People Married American Recent Half Time Decide Family

In recent years, "marriage rates" (the percentage of people who are married) in the United States have been "falling" (decreasing). A recent report from the Pew Research Institute found that just over half of all "adult" (more than 18 years old) Americans are married: just 51% in 2010 "versus" (compared to) 72% in 1960. The number of marriages "taking place" (happening) each year is also decreasing.

Nobody knows exactly why these changes are taking place. Some people think it might be because of the recent "economic downturn" (a period of time when the economy does not perform very well). If people have less money to pay for a wedding, they might "delay" (postpone; decide to do later) getting married. "Likewise" (similarly), people may decide to wait to get married until they feel that they can "support" (pay for the expenses of) a family. Other people want to complete their education and find a "steady" (reliable) job before they start a family.

Other people believe the changes are "due to" (caused by) changing societal expectations. It is now more acceptable to "cohabit" (live with another person without being married to that person) or be a single parent than it was in the past, so there is less pressure to be married.

People are also getting married much later than they used to. In the 1990s, most people were married in their mid-20s, but today half of American men are 29 or older when they get married for the first time and half of American women are 27 or older when they get married for the first time.