percent of white brides.

Whether single or divorced, black brides and grooms

marry later than white brides and grooms.

The interval between marriages in 1983 was 3.6 years

for brides and 3.0 years for grooms for all categories of

remarriages. However, divorced persons remarry sooner

than widowed persons; younger persons, whether widowed

or divorced, marry sooner than older counterparts; and

white men and women remarry sooner than black men and

women. These relationships were the same in 1970 and

1983, but the intervals to remarriage have increased.

Educational attainment of previously divorced Ibrides

and grooms was lower than that of previously single Ibrides

and grooms, and this difference was especially pronounced

for women.

The average ages of divorcing men and women are

between 30 and 45 years, regardless of the number of

marriages they have had. The average age of women who

divorced in 1983 was 31.8 years if it was a first marriage,

37.2 years if it was a second marriage, and 41.0 years if it

was a third or higher order marriage. These women had

married at 21.2, 30.4, and 36.2 years of age, respectively.

The average age of men who divorced in 1983 was 34.1

years if it was a first marriage, 40.5 years if it was a second

marriage, and 44.6 years if it was a third or higher order

marriage. Comparison of data from both the marriage and

divorce files shows that divorcing men and women were

younger than average when they first married.

2
Generally, the more times a divorcing person has been

married, the shorter the duration of the marriage. Average

duration for all divorcing couples in 1983 was 9.6 years, but

for once-married men and women the duration was 10.8

years. In contrast, the duration for twice-married men and

women was 7.0 years and for people married three times

the average duration was 4.9 years for women and 5.1 years

for men. Furthermore, whether the marriage was a first,

second, or third marriage, duration to divorce shortened

with older age at marriage.

Fewer children are involved in dissolutions of remarriages than of first marriages. On average, women ending

first marriages had 1.06 children under 18 years, those

ending second marriages had 0.64 children, and those

ending third marriages had 0.36 children.These differences

are due at least in part to the fact that most children are

born into first marriages and may not be mentioned on

divorce records of subsequent marriages unless custody

becomes an issue. In addition, children are no longer

reported once they are over 18 years of age.

3
Source of data

The data are based on samples of records from States

that participate in the marriage-registration area (MRA)

and the divorce-registration area (DRA). These are States

that have central files of marriage and divorce records and

sufficiently complete reporting of statistical items on their

records to warrant the collection, processing, and publication of the data. The MRA included 39 States in 1970 and

42 States in 1983. All these States with the exception of

Iowa provided information on marriage order, that is,

whether the marriage was the first or a remarriage of the

bride and the groom. Much of the analysis in this report is

done on the 38 States that also reported whether the

remarriage followed widowhood or divorce because this is

an important distinction in terms of ages, likelihood of

divorce, and other sociological variables. The DRA, which

is less complete than the MRA, included 28 States in 1970

and 31 States in 1983. In 1983, 80 percent of all marriages

were performed in the MRA, and 49 percent of all divorces

were granted in the DRA. A more detailed description of

the MRA and the DRA appears in the Technical nc)tes. In

addition to data from the registration areas, total counts of

marriages and divorces are obtained annually from all

States, and these national totals are used to make estimates

of remarriage for the United States as a whole. Copies of

the U.S. Standard Certificates of Marriage and Divorce are

shown in the Technical notes for reference. Because not all

States use certificates exactly like the U.S. Standard Certificate, tables are included which show the States that have

the items analyzed in this report.

Having less than all States report a particular item may

mean that the statistics are not the same as they would be

for the entire Nation, and this potential bias should be kept

in mind. For each item, the number of reporting States is

indicated in the text, and for trends over time, uniform

groups of States are used.
Remarriages

The eslimatccl annual national total of remarriages for

previously divorced men and women increased almost every

year from 1970 to 1983 (table 1). The number of previously

divorced brides was 404,000 in 1970 and rose to 736,000 in

1983. During that period more men than women remarried

single persons, but the percent increase in the number of

remarriages was the same for both sexes. The number of

previously divorced grooms increased 83 percent from

4zI,000 to 773,000. In the 14-year period, 8.2 milIion

previously divorced women and 8.7 million previously divorced men remarried. In contrast, the number of marriages to single people changed little, and remarriages of

widowed men and women declined. These estimates of the

number of marriages to previously single, divorced, and

widowed brides and grooms are based on the assumption

that the distribution of marriages by previous marital status

was the same in the United States as it was for a uniform

group of 36 States that reported previous marital status on

their rnarriagc records during the 1970–83 period. In 1983,

67 pcrccnt of U.S. marriages occurred in this group of 36

States.

Marriages by previous marital

status

Currently in the United States, 1 out of 3 of the brides

and grooms that marry each year have been married before. Of these women, previously divorced brides were nine

times more numerous than previously widowed brides. For

example, in 1983, 66 percent of brides were previously

single, 30 percent were previously divorced, and 3 percent

were previously widowed (table A). For men, the proportions were almost the same 65, 32, and 3 percent, respectively. In 1970 the proportion of marriages that were

remarriages was considerably lower than in 1983. Previously divorced brides and grooms constituted only about 20

percent of all brides and grooms in 1970. Both proportions

increased by approximately half bchveen 1970 and 1983. In

contrast, the proportion of brides and grooms who were

previously widowed shrank from 5 to 4 percent for brides

and from 5 to 3 percent for grooms.

There is considerable variation among States. In 1983,

the proportion of brides who were previously divorced

ranged among registration States from 22.1 percent in New

York to 41.4 percent in Wyoming (table 2). For grooms it

ranged from 23.9 in Wisconsin to 42.3 in Georgia. The

Table A. Percent distribution of marriages by previous marital

status of bride and groom: 38 reporting States, 1970 and 1983

[Based on sample data. For list of reportfng States, see Technical notes]

Sex and previous

mariial status 1SW3 1970

Percent distributkm

All brides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1CKJ.o Im.o

Single. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

66.4 76,3

30.1 18.5

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5 5.1

All grooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IOQ.O 100.0

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65.2 76.1

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31.6 19.4

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2 4.5

proportion of brides who were previously widowed was low

in all States and ranged from 2.3 percent in Utah to 5.0 in

Mississippi, while the proportion for grooms ranged from

1.4 percent in Alaska to 4.5 in Florida.

The ceremony

More than two-thirds of weddings take place in religious settings, but the proportion is much lower for previously divorced brides and grooms. In 1983, only 58 percent

of previously divorced brides married in religious ceremonies compared with 76 percent of previously single brides

and 71 percent of previously widowed brides. The proportions are similar for previously divorced grooms (table B).

This may be due in part to the opposition of some religious

Table B. Percent distribution of marriages by type of ceremony,

according to previous marital status of bride and groom: 37

reporting States and the District of Columbia, 1983

[Based on sample dale. For [1s:of reporllng States, see Technksl notes]

Sex and previous

TYW of cerwnonv

marltaistatus Tctal Ctvll Rel@us

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

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . .

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . .

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

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . .

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . .

lal.o

100.0

103.0

100.0

ImJ.o

100.0

Irx).o

100.0

Percent distrlxdion

29.2

?23.7

41.6

26.6

28.2

24.5

38.4

24.8

70.6

76.3

58.4

71.4

70.a

75.5

60.6

75.2

5
groups to divorce. In particular, the Roman Catholic

Church does not sanctify remarriages of previously divorced persons. Other studies have shown that fewer Catholics than Protestants marry (Mosher, Johnson, ancl Horn,

1986); that having married, fewer Catholics than Protestants divorce (McCarthy, 1979; Pratt, Mosher, Bachrach,

and Horn, 1984); and that having divorced, Catholics are

slower and less likely to remarry (NCHS, 1980).

Month of marriage

Marriages have a typical seasonal pattern in the United

States–lowest in winter and highest in summer (table C).

The weddings of remarrying brides and grooms are less

seasonal than first marriages. Many first marriages are

planned for early summer and follow the conclusion of an

academic year, which is a frequently used time to change

residence and occupation as well as marital status. For

previously widowed and divorced persons, other factors

apparently have much more relevance to planning a wedding. Moreover, previously divorced persons may prefer to

remarry shortly after the dissolution of their previous marriage, and divorces have relatively little seasonal variation.

Residence of bride and groom

Among the many romantic myths surrounding nuptia]s

is that of “running away to get married” or just slipping off

to come back as “Mr. and Mrs.” presenting friends and

family with an accomplished fact. Persistent as the myth is,

the data show that the majorily of couples marry where

they live, and if both do not live in the same State, then the

wedding is more likely to take place in the bride’s home

State. There is little difference between remarriages and

first marriages in this regard, but there used to be more

difference. In 1983 a smaller proportion of previously

divorced (90 percent) than single brides (92 percent) were

residents of the State where they married. For grooms, 88

percent of previously divorced and 89 percent of previously

single grooms married in their home State. In 1970, only 82

percent of previously divorced brides and 80 percent of

previously divorced grooms were married in their States of

residence (table D). The convergence may have been due in

part to a move toward uniformity among States with regard

to legislation about marriage, divorce, and remarriage that

occurred during the 1970’s (Council of State Governments,

1974). In the past, some States had statutes forbidding

remarriage after divorce until a certain amount of time had

elapsed; residents of these States would remarry elsewhere

if they did not want to wait.

Table D. Percent of brides and grooms who were residents of

the State where they married, by previous marital status: 38

reporting States, 1970 and 1983

[Basedon sample data. For list of reporting Slates, see Technical notes]

Sex and previous

marital status 1983 1970

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

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . .

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . .

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

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . .

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . .

91.5

92.4

90.0

88.5

88.4

88.7

88.0

86.7

Percent

88.4

90.0

81.9

84.9

83.6

84.4

79.6

84,5

Table C. Percent distribution of marriages by month of marriage, according to previous marital status of bride and groom:

Marriage-registration area, 1983

[Based on sample data. Michigan, Ohio, and South Carolina do not reporl whether spouses were previously widowed or divorced. Iowa does not report any category

of previous marital status]

Previous marital status of—

Bride Groom

Month of marriage Srtg/e Divorced Widowed Sirrg/e Divorced Widowed

Percent distribution

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

January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.7 6.1 7.0 4.8 5.9

February . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.1

7.1

6.6 6.6 5.2 6.4

March, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.6

6.4

6.7 6.8 5.8 6.6

April, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.1

6.7

8.3 8.1 8.1 .9.1

May. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,7

8.4

8.9 8.0 9.7 9.0

June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8.3

12,3 10.0 10.3 12.2 10.2

July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,6

10.8

10.1 9,6 10.7 10.1

August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.9

9.5

9.1 8.8 10.9

September . . . . . . . . . . . .

9.2 8.3

10.0 8.5 8.4 9.9

October . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8.9

9.4

8.4

8.3 9.1 9.3 8.7

November . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.6 7.8

6.7

8.0 6.7 7.7

December . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.7

6.4

9.4 9.0 6.7 9.3 9.1
Remarriage rates

Age-specific rates of marriage for brides and grooms of

all marital statuses are published annually by the National

Center for Health Statistics. These rates establish certain

typical patterns of marriage in contemporary United States.

. Divorced men and women marry at higher rates than

do single or widowed men and women.

● Remarriage rates for both men and women decline

with increased age.

● Divorced men remarry at higher rates than divorced

women for all age groups 25–29 years and over.

These relationships can be illustrated with 1983 data.

