US Change in Marriage Rate (2015 - 2020)

Research revelas that the percentage change in state-level marriage rates from 2015 to 2020 is mostly negative. Most states have declines ranging from moderate (−20% to −40%) to substantial (−60% or more). The steepest decreases appear concentrated in parts of the West and South, including states such as California and Louisiana, while only a small number of states—primarily in the Mountain West—show stable or modest positive growth (0% to 40%). Moderate declines are visible in much of the Midwest and Northeast, indicating a widespread contraction as opposed to discrete localized changes. Marriage rates fell significantly across the country during this five-year period, likely under the influence of the combination of demographic changes, economic uncertainty, and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.