FP-17-21 Age Variation in the Remarriage Rate, 1990 & 2015

Family Profile No. 21, 2017 Age Variation in the Remarriage Rate, 1990 & 2015 Author: Huijing Wu The remarriage rate in the U.S. has fallen dramatically over the past 20 years. In 1990, the remarriage rate was 50 per 1,000 previously marrieds (individuals divorced or widowed) versus 28 per 1,000 in 2015 (Figure 1). Although this represents roughly a 44% decline in the overall remarriage rate, the magnitude of the change over time varies considerably by age group. This profile updates FP-13-17 by combining data from the 1990 U.S. Vital Statistics and the 2015 American Community Survey to examine the change in the remarriage rate between 1990 and 2015 by age groups. Remarriage Rates Remarriage rates declined with age, although age variation was less pronounced in 2015 than 1990, reflecting convergence in the remarriage rate across age groups.