First, the remarriage rate for divorced women was 91.6 per

1,000 in 1983,44 percent higher than the first marriage rate

(63.8), and nearly 14 times higher than the marriage rate

for widows (6.2) (table 3). The remarriage rate for divorced

men, 142.1 pcr 1,000, was nearly three times the first

marriage rate (51.8) and nearly five times the rate for

wirlowcrs (30.7). Second, the decline in remarriage rates

with age for divorced men and women can bc seen in

figure 1. At 20–24 years of age approximately one-quarter

of divorced women and men remarry. By age 65 years and

over, less than 3 percent of divorced men and less than a

half of 1 percent of divorced women remarry. Finally, the

higher rates of remarriage for men can also be seen in

figure 1. At 20–24 years of age the rates for previously

divorced men and women were virtually the same. After

age 25 years the rates for women dropped faster than the

rates for men, creating ever-greater differences between

the sexes in the likelihood of remarriage. The difference in

remarriage prospects resulted in 7,205,000 divorced women

eligible for remarriage in the population in 1983 compared

with only 4,903,000 men.

The remarriage rates for both divorced men and

women dropped during the 1970–83 period. In 1970 the

remarriage rate for previously divorced women was 123.3

per 1,000. It fell 26 percent by 1983 to 91.6 per 1,000. For

divorced men the remarriage rate in 1983 was 142.1 per

1,000, 31 percent lower than it had been in 1970. Remarriage rates dropped, even though the number of remarriages was increasing, because the pool of divorced persons

available for remarriage was increasing faster than the

number of remarriages.

7
300

200

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

9

a

7

6

5

4

3

2

0

20-24 25-29 30-34 35–39 40–44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65 years

years years yeara years ya ars years yea rs years years and over

Age

Figure 1. Remarriage rates of previously divorced men and women by age: Marriage-registretion area, 1983
Characteristics of men

and women who

remarry

Age

Ages of bride and groom are analyzed for the group of

38 States that reported previous marital status in J 9S3.

Brides and grooms in each previous marital status tend to

be of certain typical ages. A large majority (71 percent) of

single brides marry before 25 years of age. Previously

divorced brides are concentrated in age groups 25-44 years

(74 percent), and most previously widowed brides (69

percent) are 45 years of age and over (figure 2). In 19S3

mean ages of brides were 23.5, 33.7, and 52.6 years for

single, divorced, and widowed women, respectively.

Men are 2-8 years older at marriage than women are,

depending on previous marital status. Mean ages of men at

marriage were 25.5, 37.3, and 60.2 years for single, divorced, and widowed grooms, respectively. Thus, previously

divorced brides and grooms tend to be a decade or more

older at marriage than single brides and grooms, and

previously widowed brides and grooms are at least 20 years

older than that.

In recent years, ages at remarriage have been increasing (table 4). For example, mean age at remarriage of

previously divorced brides varied between 32.5 and 32.9

years throughout the 1970’s, and then started upward,

reaching 33.7 years by 1983, higher than it has been since it

was first published in 1963. For grooms, ages at remarriage

have shown similar increases. The mean age of previously

divorced grooms rose from 36.1 years in 1977 to 37.3 years

in 1983. Ages of previously widowed brides and grooms,

however, have not shown such a clear trend.

Among States, mean ages of previously divorced brides

ranged over a 3-year spread between 32.1 years in Louisiana and Wyoming to 35.2 years in New Jersey (table 5). For

grooms, mean ages ranged 3.3 years from 35.8 years in

North Carolina, Utah, and Wyoming to 39.1 years in

Hawaii. The variation among States of mean ages at remarriage is greater for widowed than for divorced persons,

ranging 10.8 years (from 46.0 years in Alaska to 56.8 years

in Florida) for widowed brides and 8.4 years (from 55.8

years in Alaska to 64.2 years in Florida) for previously

widowed grooms.

The majority of brides marry grooms with the same

marital status. In 1983, 55 percent of all brides and grooms

were boih single, 19 percent were both divorced, and 2

percent were both widowed. Less than one-fourth of marriages united brides and grooms with a different previous

marital status (table E).

Table E. Percent distribution of marriages by previous marital

status of bride and groom: 38 reporting States and the District of

Columbia, 1983

[Based on sample data. For Iisl of reporting States, see Technical notes]

Previous marital status of groom

Previous marital All

status of bride grooms Single Divorced Wtiowed

Percent distribution

All brides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 65.2 31.6 3.2

jingle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66.4 54.8

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11.2 0.4

30.1 10.0 18.9 1.3

Wtiowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5 0,5 1.5 1.5

The frequency with which men and women marry

spouses of the same marital status is due in part to their

choosing spouses of a similar age. Conversely, those with an

age that is atypical for their status may choose a spouse of

similar age but different marital status. For example, the

mean age of previously divorced brides was 33.7 years in

1983, but those who married single men were considerably

younger than average, 29.6 years, while those who married

previously divorced men were 34.9 years, and those who

married widowed men were quite a bit older, 47.0 years.

Similarly, divorced men were 37.3 years of age overall, but

those who married single women were younger, 33.2 years;

those who married divorced women were 38.8 years; and

those who married widows were 49.4 years of age, on

average. Remarrying widows showed the same patterns:

Widows who married single men were 39.9 years, those

who married divorced men were 47.7 years, and those who

married widowed men were 61.8 years (table 6).

Traditionally a groom is older than his bride, a fact that

tends to be typical of remarriages as well as of first marriages (table 6). The only combinations of previous marital

status for which grooms are younger than their brides are

the categories of divorced and widowed brides with previously single grooms. In 19S3 widowed brides who married

single grooms were 39.9 years of age, 2.1 years older than

their own grooms who were 37.8 years. Previously divorced

brides were 29.6 years of age, 0.9 year older than their

previously single grooms who were 28.7 years of age. For

all other combinations of previous marital status, grooms

were older than their brides, and in most cases the age

differences were greater than those for marriages of two

single people.

9
30

r

20

t%eviousty widowed brides

fo

o

30

r

20

Previously divorced bride

10

g

~

If

o

50

40

30

20

10

0

r

!

Previously single brides

L

1, I I I I

Under lB- 20- 25- 30- 35- 40- 45- 50- 55. 60-

18 19 24 29 34 39

65

44 49 54 59 64 and

Over

Age at marriage in years

—

Figure 2. Percent distribution of merriages by age of bride, according to previous marital status: Marriage-registration area, 1983

Race

Race, as well as previous marital status, is reported on

marriage records of 33 Slates. Racial differences in the

proportion of remarriages for these Stales are shown in

table F. Black brides are more Iikely than white brides to be

marrying for the first time, while black brides are less likely

to be previously divorced. For both races, the proportion of

brides that were previously widowed was low: 4 percent of

white and 3 percent of black brides had been widowed. The

distributions for grooms were similar to those for brides.

Table G shows the combined marital status of couples

according to their racial combination. White couples are

more likely to both be remarrying after divorce (22 percent) than all other racial pairings. Couples in which both

partners are of races other than black or white are much

more likely (69 percent) to be both single than black

coupb {60 percent) or white couples (52 percent), and less

likely to both be divorced. Couples in racially mixed marriages are more likely to be of different previous marital

status (30-33 percent) than couples that are not racially

mixed (20-27 percent).

10
Table F. Percent distribution of marriages by previous marital status of bride and groom, according to race of bride and groom:

33 reporting States, 1983

[Based on sample data. For list of reporting States, see Technical notes]

Bride Groom

Other Other

Previous marital status White Black races White Black races

Percent distribution

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

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63.1 73.1 72.3 82.5 70.1 75.4

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

33.1 23.5 25.4 34.2 26.5 227

3.8 3.4 2.3 3.3 3.4 1.9

Table G. Percent distribution of marriages by previous marital status of bride and groom, according to race of couple: 33 reporting

States, 1983

[Based on sample data. For list of reporting States, see Technical notes]

Race of couple and

Previous marital status of groom

previous marital status of bride Total Single DNorosd wtiot4eKl

Whitecouple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Single

Divorced::::::::::::::: :::::::::::

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Blackcouple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Boihbride andgroom ofotherraces. . . . . . . .

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Whltebride andblackgroom. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

White bridaand groom ofother races . . . . . . .

Single

Divorced::::::::::::::: :::::::::::

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Black brideand white groom.. . . . . . . . . . . .

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bride ofother rscesand white groom. . . . . . . .

Single, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

100.0

63.1

33.1

3.8

100.0

73.2

23.4

3.4

100.0

78.0

19.5

2.5

100.0

66.1

32.4

1.6

100.0

66.2

30.6

1.3

100.0

72.6

26.0

1.4

100.0

64.1

33.6

2.3

62.5

52.0

10.1

0.4

70.4

59.9

9.6

0.9

78.2

69.1

6.3

0.8

65.3

50.8

13.5

0.9

70.4

53.4

16.5

0.4

66.7

56.4

11.6

0.5

64.9

48.9

14.9

1.1

Percent distribution

34.1

10.6

21.6

1.7

26.2

IZ4

12.3

1.4

19.9

6.5

10.3

1.1

31.9

14.3

17.1

0.5

27.5

13.9

13.0

0.6

28.7

14.7

13.5

0.5

33.3

14.4

17.9

1.0

3.3

0.3

1.3

1.7

3.4

0.9

1.5

1.0

1.9

0.4

0.9

0.6

2.6

0.9

1.6

0.1

2.1

0.6

1.0

0.2

26

1.4

0.7

0.5

1.7

0.8

0.6

0.1

Differences in family structure of black and white

Americans have been clocumentcd by many researchers

(McCarthy, 1978; Espenshacle, 1985; and Thornton, 1978).

BlackAmericans arc more likely than others tohavethcir

marriages clisruptccl and less likely to remarry following a

marital breakup. Furthermore, first marriages of black

women aremorc likely than marriages ofwhitewomcnto

end in separation. 13achrach and Horn found that 36percent of dissolved first marriages of black women ended in

separation only, compared with llpercent ofdissolvcd first

marriages of white women (NCHS, 1985). Using 1976

survey data, one analyst calculated that the probability of

remarriage within 5 years of divorce was 0.731 for white

women and 0.485 for black women (NCHS, 1980). The

Iowerpercentof blackbrideswho were previouslydivorced

is consistent with ahigher proportion ofblack women who

are separated and are not legally free to remarry.

Although religious ceremonies for previously divorced

womenareless frequent than forwidowedor singlewomen

(table H), the differences are much smaller for black than

11
Table H. Percent of marriages by type of ceremony, previous marital status, and race of bride and groom: 32 reporting States, 1983

[Based on sample data. For list of reporting States, see Technical notes]

Race of bride Race of groom

Type of ceremony and Other Other

previous marital status Wtrite Black races WfrHe Black races

civil Percent

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.3 34.0 45.8 - 22.1

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

35.4

42.8 38.0

47.2

58.8 40.8

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,8

36.4

30.5

55.6

55.1 25.1 30.7 41.0

Religious

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78.7 66.0 54.2 77.9

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57,2

64.6

widowe d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

62.0

52.8

41.2 59.2

71.2

63.6

69.5

44.4

44.9 74,9 69.3 59.0

for white women. Unlike white women, almost as many (62

percent) previously divorced black brides marry in religious

settirtg sasdopreviousl ysingleblackbrides (66 percent).

