Many social and health markers were significantly disrupted in 2020 with the pandemic. Mortality rates increased, and fewer people sought medical care. Fertility rates dropped sharply. Employment levels and other economic indicators were greatly impacted. The workplace changed drastically. Education faced unprecedented challenges in 2020.
Another social marker impacted by the pandemic was marriage in the United States. The number of marriages declined by 16.8% between 2019 and 2020, from 2,015,603 to 1,676,911. The 2020 number of marriages was the lowest recorded in the U.S. since 1963. The marriage rate fell 16.4% from 2019 to 2020, from 6.1 marriages per 1,000 to 5.1 per 1,000.
What Happens in Vegas Didn’t Happen as Much in 2020
At the state level, declines in marriage rates were widespread. Forty-six states and the District of Columbia saw declines in marriage during 2020. The biggest declines occurred in the following states: Hawaii (47.9%), California (43.9%), New Mexico (43.3%), New York (37.5%), and Louisiana (33.3%). These declines were statistically significant except in three states: Idaho, South Dakota, and Wyoming, where declines were only 2%.
Nevada had the highest marriage rate in the U.S. in 2020, as in previous years, but the rate was down 18.9% from 2019.
Unexpected Increases
Four states saw an increase in the marriage rate in 2020: Montana (31.6%), Texas (8.2%), Alabama (7.5%), and Utah (3.7%).
Some changes in 2020 may be due to reporting issues, which also became a factor during the pandemic.
Here are additional data:
State-by-state comparisons are available on the CDC/NCHS website: CDC/NCHS Statistics of the States.
- CDC/NCHS Vital Statistics System, National Marriage and Divorce Rates 2000-2020
- CDC/NCHS Vital Statistics System, Marriage and Divorce Rates Supplement
- CDC/NCHS Vital Statistics System, State Marriage Rates 1990-2020
