Wedding celebrations have been a cause for celebration recently, as new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals an increase in marriage rates since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics released a report highlighting this upward trend, which also identifies the five states with the highest marriage rates in the United States.
The data shows that the number of marriages in the country has been steadily rising since the pandemic disrupted many weddings in 2020. In 2022, the marriage rate reached its highest point since 2018, with a jump from 5.1 to 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people. This signifies a slight recovery in the marriage rate, as the United States has typically seen seven to eight marriages per capita annually over the past two decades. The 4% increase from 2021 further solidifies this positive trend.
The report also reveals significant variations in marriage rates among different states. Thirty-six states observed that their 2022 marriage rates either matched or exceeded their numbers prior to the pandemic in 2019, while 12 states experienced a decline. Additionally, the data highlights the top five states with the highest marriage rates in 2022.
Arkansas claimed the fifth spot with a rate of 7.9 marriages per capita, followed by Utah and Montana tying for fourth place at 9.9 per capita. Hawaii secured third place with 14.4 per capita, while Nevada maintained its position as the leading state for marriages, boasting an impressive rate of 25.9 marriages per 1,000 people.
In total, the United States witnessed over 2,065,000 marriages in 2022, surpassing the 2 million mark for the first time since 2019. Furthermore, the data also indicates a decline in divorce rates. According to the CDC, there has been a downward trend in the rates of married couples separating over the past two decades. In 2022, the number of divorces in the country decreased to just over 675,000, or 2.4 per capita. It is worth noting that the lowest divorce rate occurred in 2020, with 2.3 divorces per capita. Please keep in mind that data from California, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota, and New Mexico were excluded from the national statistics.
Family therapist Ian Kerner suggests that the increase in married couples in the United States can be attributed to several factors. He explains that there has been a noticeable shift from the traditional “romantic marriage” to the more companionate marriage, where individuals are increasingly choosing life partners who resemble best friends rather than just passionate partners.
The rise in marriage rates post-COVID brings hope and joy to both couples and communities alike. This trend signifies the enduring strength of love and commitment in these challenging times.