In general, black persons marry later than do white

persons. In1983 black brides andgrooms wcre2.Oandl.8

years older, respectively, than wllitebrides and groomsat

first marriage, and 2,2 and 1.6 years oklcr at remarriage

after divorce. Onthcothe rhand,remarryin gblackwidows

and widowers were younger, 3.6 and 3.1years younger,

than their white counterparts (table J).

Table J. Mean age at marriage by previous marital status and

race of bride andgroom:33 reporting States, 1983

[Based on sample data. For list of reporling States, see Technical notes. For

mean age of brides and grooms of all races Marriage-registration area, see

Table 4]

Previous marital status

Sex and race Total Single Divorced Widowed

Bride Years

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.4 22.9 33.2 53.1

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.2 24.9 35.4 49.5

Otherraces . . . . . . . . . . 27.6 24.9 33.7 43.3

Groom

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.2 24.9 36.9 60.7

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.9 26.7 38.5 57.6

Otherraces . . . . . . . . . . 29.9 27.0 37.4 56.3

interval to remarriage

The remarriage rates discussed in an earlier section

established that divorced men and women, regardless of

age, remarry at higher rates than widowed men and women.

The result is that more divorced than widowed persons

ultimately remarry. Using period rates for 1980,

Robert Schoen has calculated that 78 percent of divorced

women compared with 8 percent of widowed women ever

remarry. The differences for mcn are sma]]er but sti]]

substantial. Schoen calculated that 83 percent of divorced

men and 21 percent of widowed men remarry (Schocn et

al., 1985).

Data for 1983 from vital statistics show that widowed

and divorced persons who do remarry differ in the Icng[h of

time before remarriage. Divorced mcn and women remarry

sooner than do widowers and widows, and men in either

category marry sooner than wornen. For previously divorced men, the mean interval to remarriage was 3.0 years

compared with 3.3 years for women. The ,difference was

greater for previously widowed persons: The mean interval

for men was 3.5 years compared with 6.1 years for women.

Although. the mean interval to remarriage for divorced

men is less than for widowed men, the same proportion, 65

percent, were being remarried within 3 years after their

previous marriage had ended (figure 3). For previously

divorced grooms remarrying in 1983, nearly 25 percent

married within 6 months, 35 percent within a year, and 65

percent within 3 years of the date when their last marriage

ended. For men who had been widowed, 7 percent remarried within 6 months, 24 percent w“thin a year, and 65

percent were remarrying within 3 years of the date their

previous wife died. Unlike remarriages of men, widowed

women do not “catch Lip” to divorced women in the interval

to remarriage; 61 percent of divorced women were remarried within 3 years of the date their last marriage ended

compared with only 37 percent of widowed brides.

Between 1970 and 1983, interval to remarriage lengthened for previously divorced and widowed women and men,

but the change was greater for the previously divorced

(table K).

Table K. Mean interval t~ remarriage by previous marital status

of bride and groom: Reporting States, 1970-1983

[Based on sample data. For list of reporting States, see Technical notes.

Previous marital status of—

Bride Groom

Year Divorced Wtiowed Divorced Wiklowed

1983 . . . . . . . . . . .

1982 . . . . . . . . . . .

1981 . . . . . . . . . . .

1980 . . . . . . . . . . .

1979 . . . . . . . . . . .

1978 . . . . . . . . . . .

1977 . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3.3

3.1

3.0

2.9

2.9

2.8

2.7

2.6

2.5

2.5

2.6

2.5

2.6

2.5

6.1

6.1

6.0

6.0

6.0

5.7

5.6

5.6

5.6

5.5

5.5

5.7

5.5

5.5

Years

3.0

2.6

2.7

2.6

2.5

2.5

2.3

2.3

2.3

2.2

2.2

2.2

2.3

2.2

3.5

3.4

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.3

3.4

3.3

3.2

3.3

3.2

3.4

3.3

3.2

12
100. -

80

60

40 -

20 -

---

---- Previously d~orced groom

— Previously divorced bride

IUUMIIISIIIIII Previouslywidowed groom

0 --- Previously widowed bride

o 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Interval to remarriage in years

Figure 3. Cumulative percent of previously divorced and widowed bridas and grooms who had ramarried by specified intervak Reporting

States, 1983

As men and women age, interval between marriages

lengthens, almost without exception. In 1983 the interval

between marriages of previously divorced women was 0.8

year for brides 18-19 years of age and increased for

successive age groups until, for previously divorced brides

Table L. Mean interval to remarriage by previous marital status

and age of bride and groom at remarriage: Reporting States,

1970 and 1983

[Based on sample data. For list of reporting States, see Technical notes]

Previous marital status

Bride Groom

and age at marrlsge 1983 1970 1983 1970

Oivorced

Alleges . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12-17 years . . . . . . . . . . . .

16-19 years . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

3H4years . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

65years andover. . . . . . . .

Widowed

Alleges . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12-17 years. . . . . . . . . . . .

lf3-19years . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

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

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

5S64years . . . . . . . . . . . .

65years andover. . . . . . . .

3.3 25

1.0 0.5

0.8 0.6

1.5 1.1

2.5 1.6

3.2 2.4

4.0 3.2

5.5 5.1

7.6 8.6

10.4 11.7

6.1

0.9

1.6

2.1

3.2

4.0

5.3

6.2

6.8

7.9

Years

3.0

1.9

1.2

1.3

2.1

2.9

3.2

3.7

4.9

6.3

5.5 3.5

1.0 *

1.0 1.4

1.5 1.6

2.5 2.0

3.3 3.6

4.7 3.1

5.3 3.8

6.6 3.5

9.0 3.6

2.2

0.5

1.0

0.9

1.4

1.9

2.4

3.3

4.1

7.1

3.2

*

●

1,5

2.0

2.3

2.7

3.2

3.0

3.9

65 years of age and over, the interval was 10.4 years

(table L).

For grooms, interval also Iengfhened for each successive age group after 20 years, but, as stated before, intervals

were shorter for men than for women. Previously divorced

grooms 20-24 years of age in 1983 were married 1.3 years

after their last marriage ended. Average interval for each

successive+ age group increased until 65 years and over

when it was 6.3 years. Between 1970 and 1983 interval to

remarriage lengthened for both brides and grooms, both

previously divorced and widowed, and for most age groups.

In 1983, 23 States reported both race and interval to

remarriage. Intervals between marriages were longer for

black than for white men and women (table M), regardless

of whether they had been widowed or divorced. The racial

differentials were greater for widowed than for divorced

persons.

Table M. Mean interval to remarriage by previous markai status

and race of bride and groom: 23 reporting States, 1983

[Based on sample date. For list of reporting States, see Technical notes]

Previous marital

status and race Bride Gtuom

Divorced Years

Whit e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2 2.9

Black. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1 3.4

Other races . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.3 3.5

Widowed

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.0 3.3

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.7 5.4

Other reces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.2 9.1

13
Educational attainment

In 1983,20 States had both educational attainment and

previous marital status on marriage records. The data

(tables 7 and N) reflect the historical trend toward increased education that has occurred in 20th century America. Older brides and grooms, who were more likely to be

widowed, went to school when the general level of education was lower than it is currently. For example, 23 percent

of previously widowed grooms completed their formal educations with elementary school compared with only

5 percent of divorced and 3 percent of single grooms. For

women, 15 percent of widowed brides had only elementary

educations compared with 4 percent of previously divorced

and 2 percent of previously single brides.

There is another educational difference that cannot be

explained by that historical change in levels of education.

A]though the percent distributions of previously divorced

and previously single grooms by educational attainment are

very similar, the distribution for previously divorced brides

differs from that for previously single brides. Previously

divorced brides are concentrated in categories of less eclucation. Whereas similar proportions of prcvious]y single

and previously divorced grooms and prcvioudy single

brides had finished 4 years or more of college (23, 21, and

21 percent, respcctivcly), only 13 percent of previously

divorced brides had done so.

The distributions are summarized by figures for mean

education, which are shown in Table O. In 1983,previously

single brides and grooms had 13.5 years and previously

divorced grooms had 13.4 years of cclucation compared

with only 13.0 years for prcvious]y divorced brides. Thus,

there was a greater difference bctwccn previously single

and divorced brides than previously single and divorced

grooms.

For all age groups under 45 years, previously divorced

brides and grooms have ICSSeducation than previously

single SPOLISCS (table O). The ]owcr education of prcvious]y

divorced persons may WC1lreflect the rekitivcly higllcr

instability of the first marriages of worncn and mcn with

lower education. SL~cha conclusion can be supported by a

comparison of vital statistics from marriage and divorce

Table O. Mean years of school completed by bride and groom by

previous marital statua and age at marriage: 20 reporting States,

1983

[Based on sample data. For list of reporting Slates, see Technical notes]

Previous marital status

Sex and age at marriage Total Single Divorced Widowed

Bride Years

Alleges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.3 13.5 13.0

12–17years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.7 10.7 10.5

18-19 yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.3 12.3 11.4

2Ck24years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.5 13.7 12.2

25-29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.0 14.6 13.0

30-34 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.9 14.8 13.5

35-44 yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.3 14.1 13.3

45-54 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.5 11.9 12.7

55-84 yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.8 10.6 12.1

65years And over . . . . . . . . . . 11.5 11.9 11.1

Groom

All ages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.4 13.5 13.4

12-17 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.7 10.7 9.8

l&19years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.9 12.0 11.2

20-24 yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.1 13.2 12.2

25-29 yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.9 14.3 13.0

30-34 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.2 14.8 13.7

35-44 yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.8 14.3 13.8

45-54 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.1 12.4 13.3

5E-84years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.5 10.8 12.8

65years Andover . . . . . . . . . . 11.0 9.7 10.9

;,.

12.1’

11.0

11.1

12.1

12.9

13.3

12.5

12.2

11.7

11.6

12.1

*

*

12.5

13.2

13.5

13.8

12.6

12.4

11.1

registration areas. Men and women dissolving first marriages had less education on the average than all brides and

grooms at first marriage.

Lower educational attainment of women and men at

remarriage than at first marriage for the age groups under

45 years of age reflects two separate processes. First,

because the likelihood of divorce is associated with younger

ages at marriage and fewer economic resources, divor,ce is

more likely for married people with less education. Second,

having divorced, fewer people with higher education remarry, especially women (Spanier and Glick, 1980).

For previously divorced brides there were virtually no

differences among races in educational attainment. This is

in contrast to first marriages in which white brides lhave

more education (13.5 years) than black brides (13.1 years)

(table P). For both racial groups women in remarriages had

Table N. Percent distribution of marriages by educational attainment of bride and groom, according to previous marital status:

20 reporting States, 1983

[Based on sample data. For list of reporting States, see Technical notes]

Years of school completed

Sex and previous 0-8 9-11 12 1s15 16 17 years

marttal status Total years years years years years and over

Percent distribution

All brides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 3,1 13.5 42.2 23.2 12.3 5.6

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 2,2 12.6 40.2 24.3

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0

14.8

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3.6

5.6

15.0 46.8 21.6 7.6

100.0 15.3

5.3

18.1 40.6 15.9 6.3 3.6

All grooms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 4.2 12.0 40.9 21.1 13.3 6.5

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 2.7 11.8 41.7 21.3

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0

14.5

5.2

8.0

12.2 40.3 21.3

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0

11.3

22.8

9.7

13.5 31.2 13.9 9.8 8.8

14
Table P. Mean years of school completed by bride and groom by

race and previous marital status: 19 reporting States, 1983

[Basedon sample data. For list of reporting States, see Technical notes]

Sex and race

Bride

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

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

Other races . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Groom

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

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

Otherraces . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Previous marital status

Tota~ Single Divorced Widowed

Years

13.2 13.5 12.8 12.1

13.0 13.1 12.8 10.8

13.4 13.6 12.9 11.9

13.4 13.5 13.2 12.0

12.7 12.9 12.4 9.2

13.8 13.7 13.5 11.0

1Inc!udesnotstated.

lower echcational attainment than women in first marriages. Other data have shown that for white women higlqr

educational attainment is a consistently powcrfulprcclictor

of below-average remarriage probabilities (Molt and

Moore, 1983).

