Age

Remarriage by AgeRemarriage is on the ascension for Americans ages 55 and older, even as younger generations who accept taken the plunge once are becoming less likely to have remarried. What has not changed is that older adults remain more likely to have remarried than their younger counterparts.

Remarriage generally becomes more common with age—non surprising, given that information technology takes some fourth dimension to enter into one spousal relationship, get out that marriage and so enter into a subsequent one.seven Only 29% of previously married adults ages xviii to 24 (absolutely a small group) had remarried in 2013, compared with 67% of those ages 55 to 64.

Just the likelihood of having remarried has dropped sharply for those younger than 35. Among the small-scale group of young adults who had already exited their starting time marriage, fully 72% had remarried by 1960. In 2013, only 42% of young adults who had been divorced or widowed had remarried.

Remarriage is Rising for Those Ages 55 and OlderOver that same time period, the share of previously married adults ages 35 to 44 who had remarried dropped substantially (from 76% to 57%), and the share who had remarried among those ages 45 to 54 declined modestly (from 69% to 63%).

The trend in remarriage among adults ages 55 and older has gone in the opposite management. In 2013, ii-thirds (67%) of previously married adults ages 55 to 64 had remarried, up from 55% in 1960. And fifty% of adults ages 65 and older had remarried, up from simply 34% in 1960. These increases may in function be fueled past ascent life expectancies. Some suggest that longer lifespans accept contributed to increasing divorce at older ages every bit people realize they have many more years to alive and want to find fulfillment in that actress time. The same factor may be contributing to increases in remarriage amidst older adults.8

Gender Gap in Remarriage

Remarriage More Common Among Divorced and Widowed Men, but Gap is NarrowingAmongst those eligible to remarry—adults whose beginning spousal relationship concluded in divorce or widowhood—men are much more likely than women to have taken the plunge again. In 2013, some 64% of eligible men had remarried, compared with 52% of women.9

This may reflect, in part, the fact that men who accept been divorced or widowed are more likely to want to remarry than are similarly situated women. Some 29% of eligible men say they desire to remarry, and 36% are non certain, according to a recent Pew Inquiry Center survey; simply xxx% say they exercise not want to marry again. In dissimilarity, but 15% of previously married women want to remarry, and 27% are not certain; near one-half of these women (54%) written report that they exercise not desire to remarry.

While the gender gap in the likelihood to ally again is notable, it has narrowed over fourth dimension, equally men have become somewhat less likely to remarry, and women have become somewhat more likely to practice then. Today'south 12-betoken gap was a 20-indicate gap in 1980, when 66% of eligible men and 46% of women had remarried. In 1960, the gap was even larger—70% of eligible men had remarried, compared with 48% of women.

Gender Gap in Remarriage Persists at Oldest AgesThe gender gap has closed mainly among younger and centre-aged adults who are eligible to remarry. Divorced or widowed women ages 25 to 54 are now about equally likely as men in that age range to have remarried. Among those ages 55 and older, the gap remains substantial.

Looking at educational attainment, the gender gap persists across groups merely has narrowed most dramatically among those with a available's degree. In 1960, amidst college graduates, only forty% of divorced or widowed women had remarried, compared with 75% of men. By 2013, that share had risen to 52% amidst women, but had fallen to 67% among men. In less-educated groups, remarriage among women has remained stable during this time period, while it has declined markedly among men.

Race and Ethnicity

Whites Most Likely to RemarryAmongst adults who have been divorced or widowed and are thus eligible to remarry, whites are the almost probable to have married once again, and this likelihood has increased somewhat in recent decades.10 Past contrast, previously married Hispanic, black and Asian adults are less likely to take remarried than in the by. These patterns mirror those seen in rates of get-go union, where whites are more likely than blacks or Hispanics to enter into marriage for the first time.11

In 2012, six-in-ten whites who had been married before had remarried, compared with 51% of Hispanics, 48% of blacks, and 46% of Asians. Historic period composition is playing a part in these patterns—the fact that whites tend to be older may contribute to their college likelihood of remarriage, for case. However, some racial and indigenous differences persist, even controlling for age.

Over time, the share of previously married whites who remarry has increased somewhat, up from 55% in 1960. In contrast, remarriage has declined since 1960 for non-whites and Hispanics. At that time, 63% of blacks, 62% of Hispanics and 49% of Asians had remarried.

The increasing prevalence of remarriage among whites is driven entirely by increases among white women. In 1960, 47% of divorced or widowed white women had remarried, and this share rose to 55% past 2012. By contrast, the share of previously married white men who remarried declined from 69% to 66% over that same fourth dimension period. For all other racial and ethnic groups, both men and women were less likely remarry in 2012 compared with 1960.

Looking at all currently married adults, one-4th of whites (26%) and blacks (25%) had been married previously in 2012. This share was lower amongst married Hispanics (xvi%) and Asians (10%).

Nativity

U.S. Born More Likely to Remarry, but Gap is NarrowingAmongst adults who are eligible to remarry, those born in the U.S. are more probable to do so than those born outside of the U.S., but the gap has narrowed over time as immigrants accept go more probable to remarry.12 In 2013, 58% of divorced or widowed U.Due south.-built-in adults had remarried, compared with 51% among the strange born. In 1960, those shares were 58% and twoscore%, respectively, and in 1980, the shares were 55% among the U.Southward. born and 42% among the strange born.

Among all married adults, about a quarter (26%) of those born in the U.South. are remarried, compared with 14% of foreign-born adults.

Series Remarriage: Who Has Married Iii Times or More?

Third Time's the Charm?Among newly married adults in 2013 (those who had wed in the past 12 months), 29% had been married at least one time earlier, and eight% had been married two or more times previously. Older newlyweds are among those near likely to be entering their third marriage. Fully 33% of those ages 55 and older fall into this category, every bit do 25% of those ages 45 to 54.

Non surprising, newly married adults younger than 45 were much less likely to be entering into (at least) their 3rd marriage.

Newlyweds with just a high schoolhouse diploma are virtually twice equally probable as those with a available'due south degree to be entering their 3rd matrimony (9% vs. 5%, respectively). Some 8% of newlyweds without a high schoolhouse diploma have been married at least twice before.

Ten percent of white newlyweds take been married at least twice before, compared with six% of blacks, iv% of Hispanics and just 2% of Asians.

Native-born newlyweds are twice as likely every bit strange-built-in newlyweds to be entering a third (or college order) wedlock. Nine percent are doing so, compared with simply 4% among the foreign born.