Characteristics of Unmarried Partners and Married Spouses, 2000

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

(in thousands)

The following table shows the number and percent of unmarried partners and married spouses in the United States according to sex, age, race, education, labor force status, personal earnings, and presence of children.

NumberPercent
Unmarried partnersMarried spousesUnmarried partnersMarried spouses
CharacteristicMenWomenMenWomenMenWomenMenWomen
Total3,8223,82256,49756,497100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%
Age:
15 to 24 years old5979371,3212,38615.624.52.34.2
25 to 34 years old1,4131,2699,29610,96437.033.216.519.4
35 years old and over1,8111,61645,88143,14647.442.381.276.4
Race and Hispanic origin
White3,1273,14749,66849,58181.882.387.987.8
Non-Hispanic2,7102,74244,35044,14270.971.778.578.1
Black5624984,2944,09714.713.07.67.3
Asian and Pacific Islander631052,1182,3931.62.73.74.2
Hispanic (of any race)4534335,5505,67111.911.39.810.0
Education
Less than high school6835998,3147,16017.915.714.712.7
High school graduate1,4411,35717,50619,95037.735.531.035.3
Some college9961,22314,00214,96826.132.024.826.5
College graduate70264316,67414,41918.416.829.525.5
Labor force status
Employed
3,1792,89442,85434,06783.275.775.960.3
Unemployed1871789929614.94.71.81.7
Not in labor force45374712,65021,46811.919.522.438.0
Personal earnings
Without earnings40264211,35319,36810.516.820.134.3
With earnings3,4193,17845,14437,13289.583.279.965.7
Under $5,0001843731,8744,6834.89.83.38.3
$5,000 to $9,9992863951,6654,1837.510.32.97.4
$10,000 to $14,9993604452,4014,4979.411.64.28.0
$15,000 to $19,9994104413,1014,42710.711.55.57.8
$20,000 to $24,9994013973,5614,24910.510.46.37.5
$25,000 to $29,9993363153,5953,4298.88.26.46.1
$30,000 to $39,9995484057,4924,95414.310.613.38.8
$40,000 to $49,9993372016,0962,9768.85.310.85.3
$50,000 to $74,9993701378,7032,6839.73.615.44.7
$75,000 and over187696,6561,0514.91.811.81.9
Presence of children
With children11,5631,56325,77125,77140.940.945.645.6
NOTE: Data are not shown separately for the American Indian and Alaska Native population because of the small sample size in the Current Population Survey in March 2000.
1. May be own children of either partner or both partners. Excludes ever married children under 18 years.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 2000.

Unmarried-Partner Households by Sex of Partners & Race and Hispanic Origin of Householder: 2000

Marital Status of the Population by Sex, 1900–2004Marital StatusSingles in the United States
Marital Status
Sources +