Among men, black grooms had the lowest cclucation in

all previous marital statuses. They also had lower education

than black brides for all previous marital statuses. This was

the opposite of the relative educational level of divorcd

white brides and grooms or single and divorced brides and

grooms of other races where men had more education than

women.

Table 8 provides a different approach to analysis of

educational differences for categories of brides or grooms.

It shows the difference for each couple aeeording to the

previous marital status of bride or groom. Because most

men and women marry spouses with the same marital

status, most of the information is consistent with data

discussed earlier. That is, grooms who were previously

single or divorced have more education than their brides

and previously widowed grooms have less. However, because not all brides and grooms had the same marital

history as their spouses, there are some differences by

marital history category. Previously divorced brides, as was

detailed above, have less education than single brides, but

the educational differences between them and their husbands is slightly greater than betsveen single brides and

their husbands. By remarrying, they are apparently benefiting from whatever economic and social advantages may be

associated with higher education for men. Results of a

study that compared the occupational status of first and

second husbands indicate that about one-half of the women

were upwardly mobile through their seeond marriages,

while only one-fifth were downwardly mobile; the remainder were unchanged (Mueller and Pope, 1978).

Table 8 also shows that the difference in educational

level of brides and their spouses is greatest for young brides

and diminishes with increased age of bride until, at oldest

ages, brides have more education than their grooms.

15
Divorces of remarried

persons

There have been more than a million divorces in the

United States every year since 1975. Information on

whether these were dissolving first marriages or remarriages is available from 30 States in the divorce-registration

area, and this shows that approximately one-quarter of

divorces are dissolutions of remarriage. While the vast

majority of these are redivorces, that is dissolutions of

marriages that followed divorces, a small proportion (6

percent for men and 9 percent for women) of the dissolving

remarriages are dissolutions of marriages that followed

widowhood.

Age of husband and wife

Table Q shows the average ages at marriage and

divorce according to the number of times the divorcing

husbands and wives have married. The age and number of

the marriage were reported in approximately S3 percent of

the records in this group of 30 States.

Twice-married women who divorced in 1983 averaged

37.2 years of age. Clearly they were selected from the

youngest of remarrying women because their average age

at second marriage (30.4) is younger than the average age

of women at first divorce (31.8). This pattern is repeated

for women married three times who were 36.2 years of age

at marriage, younger than the average age of women ending

second marriages (37.2 years). This same pattern is seen

for divorcing husbands.

Duration of remarriages

Among couples divorced in 1983 were some who had

been married less than a year and others married more

than 60 years. Generally, the more times a divorcing person

has been married, the briefer the duration of the marriage,

For once-married men and women, the mean duration was

10.8 years, for twice-married men and women it was 7.0

years, and for those married three times it was 4.9 years for

women and 5.1 years for men (table R). This relationship

holds true regardless of age at marriage even though

duration also decreases with increased age at marriage. It

may be that some selection factor is at work and that people

who divorce repeatedly are likely to regard divorce as an

acceptable solution to an unpleasant marriage and resort to

it with increasing promptness.

Children of divorce

Much of the public’s interest in divorce relates to its

effect on children. Analysis of divorce records shows that

the more times the divorcing husband or wife has been

married, the smaller the average number of children per

decree. This is consistent with findings from the National

Table R. Mean duration of dissolving marriages by number of

marriage and age at marriage of wife and husband: 30 reporting

States, 1983

[Basedon sample data. For list of reporting States, see Technical notes]

Number of dissolving marriage of–

Wife Husband

Age at marriage Ist 2d 3d Ist 2d 3d

Alleges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.8 7.0

Under 20years . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.3 9.1

20-24 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.7 7.5

25-29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.0 7.1

30-34 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.4 6.6

35-39 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.5 6.0

40-44 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.7 5.9

45 years And over . . . . . . . . . . 6.3 5.4

Not stated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.9 7.7

Years

4.9 10.8

8.7 10.8

5.7 11.3

5.5 10.2

4.7 9.1

4.6 6.7

4.5 8.2

4.1 6.2

5.7 11.4

7.0 5.1

9.0 *

8.0 7.2

7.7 5.8

6.7 5,4

6.5 4.8

6.6 4.9

5.4 4.5

7.8 5.7

Table Q. Mean ages at marriage and divorce by number of marriage of divorcing wives and husbands: 30 reporting States, 1983

[Based on sample data. For list of repotting Stales, see Technical notesl

Number of dssolvlng marriage

1st 2d 3d or higher

Sex Marriage Divorce Marriage Dworce Marriage Divorce

Age In years

Divorcing waves..........,,. . . . . . . . . 21.2 31,8 30.4 37.2

Divorcing husbands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.4

36.2 41,0

34.1 33.5 40.5 39.5 44.6

16
Survey of Family Growth that most children are born

during first marriages (Bachrach, 1986). These children

usually are not listed in records of a redivorce unless some

change is made in their custody or care. Moreover, some of

the children of a first marriage will no longer be under

18years of age when their parents are dissolving a second

marriage, and therefore will not be reported. Table S shows

the percent distribution of dissolving marriages by the

number of children reported. In dissolution of remarriages

of women, 61 percent of second and 77 percent of third

marriages involved no children under 1S years of age. This

compares with only 39 percent of women in first marriages.

In dissolutions of remarriages of men, 59 percent of second

and 73 percent of third marriages involved no children

compared with only 40 percent of divorces of once-married

men.

Table S also shows the average number of children

involved in 1983 divorces according to number of the

marriage of husband and wife. Two averages are shown;

one for all wives and husbands, including the 46 percent

Table S. Percent distribution of dissolving marriages by number

of children involved in divorce, according to number of marriage

of wife and husband: 30 reporting States, 1983

[Basedon sample data. For list of reporting States, see Technical notes]

Number of marria.qe

Number of children TotaI Ist 2d 3d or h@her

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

l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6ormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Allvfives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

VViVeswith children. . . . . . . . . .

Husband

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

o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...!.

1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3

4:::::::::::::::::::::

5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6ormore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

All husbands . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Husbands with children. . . . . . .

100.0

46.0

25.6

20.0

6.2

1.6

0.4

0.2

0.94

1.73

100.0

46.0

25.6

20.0

6.2

1.6

0.4

0.2

0.94

1.73

Percent distribution

100.0 100.0

39.3 61.0

27.9 21.2

23,2 12.5

7.2 3.9

1.8 1.1

0.4 0.2

0,2 0.1

Mean

1.06 0.64

1.75 1.65

100.0

77.3

13.5

6.2

2.0

0.7

0.1

0.1

0.36

1.60

Percent distribution

100.0 100.0

39.9 59.4

27.4 22.3

23.1 13.1

7.3 3.6

1.8 1.1

0.4 0.3

0.2 0.1

Mean

1.06 0.66

1.76 1.63

100.0

72.8

16.2

7.6

2.4

0.8

0.2

0.1

0.43

1.59

that are childless, and the other for mothers and fathers

only. The average number of children per decree was 1.06

for both women and men in first marriages. The average for

women and men dissolving second marriages was 0.64 and

0.66 children, respectively. Most of the difference was due

to many more divorces that involved no children under

18 years for the remarried couples, as shown by the average

number of children for parents. Mothers ending second

marriages had only a tenth of a child less (1.65) than

mothers ending first marriages (1.75). The variability in

number of children according to father’s marriage order

was slightly greater than for mother’s marriage order.

Fathers dissolving second marriages had an average of 1.63

children compared with 1.76 children for fathers dissolving

first marriages.

The relationships between parenthood, divorce, remarriage, and subsequent childbearing have been analyzed in

many studies supported by the National Institute of Child

Health and Human Development. These studies have

shown that childless couples divorced more than parents

(Koo, Suchindran, and Griffith, 1984), that couples with

many children divorce more than those with small families

(Thornton, 1977), and that couples with children under

6 years of age were less likely to divorce than others

(Cherlin, 1977). It has also been shown that the fewer

children a woman has, the more likely she is to remarry.

However, a majority of women begin remarriage with

children from previous marriages and a substantial number

begin marriage with children from both spouses’ previous

marriages. Research on fertility in remarriages shows that

the age of the youngest child, but not the number of

children, from previous marriages has an effect on whether

another child is born to the remarried couple. Mothers of

two children or more are as likely to have another child as

are those who have only one child or are still childless,

supporting the view that a new child is important to confirm

the new marriage. However, if the woman is in her later

twenties, especially if she is married to an older man, or if

her youngest children are already in school, she is less likely

to have children in the new marriage. Together, these

studies establish that having children may impede but does

not preclude divorce, remarriage, or childbearing in the

newly reconstituted family.

More information on children in remarried couple

households can be found in Bumpass (1984), Cherlin and

McCarthy (1985), and Hofferth (1985), and an analysis of

children involved in divorce is more completely treated in a

forthcoming. publication, “Children of divorcing couples”

(NCHS, in preparation).

17
References

Bachrach, C. A. 1986. Unpublished data from the National Suxvey

of Family Growth, Cycle III.

Bumpass, L. 1984. Children and marital disruption: A replication

and update. Dei?lography 21:71-82.

Cher]in, A. 1977. The effect of children on marital dissolution.

DeJ?togmphy 14:265-72.

Cherlin, A. and J. McCarthy. 1985. Remarried couple households:

Data from the June 1980 Current Population Survey. 1 Mm-.Fare.

47:23-30.

Council of State Governments. 1974. The Book of the States,

197475. Lexington, Ky.

Espenshade, T. J. 1985. Marriage trends in America: Estimates,

implications, and underlying causes. Pop. Develop. Rev.

11(2): 193-245.

Hoffcrth, S. L. 1985. Updating children’s life course. J. Mar. Favn.

47:93-115.

Koo, H. P., C. M. Suchindran, and J. D. Griffith. 1984. The effects

of children on divorce and remarriage: A multivariate analysis of

life table probabilities. Pop. S/ud.38:451–71.

McCarthy, J. 1978. A comparison of the probability of the

dissolution of first and second marriages. DcI?Iogrophy

15(3):345-60.

McCarthy, J. 1979. Religious commitment, affiliation, and marriage dissolution, In The Religious Dimetls;on: New Directions in

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18
List of detailed tables

1. Estimated number of marriages by previous marital

status of bride and groom. United States, 1970-83 .....

2. Number of marriages and percent distribution by previous markal status of bride and groom 38 reporting

States and the District of Columbi% 1983 ... ....... .......

3. Maniage rates by previous marital status and age

of women and mem Marriage-registration area,

197M3 .... ....... ................... ..................... .........

