Length Of Marriage

The length of a marriage can be defined and categorized in different ways depending on context:

• General classification by duration:

  • A marriage lasting less than 5 years is considered a short marriage.
  • A marriage lasting between 5 and 10 years is considered a medium-length marriage.
  • A marriage lasting more than 10 years is considered a long marriage.

  This classification is often used in legal contexts such as divorce settlements, where the length of marriage can influence financial decisions but is not the sole factor considered.

• Average and median lengths:

  • In the U.S., the average length of a first marriage is about 8 years, reflecting common patterns such as the "seven-year itch" where couples may experience changes in compatibility.
  • More recent data shows the median duration of first marriages is around 21 years, meaning half of first marriages last at least this long.
  • The median duration tends to be shorter for second or subsequent marriages (17 years for second marriages, 13 years for third or more).

• Geographical variation:

  • Marriage length varies by state in the U.S., with some states like Vermont averaging over 23 years, while others like Texas average under 18 years.

• Additional notes:

  • The length of marriage can include the time a couple lived together before marriage if the transition was seamless.
  • Factors such as age, education, and race/ethnicity also influence marriage duration statistics.

In summary, the length of marriage typically refers to the total time a couple remains legally married, often categorized as short (<5 years), medium (5-10 years), or long (>10 years), with average and median durations varying by demographic and geographic factors.