Are Marriage Numbers Declining in the Western World?

What's love got to do with it?

Yes, marriage is declining in the Western world: 

“Marriage rates are dropping: In the United States, marriage rates have declined by 60% since the 1970s. In 2020, the marriage rate was 5.1 per 1,000 people, down from previous years.” 

• Median age of marriage is increasing: The median age for first marriage has increased for both men and women. In 2016, the median age of first marriage was 27.1 for women and 29.2 for men. 

• Single living is on the rise: A UN Women report found that marriage is declining and single living is on the rise around the world. 

• Societal pressure to marry has eroded: The societal pressure to marry has decreased dramatically. 

• Formal benefits of marriage are diminishing: While taxes and some other legal structures still give an advantage to married couples, the formal benefits of marriage are diminishing. 

• Millennials are hesitant to marry: Many Millennials are hesitant to marry due to the threat of divorce.

  *Source: Search Labs

  “Marriage, at least in the U.S., isn’t what it used to be. Over the past 50 years, marriage rates nationwide declined by 60 percent. Forty percent of U.S. children are now born to unmarried mothers, twice as many as in 1980.”

*Source: Politico.com

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/01/06/marriage-political-expert-roundtable-00133856

~∆~

‘Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who wants to live in an institution?’ – Groucho Marx

LOL

Ok. Seriously now.

Marriage is often seen as a tapestry woven with love, trust, and companionship, yet its threads can fray in the tension between expectation and reality. It promises forever but is bound by the fleeting nature of human emotion, prone to unravel when individuality is overshadowed by the weight of compromise. The illusion of perfect unity can sometimes mask the subtle erosion of personal growth, turning the shared path into a tightrope where balance is precarious. In its shortcomings, however, lies the potential for resilience, where authenticity can flourish amidst the imperfections, revealing that marriage, in its truest form, is less about being unbreakable and more about finding beauty in mending together.

However…marriage for some, has become a symbol of routine and obligation rather than love and commitment. Cynics might argue that the institution is more about legal contracts, social expectations, and financial benefits than true emotional connection. The idealized version of marriage—"happily ever after"—often collides with the reality of navigating daily life, leading people to question whether it’s more about convenience than romance. The commercialization of weddings also plays a role in this cynicism, as extravagant ceremonies sometimes overshadow the meaning of the union itself. At its core, cynicism around marriage can stem from the belief that love shouldn't need a formal contract to be genuine, and that long-term relationships should be organic, not imposed by societal norms. Mmm…Juicy food-for-thought!

And last but not least:

“To keep your marriage brimming, With love in the loving cup, Whenever you’re wrong, admit it; Whenever you’re right, shut up.”

–Ogden Nash

That's all folks!

I'll see you next time around.

Love and light 🗽❤️

René