4. Mean age of bride and groom by previous marital

statux Marriage-registration are% 1970-83 . .......... ....

5. Mean age at marriage by previous marital status of

bride and groom: 38 reporting States and the District of

Columbia, 1983 ... .............. ...................... ......... ..

6. Mean age at marriage of bride and groom and age

20 difference between spouses, by previous marital status

38 reporting States and the District of Columbia,

1983 ... ..... ....... ....... ..... .............. ....... ......... ....... 2s

20 7. Number of marriages by previous marital status and

educational attainment of bride and groom: 20 reporting States, 1983 ........ ..... .... .......... ....... ..... ........... 25

21 8. Mean years of school completed by bride and groom

and difference in education by previous marital status

24 and age at marriage 20 reporting States, 1983 ... ....... 26

24

19
Table 1. Estimated number of marriages by previous marital status of bride and groom: United States, 1970-83

[Based on sample data. Previous marital status estimated using percent distribution from uniform group of 36 reporting States. Due to rounding, estimates by previous

marital status may not add to annual total]

Previous marital status ofBride Groom

Year Total Single Divorced W7dowed Single Divorcert Widowed

Number in thousands

1970-83 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,958 22,404 8,191 1,366 21,974 8,749 1,234

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,446 1,624 736 66 1,595 773 78

1962 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,456 1,638 734 84 1,801 774 79

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,422 1,616 719 87 1,572 770 80

1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,390 1,621 681 68 1,585 724 81

1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,331 1,583 650 88 1,539 702 91

1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,282 1,557 634 91 1,513 687 82

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,176 1,488 597 94 1,449 645 85

1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,155 1,491 569 97 1,450 618 86

1975 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,153 1,507 547 101 1,477 583 93

1974 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,230 1,601 520 109 1,576 560 94

1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,264 1,670 507 107 1.649 541 96

1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,282 1,707 468 107 1,689 50U 94

1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,190 1,658 425 107 1,643 449 96

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,159 1,643 404 110 1,636 423 99

Table 2. Number of marriages and percent distribution by previous marital status of bride and groom: 38 reporting States and the

District of Columbia, 1983

[Based on sample data]

Previous marital status of bride Previous marital status of groom

Area Marriages Total Single Divorced Widowed Tota[ Sing/e Divorced Widowed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DlstrictofColumbla. . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NewHampshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

NewYork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NorthCarollna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

Rhodelsland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

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

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

WastVlrglnia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

Number

1,631,495

47,440

6,553

152,420

36,150

26,915

5,579

5,338

116,964

72,820

14,050

13,430

103,734

54,040

25,895

37,520

43,180

12,479

47,120

48,860

36,320

26,890

53,258

6,092

13.703

10,972

61,840

159,321

52,130

23,285

92,140

8,053

8,002

56,300

16,425

5,595

61,790

15,930

40,760

6,202

Percent distribution

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

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

100.0

100.0

66.4

58.3

56.9

71.5

60.9

71.7

66.3

76.0

58.6

54.9

63.3

54.6

69.0

62.5

61.5

61.5

66.3

64.7

87.4

75.2

68.1

57.7

61.8

64.6

71.3

63.6

74.2

75.0

64.5

60.8

73.5

73.8

68.8

56.6

69.4

67.3

64.1

65.6

74.5

54.9

30.1 3.5

37.5 4.2

40.6 2.4

25.4 3.0

38.1 3.0

25.4 2.9

28.6 3.2

21.5 2.5

38.6 4.8

40.9 4.1

33.7 2.9

41.2 4.2

27.6 3.2

33,7 3.8

35.0 3.4

33.8 4.7

30.4 3.3

32.0 3.3

29.1 3.5

224 2.4

27.9 4.0

37.3 5.0

34.2 4.0

320 3.4

24.9 3.6

33.1 3.3

23.2 2.6

221 2.9

31.7 3.6

35.3 3.9

23.4 3.1

23.5 2.7

27.0 4.2

38.8 4.4

28.3 2.3

28.4 3.3

32.5 3.5

30.9 3.6

222 3.3

41.4 3.6

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

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

100.0

100.0

65.1

58.0

59.0

69.1

62.3

68.8

68.3

70.3

58.1

54.6

63.3

56.0

67.6

61.6

62.4

60.2

65.0

63,6

64.7

72.9

65.6

59.0

60.9

64.6

71.6

62.6

72.3

72.7

65.2

60.9

71.9

71.3

67.8

54.9

69.1

65.6

63.4

64.9

72.8

56.9

31.6

38.3

38.6

27.7

35.3

28.3

30.7

26.9

39.4

42.3

33.6

40.4

29.2

34.9

34.5

36.0

31.7

33.3

32.2

24.3

30.7

37.1

35.7

32.2

25.3

34.3

24.6

24.5

31.7

36.0

25.2

26.2

29.0

41.6

28.2

32.0

33.6

32.6

23.9

40.3

3.2

3.7

1.4

3.1

2.4

2,9

2.9

2.8

4.5

3.1

3.0

3.6

3.0

3.3

3.1

3.7

3.4

3.1

3.1

2.8

3.5

3.9

3.4

3.0

3.1

3.1

3.1

2.6

3.1

3.1

2.9

2.5

3.2

3.5

2.7

2.4

3.0

2.6

3.3

2.8

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23
Table 4. Mean age of bride and groom by previous marital status: Marriage-registration area, 1970-83

[Based on sample date. Beginning in 1977 figures for Iowa are Included only in All marriages]

Prevk7us marital status of—

Brhde Groom

All All

Year marriages Single Divorced Widowed marriages Single Divorced Wktowed

Years

1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.6 23.5 33.7 52.6 30.3 25.5 37.3

1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.3 23,3

60.2

33.4 52.6 30.0 25.3 37.0

1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.0 23,0

59.9

33.0 52.2 29.8 25.0 36.6

1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.7 22.7

59.5

32.8 52.2 29.4 24.6 36.5

1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.7

59.6

22.5 32.6 53.4 29.5 24.6 36.4

i978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.3 22.3

60.0

32.6 51.4 29.1 24.4 36.2

1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.2 22.2

58,4

32.5 51.8 29.0 24.3

1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.1

36.1

22.1

56.9

32.5 51.8 26.9 24.1

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

36.2

25.9 21.9

56.6

32.7 51.2 26.7 24.0

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

36.3

25.6 21.7

58.2

32.5 51.0 26.3 23.6

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

36.3

25.5 21.7

58.2

32.6 51.0 26.1 23.8

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

36.4

25.2 21.6

56.1

32.9 50.7 27.9 23.7 36.5

1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,1

56.0

21.6 32.6 50.6 27.8 23.7

1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.1

36.6

21.6

57.7

32.8 50.3 27.8 23.8 36.7 57.7

Table 5. Mean age at marriage by previous marital statusof bride and groom: 38 reporting States and thel)istrict of Columbia, ”1983

[Based on sample data]

State of marr/aae

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

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

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

California . . . .. ~ . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

DistrictofColumbia. . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mlssksippl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mlssourl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

NewHampshir e . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

NewYork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Virgins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

WestVlrglnla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

Previous marital status of–

Bride

Single Divorced Widowed

23.5

21.9

23.4

24.2

23.6

24.7

23.7

27.1

23.5

22.6

24.9

21.6

23.9

22.2

22.4

21.8

22.5

22.9

24.3

24.6

23.1

22.0

22.6

22.7

22.7

23.9

24.9

25.3

22.7

23.3

23.9

24.2

22.3

22,2

21.9

23.9

23.3

21.7

23.4

22.2

33.7

32.3

32.5

34.6

33.1

35.0

33.8

36.0

34.4

33.0

34.8

34.2

33,6

32.5

32.4

32.4

32.1

33.6

34.6

34.7

33.6

32.6

33.3

33,1

32.6

34.5

35.2

35,0

32.6

34.1

33.8

34.1

33.3

33.0

32.6

34.2

33.3

32.4

33.5

32.1

52.6

52.4

46.0

54.4

49.7

53.1

51.3

51.2

56.6

50.9

50.1

51.5

52.1

55.0

55.7

50.4

50.4

52.4

51.5

51.3

52.1

53.2

54.1

50.3

55.0

53.9

52.2

52.4

49.6

55.0

53.5

51.4

53.0

49.3

51.4

50.6

50.0

51.6

52.8

47.3

Groom

Sing/e Divorced Widowed

Years

25.5 37.3 60.2

24.2 36.1 59.6

25.9 36.3 55.8

26.1 38.1 60.4

25.7 36.9 56.4

26.6 38.0 59.0

25.5 37.1 56.9

28.5 39.6 59.2

25.8 36.4 64.2

24.6 37.0 60.4

26.9 39.1 60.6

24.3 37.9 59.6

25.8 37.1 59.2

24.1 36.1 5&5

24.5 36.0 60.2

23.8 36.3 60.9

24.3 36.2 57.4

25.1 37.0 60.8

26.2 36.0 56.5

26.6 36.3 60.1

25.1 37.0 60.6

24.4 37.0 61.6

24.3 36.5 60.9

24.9 36.6 58.5

24.7 36.1 62.1

26.0 38.0 60.3

26.9 38.0 56.0

27.2 36.6 59.6

24.5 35.6 60.3

25.6 37.8 63.3

25.8 37.3 59.5

26.1 37.8 59.2

24.7 37.1 61.3

24.1 36.5 59.7

23.8 35.6 59.0

25.9 38.2 59.3

25.3 37.0 56.5

24.2 36.2 60.5

25.3 36.8 60.2

25.0 35.8 55.9

24
Table 6. Mean age at marriage of bride and groom and age difference between spouses, by previous marital status: 38 reporting States

and the District of Columbia, 1983

[Based on sample data For list of reporting States, see Technlcsl notes]

Previousrrrariial All

PreviousmarifaIstatusof groom

statusof brhie grooms Single DIVOroed widowed

Age of bride in years

All brides . . . . . . . . .

Single . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . .

Widowed . . . . . . . . .

27.6

23.5

33.7

526

24.0

22.8

29.6

39.9

32.5 52.7

37.5

47.0

61.8

26.4

34.9

47.7

Age of groom in years

37.3

33.2

38.8

49.4

All brides . . . . . . . . .

Single . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . .

Widowed . . . . . . . . .

30.3

26.4

36.1

55.2

25.5

24.8

28.7

37.8

60.2

48.8

55.8

66.9

Age dflerence in yewsl

All brides . . . . . . . . . 4.8

Single . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . .

Widowed. . . . . . . . .

27

29

25

26

1.5

2.0

-0.9

-2.1

7.5

11.3

8.9

5.2

6.8

3.9

1.6

‘Age of groommhwsage of bride.

Table 7. Number of marriages by previous marital status and educational attainment of bride and groom: 20 reporting States, 1983

[Based on sample data. For list of reporting States, sea Technical no!es]

Years ofschml completed

Sex and previous M 9-11 12 1s15 16 17yeafs

maritalstatus Total

Not

years yeats years yeats years and over stated

Brides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 740,843 20,712 278,836 153,458

9,760

7,260

3,470

222

27,621

11,764

81,278 80,095

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

widowe d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Notstated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

175,266 106,182

93,415 43,160

9,194 3,597

$361 519

488,382

219,523

25,205

7,733

55,136

29,876

4,090

434

64,4&3

15,224

1,427

164

25,347

10,648

851

62

52,228

19,940

2,576

5,351

Grooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 740,643

480,346

230,177

23,155

7,165

79,133 270,469 139,121

1?8,993 91,365

84,273 44,509

6,469 2,876

734 371

88,027

62,246

23,671

2,021

6!2

56,310 60,162

Single . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Divorced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Widowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Notstated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

50,653

25,498

2,793

189

34,150

20,230

1,629

101

51,175

21,061

2,449

5,477

4;716

204

25
Table 8. Mean years of school completed by bride and groom and difference hr education by previous marital status and age at

marriage: 20 reporting States, 1983

[Baaed on sample defa. Differences were calculated and roundad separately. For list of reporting States, see Technicai notes]

Bride

Education Education Difference

of groom of spouse h education

Previous maritet status

and age et marriage

Education Educaflon Dir7erence

of bride of spouse In education

All marbl statuses

Alleges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12-17 yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

lr3-19years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2C-24yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

25-29 yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

30-34 yeaffi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

45-54 yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5&64years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

Singie

Aliases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12-17 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16-19 yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20-24 yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

25-29 yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3&34years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

43-54 yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

65years andover . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Previously divorced

Ailages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12-17yeat3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16-19years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20-24yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

25-29yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

35+4yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

45-54yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

55-64yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

85yearsandover . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Previously widowed

Alleges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12-17yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

25-29yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

30-34yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

35-44yeara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

55-64year3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

65yeareandover . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Yeara

13.3

10.7

12.3

13.5

14.0

13.9

13.3

12.5

11.8

11.5

13.4

11.7

12.5

13.6

14.1

14.0

13.5

12.7

11.6

11.0

0.1 13.4 13.3 0.1

1.0

0.2

0.0

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.1

-0.2

-0.6

10.7

11.9

13.1

13.9

14.2

13.8

13.1

12.5

11.0

11.0

11.9

13.1

13.8

13.8

13.5

13.0

12.6

11.6

-0.2

0.0

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.3

0.1

0.0

-0.7

13.5

10.7

12.3

13.7

14.6

14.6

14.1

11.9

10.6

11.9

13.5 0.1 13.5 13.4 0.1

11.7

12.5

13.7

14.5

14.6

14.0

11.9

10.7

11.2

1.0

0.2

0.0

4.1

-0.2

-0.2

0.0

0.1

-0.7

10.7

12.0

13.2

14.3

14.8

14.3

12.4

10.8

9.7

11.0

11.9

13.2

14.0

14.3

13.9

12.3

11.2

10.6

-0.2

0.0

0.0

0.2

0.5

0.4

0.1

-0.4

-0.9

13.0

10.5

11.4

12.2

13.0

13.5

13.3

12.7

12.1

11.1

13.3

12.0

12.1

12.7

13.4

~3.8

13.5

12.9

12.0

10.5

0.3 13.4 13.2 0.2

1.4

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.2

-0.1

-0.6

9.8

11.2

12.2

13.0

13.7

13.8

13.3

12.8

10.9

12.3

11.6

12.4

13.0

13.4

13.4

13.1

12.7

11.2

–2.3

-0.5

-0.2

0.0

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.2

-0.4

12.1 12.0 -0.1 12.1 12.4 -0.4

11.0

11.1

12.1

12.9

13.3

12.5

12.2

11.7

11.6

12.2

12.0

12.3

13.2

13.3

12.7

12.1

11.4

11.1

1.2

0.9

0.3

0.3

0.0

0.1

0.0

-0.2

-0.5

●

13.3

12.5

13.2

13.5

13.8

12.6

12.4

11.1

13.5

14.1

12.5

13.1

13,1

13.6

12.8

12.6

11.6

*

-1.3

0.1

0.1

0.3

0.2

-0.2

-0.2

-0.7

26
Appendix

Technical notes

Registration areas

Registration areas for the collection of marriage and

divorce statistics were established in 1957 and in 1958,

respectively. The registration areas include States with

adequate programs for cdecting marriage and divorce

statistics. Criteria for participation in the registration areas

are as follows:

. A central file of marriage or divorce records.

. A statistical report conforming closely in content to the

U.S. Standard License and Certificate of Marriage

(figure I) or the U.S. Standard Certificate of Divorce,

Dissolution of Marriage, or Annulment (figure II).

. Regular reporting to the State office by all local areas

in which marriages or divorces are recorded.

● Tests for completeness and accuracy of marriage or

divorce registration carried out in cooperation with the

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

k 1970 the marriage-registration area (MRA) included 39 States and the District of Columbia while the

divorce-registration area (DRA) inc]uded 28 States. By

1983 the MRA had grown to 42 States and the District of

Columbia and the DRA to 31 States. Table I shows the

States and the years they were admitted to the registration

areas. In 1983 the MRA accounted for 77 percent of all

marriages in the United States, and the DRA accounted for

about 50 percent of the divorces.

In 1970 and 1980 efforts were made to obtain national

marriage data to use with the detailed population bases

available from the decennial censuses. In 1970 marriage

records were sampled for eight States not in the MRA:

Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada, Norih Dakota,

South Carolina, Texas, and Washington. With the addition

of these States, marriage data by age and State of residence

for the bride and groom are available for the entire United

States with the exception of three States without central

files of marriage records (Arizona, NCW Mexico, and

Oklahoma). In 1980 marriage records were sampled for

Arkansas, Nevada, North Dakota, Texas, and Washington;

Colorado, Minnesota, and South Carolina had joined the

MRA between 1970 and 1980.

Sources of data

The marriage and divorce statistics presented in this

report were derived primarily from data CO1lCCICCI annually

by NCHS and published in VitalStatistics of the United

States, Volume HI, Marriage and Divorce. They are based

on information from two sources (1) Complete counts of

events obtained from all States and (2) samples of marriage

and divorce certificates from the MRA and the DRA.

Statistical information obtained by NCHS from the certificates of States that constitute the MRA and the DRA

includes data on the characteristics of marriages and divorces and of the persons involved in them, such as date

and place of marriage, age, race, and number of previous

marriages.

Marriage and divorce statistics for the United States,

for the registration areas, and for individual States are

tabulated by place of occurrence and include marriages of

nonresidents. Marriages or divorces of members of the

Armed Forces or of other U.S. nationals that occur outside

of the United States are excluded. “United States” refers to

the 50 States and the District of Columbia. The term

“divorce” as used in this report includes absolute divorces,

annulments, and decrees of marriage dissolution, which

recently replaced divorces in several States. Various types

of limited divorce are excluded. The words “divorce” and

“dissolution of marriage” are used interchangeably.

Nonlicensed marriages in

California

In California nonlicensed marriages are performed

under section 4213 of the California Civil code, which

allows unmarried couples who have been living together to

be marriccl confidentially without obtaining a marriage license or health certificate. In March 1972 this section was

amended to require county clerks (who keep sealed records

for these marriages) to report periodically the total number

to the California State Department of Health Services.

These records may not be opened for inspection without a

court order. Since reporting began, nonlicensed marriages

have increased rapidly from 2,857 in 1973 to 68,260 in

1983. Beginning in 1978 these marriages are included in

the national and geographic totals.

Sampling

Marriage and divorce records were sampled at different rates to give a minimal sample of approximately 2,500

records for each State, producing a 4-percent relative variance on a 1 percent estimate. All records were sampled

27
Form Approved

OMB No. 68R 19’D3.

TVPE

on ;INT u.S. STANDARD

PERMANENT LICENSE WJMO, *

INK

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE ..... .... . .. ...

FDN GROOM-NAME ,,.5T

—

-,!3.,.

INSTRU:11ONS

I_As, AGE

HAN0800K 1. 2.

usuALREs106NcE STREET AND NUMOER CITY. TOWN OR LOCATION

-s4. Sb.

colJNrY STATE BIRTHPLACE (Std. c. {’)-,,. CC.,l.”,, OAT E OF 0! RTH t.W. D.?. Y,.,

3d. 4. 5.

FATHER-NAME BIRTHPLACE (S,.,. .,10..’” MOTMER-MA!OEN NAME BIRTHPLACE (S,.1. w f.r<un

.W.”,, Co.”lm,

1, 7b.

MA1 DE N NAME fff d!tf.?.m,, AGE

-18* #b, 9,

uSUAL FIESIDENCE-STRE ETANO NUMOER

——

CITY, TOWN OR LOCATION

Ion. !,, lob

COUNTY’ 6TA1 E 8, RTMPLACE ,s,,” orlmvll. ,e”.ay) OA?S OF BIRTH (Mo.. h?. Y,,,

10d. 11, 12

FATHER-NAME E,RTIWLACE (~:l?lorek” MOTHER-MAIDEN NAME BIRTHPLACE ,SW. .r fo=kn

CO. ”,,y)

14, 14b.

WE HEREBY CERTIFVTHATTHE INFORMATION ?ROVIOf D IS CORRECT TO THE BESTOF OUR XMOWLEOGE AND BELIEF AND THAT WE ARE FREE TO MARRY UNDER THE LAWSOF THIS STATE.

GROOM’S SIGNATURE 8R1oE’S S! GMAIURE

1,6P

THIS LIcENSE Authorizes THE MAR131AGE IH lIIIS STATE DFTHE PARTIES NAMED ABOVE BY ANY ?EilSON OULY AUTHORIZED

TO PERFOFIMAM&RFitAGE CEREMONY UNDER THE LAwS OF THE STATE OF

5UBSCRIEED TO AND SUIVN TO BE FO:e:,ME ON SIGNATURE OF ISSUING OFFICEF7 TITLE OF ISSUING OFFICER

,,, E I’F,,

Month Da” v.”, WHERE MaRFl, EO-C(TY

1 “rtblv that the a%=

COUNTV

Iu,r.sd p“x,ll, .,,.

18,. .n,,,,ti . . lBb, 18,

pERSONPER60R MING CkREMONY

. .—

TITLE TYPE OF CERIMONY

(Rc,i, (e., of cktt, w.dl,)

lsd. ,WJ.a,...) F 18*, ISf.

WITNESS TO CEREMONY

. .

\wITNEss To CEREMCUY

19,. ,.s,,,,oIL.,,, ➤ 19b, (sI,.., u*) >

LmAL OCFICIAL MAKING RETURN 10 5TATE HEALTH Dtw.mTMEN7 OATc RECEIVED BY LOCAL OF fICIAL <w. , t,.,, Y..,

20,, (w,”.,”., ) F 20b.

INFORMATION FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSESONLY

—

RACE-GROOM NUMBER OF THIS MARRIAGE IF PREVIOUSLY MARRIED, LAST MARRIAGE ENDED EDUCiT1ON (s.”..11, OFI!;-hl,h.Sl tic com,l,tcdl

s,..11, k,,, M,,,. Black se.df, W i, 1,$ =0.4 .tc.) BY DEATH, DIVORCE.

1

RACE-S.,• E NUMBCfl OF THIS MARRIAGE IF PREVIOUSLY UAnnlED. LAST MARRIAGE ENDED EDUCATION ,we!h ..1, .1,...1,.-J. CO-WI< tcdl —

b’w,lf, (. g . WWI., Bl,G& S.-.lrY (F,mt. rocond. .m.l BY DEATH, OIVORCE.

A.n,,,c.. I.=dlsn. .,, 1 OISSOLUT,ON OR

ANNULMENT I(S,..,1,,

I

t

I

HRA-164

Rev. u78 \ 25. 1s. 271, !77h, n.

I

Figure 1. U.S. Standard License and Certificate of Marriage

28
Form Approved

TYPE U.S. STANDARD QFJB No. 6St R 1904

Ou y-T CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE,

PENMANENT COUITT IDENTIFICATION

INK (co.” 1,0,mum,.,, DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE OR ANNULMENT ~,ATE,,,,~v~BCa

FoR

INSTRCLIITIONS

HuSBAND-NAME F,R57 MIODLE LAST

...

14ANDBOOK 1

-.

USUAL RESIDENCE-STREET ADDRESS - CITY. TOWN OR LOCATION

2*, 2b.

COUNTY STAT E BIRTHPLACE 1S,.,< or tor,ti” C.”” IFYJ OATE OF BIRTH run.. D.,, Yr.J

2’4. 3, 4.

,,cs, MIDDLE us? MAIDEN NAME

5*. 5b.

USUAL RESIDENCE-STREET ADDRESS CITY, TOWN OR LKAT10i4

m.

COUNTY

6b.

STATE 01n7HPL4c E ,s,.,. .r ,Omti. . . . ..W) DATE OF EIRTH ,Ma. D.,. Y,.,

6C Ed, 7. 8.

PLACE OF THIS MARRIAGE-CITY COUNTV STATC W W, ,. u 8A., “.-. <0””$-YJ DATE OF THIS MARRIAGE DATE COUPLE SEPAFiATED

(n.. .-,. Yr.) <me.. IJcY. Vr J

91. 19b. 9r, 9d. ID.

NUMBER Cf CUILOREN EvER BORN ALIVE OF THIS M4RnlAGE CHILDREN UNDER IS IN THIS FAMILY (s”<,*, PETMONER-HUSBAND, WIFE. BOTH. oTHER [S,tclf,)

{S.w.! f,)

11,. 1lb. 12.

AJTJRNEY FOR PETITIONER-NAME (7,.. or ●H.,, ADDRESS S, F.IE, OR R.F.O. tio. CITY 0. ‘row lTATG z,?

13b.

1 c+”if” that the m,r, hg, Month 0,” v,,. TYPE OF DECREE-DIVORCE. D1530LU7KVi OR ANNULMENT

or thl ,Lm”, n,nld p,rm”,

DATE OF EN7RV (Ma. ~,. s,.)

rsDrcfl,)

lq,. w,i d,,tnlwd o“: 14b. 16C.

COUNTY OF DECREE TITLE OF COURT

14d. 14e,

51J3NATURE OF cER7ti FYIN0 OFF,CIAL TITLE OF OFFICIAL

RACE-HUSBAND NUMUCR OF THIS MARRIAOE

S%CIIY h n.. WI@ Black, S,.dr, IF,”,, ncmd. .,,.1

Am,,kJn lrd*n. ,,,.)

16.

RACE-WIFE NUMBER OF THIS MARRIAGE

S,<,11, 1, s.. Whm*. Bltck. S#.erm (F,.*. world, ,Ic.1

Anmr@n Ind,an. ate.)

HRA-165

Rev. 1/78

INFORMATION FOR S7ATIST1 CAL PURPOSES 0NL%

IF PR&VIOUSLV MARRIED HDWMA?4Y ENDED BY

DEATH? I DIVORCE, DISSOLUTION

IORANNULMENTP

1

17.. ! 17b

IF PREVIOUSLY MARRIED HO+’JMAt.JYENDED BY

DEATH? I DIvORCE. DISSOLUTION

10R ANNULMENT?

I

I

211 !21b.

EDUCATION (Sv.af, .“1, A (,.<., ,-I. .0”.s1, ,.0

Elmn,.(w2y 1 C.YIMG+

I (1.40,5+)

1

1s. !

EDUCATIC+4 ,Sp,.,f, 0“,, h,,hc., ,Wd, ..m*I? ted,

Elmnrw7$72p&w I

t

cdlm*

[1.4 w 5+1

1

22. I

igure Il. U.S. Stendard Certificate of Divorce, Dissolution of Marriage or Annulment

29
Table L Years central files of marriage and divorce records were established and years areas were admitted to the marriage- and

divorce-registration areas: 1983

~he marriage-reglslratlon area was established January 1, 1957, and the divorcs-registration area, January 1, 1958]

Marriages Divorces

Admitted Admitted

Central files to the marriage- Centra/ fi/es io the divorceArea established registration area established re.giatration area

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DistrictofColumbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

Hawa~. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kansas, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NewHampsplre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

NewMexlco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NewYork (excluding NewYorkCily) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NewYorkCfly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

RhodeIsland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

Texan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

Vir9mia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

Wlsconsm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wyommg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PuertoRico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Vlrginlslands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1908

1913

(’)

1917

1905

1968

1897

1913

1811

1927

1952

1898

1947

1962

1959

1880

1913

1958

1937

1892

1914

1841

1867

1958

1926

1948

1943

1909

1968

1858

1848

(’)

1880

1647

1962

1925

1949

(’)

1907

1906

1852

1950

1905

1945

1966

1919

1857

1853

1968

1921

1907

1941

1931

1953

1957

1957

(2)

(9

1957

1979

1957

1957

1961

1957

1957

1957

1957

1964

1961

1957

1957

1959

1957

1957

1957

1961

i 957

1971

1957

1966

1957

1957

(9

1957

1957

(?)

1957

1965

1964

(’)

1957

,9$

1957

1957

1971

1957

1957

(9

1957

1957

1957

(?

1965

1957

1957

1957

1957

1908

1949

(’)

1923

1962

1968

1947

1935

1602

1927

1952

1951

1947

1962

(’)

1914

1951

1956

1942

1692

1914

1862

1897

1970

1926

1948

1943

1909

1968

1861

1795

(’)

1963

1963 }

1956

1949

1949

(’)

1925

1943

1962

1962

1905

1945

1966

1953

1696

1918

1966

1967

1907

1941

1931

1953

1958

1958

(?

(?

(9

(9

1968

1981

m

(?

1958

1958

1956

1966

,$;

1959

1969

(2)

(~)

1959

1979

1961

(2)

(?

1961

1956

1958

(~)

1979

(’)

(2)

1969

(2)

(2)

1962

(2)

1958

1958

1963

1971

1958

1958

198

1966

1958

(2)

(2)

1958

1956

m

1958

1Not yet established.

2Not yet admitted.

8California WaS admitted to the divorce-registration area in 1968 butceased to participatein 1978.

30
for States with fewer than 2,500 records and for New York

City marriages. All records were also used for States in the

Vital Statistics Cooperative Program (VSCP). States participating in the VSCP supplied State-coded data on computer

tape. Beginning in 1972 with Florida, the number of States

that supplied marriage records through the VSCP grew to

nine in 1975 with the addition of Maine, Missouri,

Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York Rhode Island,

,South Carolina, and Vermont. Virginia was added in 1976,

and Illinois and Montana brought the total to 12 States for

the 1977-1983 period. State-coded data tapes of divorce

records were used starting in 1975 for six states—Missouri,

Nebraska, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and

Vermont. Virginia was added in 1976 and Illinois in 1977,

bringing the total to eight States for the 1977-83 period.

Estimates computed from the samples (except where

the sample included aU records) are subject to sampling

error. Because all cases in the samples were selected with

known probabilities, the sampling error can be calculated

for each estimate. Tables II and III show sampling errors

for the MRA and the DRA in 1983. These are the amounts

that, when added to and subtracted from the estimates, give

the ranges for the quantity being estimated, in approximately 68 in 100 similarly selected samples.

Table Il. Sampling error of estimated number of marriages expressed as percent of area total: Marriage-registration area, and each

registration State, 1983

[Figures for Alask~ Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinofs, Maine, Missouri, Montana Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina

Vermont,and Vlrglnia have no sampling errors because all reoords were tsbulaled]

All

Sernpllrrg arrvr of estimated tiquanq-f expressed as pemarrtdares total

Area marriages 1 or 99 2or98 3 or 97 4or96 5or9.5 7or93 10or&M 150r65 2Qor80 250r75 50

Marri.sge-registration area . . . . . 1,690,791

Alabama. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,440

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

Callfomial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15~R

Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36,150

Connecticut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,915

Delaware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,579

Distriol of Columbia . . . . . . . . . 5,33s

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118,984

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72,820

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,050

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,430

Illinois. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103,734

Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54,040

Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,770

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,695

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37,520

Louis!ana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,180

Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12#479

Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,120

Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . 48,860

Mkhlgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78,940

Mkrnesola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36,320

Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,6SU

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53,258

Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,092

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,703

New Hampshire . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,972

New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61,640

New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159,321

North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . 52,130

Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,900

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,265

Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92,140

Rhode lslanct . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,053

South Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . 53,6S6

South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,002

Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56,300

Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,425

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,595

Vlrglnia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61,790

West Virginia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,930

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,780

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,202

413

65

. . .

169

57

33

. . .

. . .

. . .

118

12

23

. . .

101

49

32

56

62

. . .

66

66

122

57

49

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

106

. . .

68

137

30

132

. . .

. . .

9

103

27

. . .

. . .

25

60

6

6s1

92

. . .

238

so

46

. . .

. . .

. . .

166

17

32

. . .

142

69

45

61

67

. . .

92

93

171

80

69

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

152

. . .

eo

193

43

185

. . .

. . .

13

145

36

. . .

. . .

35

85

11

709

112

. . .

290

97

56

. . .

. . .

. . .

202

20

40

. . .

173

84

55

1%

. . .

112

113

97

64

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

165

. . .

117

235

52

226

. . .

. . .

15

177

46

. . .

. . .

43

103

13

814

126

. . .

334

112

64

. . .

. . .

. . .

233

23

45

. . .

198

96

63

114

122

. . .

123

130

240

112

97

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

212

. . .

134

270

60

259

. . .

. . .

18

203

53

. . .

. . .

49

119

15

eos

143

. . .

371

124

71

. . .

. . .

. . .

259

26

50

. . .

221

107

70

126

136

. . .

144

144

267

124

107

. . .

. . .

. . .

.,.

236

. . .

149

200

67

288

. . .

. . .

20

226

59

. . .

. . .

55

132

17

1,060

167

. . .

434

145

63

. . .

. . .

. . .

303

30

59

. . .

256

125

82

148

159

. . .

lee

169

312

146

126

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

276

. . .

175

352

78

337

. . .

. . .

23

265

69

. . .

. . .

64

165

20

1,246

198

. . .

511

171

98

. . .

. . .

. . .

356

36

69

. . .

304

147

96

174

187

. . .

198

le9

267

171

148

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

325

. . .

205

414

92

397

. . .

. . .

27

311

82

. . .

. . .

76

182

24

1,463

23s

. . .

608

203

117

. . .

. . .

. . .

424

42

83

. . .

361

176

115

z

. . .

235

236

437

204

176

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

387

. . .

245

492

109

472

. . .

. . .

32

370

97

. . .

. . .

30

216

28

1,661

262

. . .

6s1

228

131

. . .

. . .

. . .

475

47

93

. . .

405

196

129

232

249

. . .

263

265

490

228

197

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

433

. . .

274

551

122

523

. . .

. . .

36

415

109

. . .

. . .

101

242

31

1,798

283

. . .

737

247

142

. . .

. . .

. . .

514

51

100

. . .

436

213

139

251

270

. . .

285

267

530

247

213

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

469

. ..

297

597

133

573

.. .

. . .

39

449

118

. . .

. . .

109

262

34

2,077

327

. . .

651

285

164

. . .

. . .

. . .

593

59

116

. . .

506

245

181

290

312

. . .

323

331

612

285

246

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

542

. . .

342

689

153

661

. . .

. . .

45

519

138

. . .

. . .

1?6

303

39

l~wIiw ~rrom ~mwt~ m.wdi~ nonlicensed marritges; see Technical @es.

31
Table Ill.Sampling error of estimated number of divorces and annulments expreaaed as percent of area total: Divorce-registraticmarea,

and each registration State, 1983

[Figures for Alaska, Delaware, Illinois, Miesourl, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, South Caroline, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming

have no sampling errors because all records were tabulated]

All

divorces Sampling error of estimated frequency, expressed as percent of area total

and

Area annulments 1 or 99 2 or 98 3 or 97 4 or 96 5 or 95 7or 93 10or 90 15 or 85 20 or 80 25 or 75 50

Divorce-registration area

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

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

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

Delaware, . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

Hawati . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Idaho, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NewHampshire . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wginla. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wbconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

572,949

25,300

3,925

12,098

3,060

32,870

4,584

6,232

50,350

10,566

12,280

17,095

16,095

18,530

38,060

25,904

4,672

6,234

4,806

64,154

54,120

16,185

40,220

3,525

13,601

2,554

28,930

8,474

2,575

25,437

16,510

3,983

171

47

11

55

7

8

.

10

22

26

26

27

58

. . .

7

. . .

. . .

. .

101

25

60

. . .

. . .

. . .

52

9

.

. . .

26

. . .

241

67

. . .

15

. . .

77

9

11

. .

14

31

36

36

38

82

. . .

9

. .

. . .

. . .

142

36

84

. . .

. . .

. . .

73

13

. . .

. . .

36

. . .

294

81

.,.

19

. . .

94

12

13

. . .

18

38

44

44

1:

. . .

11

. . .

. . .

. . .

173

43

102

. . .

. . .

. . .

68

16

. . .

. .

44

. . .

337

93

.

21

. .

108

13

15

. . .

20

43

51

50

53

114

. . .

13

. . .

. . .

. . .

199

50

116

. . .

. . .

. . .

102

18

. . .

. . .

50

. . .

Numberordivorces

375

104

. . .

24

. . .

i 20

15

17

. . .

22

48

57

56

59

127

. . .

14

. . .

. . .

. . .

221

55

131

. . .

. . .

.,.

113

20

. . .

. . .

58

. . .

439

121

. . .

26

. .

141

17

20

. . .

26

56

66

66

69

149

. . .

17

. . .

. . .

. . .

259

65

153

. . .

. . .

. . .

132

24

. . .

. . .

66

. . .

516

143

. . .

33

. .

165

20

23

. . .

31

66

78

77

81

175

. . .

20

. . .

. . .

. . .

304

76

160

. . .

. . .

. . .

155

26

. . .

. . .

77

. . .

614

170

. . .

39

. . .

197

24

28

. . .

37

79

93

92

97

209

. .

24

. . .

. . .

. . .

362

91

214

. . .

. . .

. . .

185

33

. . .

,..

92

. . .

688

190

. . .

44

. . .

220

27

31

. . .

41

88

104

103

109

234

. . .

26

. . .

. . .

. . .

406

102

240

. . .

. . .

. . .

207

37

. . .

. .

103

. . .

745

208

. . .

47

. .

239

29

34

. . .

45

95

112

111

148

253

. . .

29

.,.

. . .

. . .

439

110

260

. . .

. . .

. . .

224

40

. . .

. . .

111

. . .

860

238

. . .

55

. . .

275

34

39

. . .

51

110

130

128

138

292

.

33

. . .

. . .

. . .

507

127

300

. . .

. . .

. . .

259

46

. ..

128

Demographic characteristics

Certificates vary among the Statesin the information

thatiscollected. Formarriages, itemson ageat marriageor

date of birth were included by every MRA State and the

District of Columbia. However, information on previous

marital status, type of ceremony, race, education, and

interval to remarriage was not reported by some States.

Tables IV and V show which States reported previous

marital status and the other items shown in the tables of

this report. A1though 38 States and the District of Columbia reported previous marital status of bride and groom in

1983, only 36 States did so for the entire 1970-83 period. It

is this group of 36 States that is used to make Dational

estimates by applying the percent distributions by previous

marital status and sexfrom theseStatesto thetotalcount of

marriages for the United States.

For divorces, date ofmarriage and nurnberofehildren

were included on thecertificates ofeveryDRA State .Table

IV shows which States reported the number of the marriage being dissolved and the duration of the marriage.

Because of the differences in the reporting areas from

table to table, there maybe slight differences between some

of the totals shown.

Rates, percents, means, and

medians

Marriage rates for 1970 and 1980 are based on the

complete count of persons enumerated as of April 1 of

those years. All other rates are basedon estimates of the

resident population as of July 1 that were prepared by the

U.S. Bureau of the Census. Percents, means, and medians

were computed excluding cases with information not stated.

32
Table IV. Areas that report specifiad items on marriage and divorce records

Marriages rasords Divorce records

Uniform Previous

Prevkw3 group of Prevkxrs marifal s!atus, Previous

Marriage Plevkws Prevbus marital status Rates for Previous manlal stetus, /nterval to Prevkws marifal status,

reglatratbn marital marflal and type nathmal manlal status, race, and lype remarriage, marital status, race, Number

status, status, both of ceremony, estimates, and race, of ceremony, and race, and education, and educatbn, of this

parthxp%?, W&4 1983 1970 and 1883 1883 1970-83 1983 1983 1983 1883 1983 marriage

(Tables (Tables (Tables (Tables

c, 3, E, 2,5, (Tables (Tables N, O, 7, Q, R,

Area and 4) and 6) A and D) (Table B) (l_able 1) F, G, and J) (Table H)’ (Table M) and 8) (Table P) and S)

Total number of reporting areas. . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

DlstrktofCoIumbla. . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

Hawall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kansee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Missouri. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .,

Montana. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

NawHampshke . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NawJersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NewYork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

North Carolina. , . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

Rhodelsland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SouthCarollna. ,, . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

Ltlah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..o..

WestVirglnla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

43

x

x

x

x

x

x

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x

x

x

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x

x

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x

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x

x

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x

x

x

x

39

x

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x

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38

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38

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38

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33

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32

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23 20 19 30

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2X

x

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$ Table V. Areas thatrepoti date lastmarriage ended onmarriage records l97W3

Area IWO-83 1979 1978 1977 1978 1975 1974 1973 1972 i971 1970

Totel number of repotting areas...

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

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

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

Florkta....................

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

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

Illlnots....................

Iowa.....................

I@=as . ...................

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

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

Mlnneso!a..................

Mlseisslppl.................

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

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

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

NewHampshire..............

NewYork..................

NotlhCarollna...............

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

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

Rhodelslend................

SouthCerolina...............

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

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

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

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

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

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

26 27xxxxxxx25xx22xx

23xx21 21 21 21 20 18

xxxxxx

x

x

x

x

x

x

xxxx

xxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxx

xxxx

xxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxx

xxxx

xx

x

xx

x

xx

x

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xxxxxx

xxx

x

x

xxxxxx

xxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxx

xx

x

x

xxx

xxxxxx

xxxxxx

xx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxx

xx

xxxxxxxxxx

xx

xx
Vital and Health Statistics

series descriptions

SERIES 1.

SERIES 2.

SERIES 3.

SERIES 4.

SERIES 5.

SERIES 10.

SERIES 11,

SERIES 12.

SERIES 13.

Programs and Collection Procedures—Reports describing

the general programs of the National Center for Health

Statistics and its offices and dwisions and the data collection methods used. They also include defmmons and

other material necessaw for understanding the data.

Data Evaluation and Methods Research—Studies of new

statistical methodology including experimental teata of

new suwey methods, studies of vital statistics collection

methods, new analytical techniques, objectwe evaluations

of reliability of collected data, and contributions to

statistical theory. Studies also include comparison of

U.S. methodology with those of other countries.

Analytical and Epidemiological Studies-Reports presenting analytical or interpretive atudiea based on vital

and health statistics, cartying the analysts further than

the expository types of reports in the other series.

Documents and Committee Raporta-Final reports of

major committees concerned with vital and health statistics and documents such aa recommended model vital

registration laws and revised birth and death certificates.

Comparative International Vital and Haalth Statistics

Reports-Analytical and descriptive reports comparing

U.S. vital and health statistics with those of other countries.

Data From the National Health Interviaw Survey-Statistics on illness, accidental injuries, disability, use of hospital, medical, dental, and other services, and other

health-related toplca, all based on data collected in the

continuing national household interview suwey.

Data From the National Health Examination Survey and

the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey—

Data from direct examination, testing, and measurement

of national samplea of the civilian noninatitutlona lized

population provide tha basis for (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 paychoIogical characteristics and (2) analysis of relationships

among the various measurements without reference to

an explicit finite universe of persons.

Data From the Institutionalized Population Surveys-Discontinued in 1975. Reports from thesa suweya are included in Series 13.

Data on Health Resources Utilization—Statwtics on the

utilization of health manpower and facilities providing

long-term cara, ambulatory care, hospital care, and family

planning services.

SERIES 14.

SERIES 15.

SERIES 20.

SERIES 21.

SERIES 22.

SERIES 23.

Data on Health Resourcas: Manpower and Facilities—

Statistics on the numbers, geographic distribution, and

characteristics of health resources including physicians,

dentists, nurses, other health occupations, hoapitala,

nursing homes, and outpatient facilities.

Data From Spatial Sunreya-Statistics on health and

health-related topics collected in special suweys that

are not a part of the continuing data systems of the

National Center for Health Statistic.

Data on Mortality-Various statistics on mortality other

than as included in regular annual or monthly raports.

Spatial analyses by cause of death, age, and other demographic variables; geographic and time series analyses;

and statistics on characteristics of deatha not available

from the vital records based on sample surveys of those

records.

Data on Natality, Marriage, and Divorca-Varioua statistics on natality, marriage, and divorce other than as

included in regular annual or monthly reporta. Special

analysas by demographic variables; geographic and time

series analyses; studies of fertility; and statistics on

characteristics of births not available from the vital

racords based on sample suweys of those records.

Data From the National Mortality and Natality Surveys—

Discontinued in 1975. Reports from these sample surveys

based on vital records are included in Series 20 and 21,

respectively.

Data From the National Survey of Family Growth—

Statistics on fertility, family formation and dissolution,

family planning, and related maternal and infant health

topics derived from a periodic suwey of a nationwide

probability sample of women 15-44 years of aga.

For answera to questions about this report or for a Iiat of titles of

reports published in these series, contact

Scientific and Technical Information Branch

National Center for Health Statistics

Centers for Disease Control

Public Health Sewice

Hyattsville, Md. 20782

301-436-8500
US. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Serwce

Centers for Disease Control

National Center for Health Statistics

3700 East-West Highway

Hyattswlle, Matyland 20782

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DHHS Publtcat!on No. (PHS) 89–1923, Series 21, No. 45