This drop is largely driven by a rise in never-married adults. Younger generations are postponing marriage longer than ever. Since 1950, the average age of first marriage has increased by about eight years—from 22.8 to 30.2 for men and from 20.3 to 28.6 for women.
For ministry leaders, this signals the importance of addressing single adulthood not as a “waiting room,” but as a formative life stage deserving care, community and discipleship.
2. Divorces Are Steady, But So Are Remarriages
Eighteen percent of U.S. adults tell Barna they have been divorced at some point. While never-married adults are slow to choose marriage for the first time, divorced adults seem eager to return to it: More than half (55%) have remarried.
This cycle of divorce and remarriage helps explain why the share of adults who are currently divorced has remained stable—around 10 percent—for two decades. For churches, these numbers suggest that divorce recovery and remarriage preparation should be ongoing ministries, not occasional exceptions.
3. Unmarried Cohabitation Is Rare, But Accepted (Even by Christians)
U.S. census data show that just 8 percent of adults currently live with a partner outside of marriage—a relatively small share, though this number has grown from near zero in 1970.
What’s more significant is the shift in social attitudes: 58 percent of all adults (and 42 percent of practicing Christians) now say it’s “wise” to live with someone before marriage, according to Barna research.
This presents both a pastoral challenge and an invitation: how can churches teach a countercultural view of commitment while engaging couples with empathy rather than judgment?
4. Christians Experience Divorce as Often as the General Population
Christians—even practicing Christians, who regularly attend church and say their faith is important to them—are as likely as other adults to say they have gone through divorce (20% of nonpracticing Christians, 16% of practicing Christians, 16% of non-Christians).
However, Christians are not likely to stay divorced; overall, 58 percent of Christians who have been divorced say they have remarried. The effect is that Christians remain more likely than their peers of other faith groups to be married, whether once or multiple times.
5. Gen Z Believe in Marriage—but Have Doubts
Despite shifting norms, most U.S. adults still see marriage as a meaningful foundation for family life and child-rearing. Gen Z, however, stands out for both its belief and its questioning. While a strong majority (81%) say they value marriage, this is lower than every other generation—and many are reimagining what family looks like.
Among the unmarried, most still aspire to marry someday—78 percent of Gen Z and 73 percent of Millennials say they hope to wed. Yet their hesitation suggests they’re approaching marriage with caution, weighing stability, equality, and personal readiness in new ways.
As Millennials age, their marriage rate is catching up (42% are now married, only 5% divorced), while Boomers remain the generation most likely to have divorced (30%). Together, these patterns reveal a generational shift—not away from marriage itself, but toward redefining what it means to build a lasting family today.
Pastors & Marriage: A Unique Perspective
Protestant pastors are, statistically speaking, “the marrying kind.” Barna’s research shows that 91 percent of pastors are currently married, compared to about half of U.S. adults overall. Nearly all pastors (97%) have been married at some point.
Interestingly, pastors are just as likely as the general population (18%) to say they’ve been divorced, yet they’re far more likely to remarry—73 percent of pastors who have been divorced have remarried, compared to 55 percent among all U.S. adults. This leaves the current proportion of pastors who are divorced at just 4 percent.
These realities suggest that pastors have both a deep personal investment in marriage and firsthand experience with its challenges. While this may uniquely position them to guide congregants through the complexities of love, loss, commitment and restoration, Barna data, drawn from The State of Today’s Family study, suggests that U.S. churchgoers are split on whether their pastors are mindful of non-nuclear households. 
Churches that prioritize family ministry can’t afford to assume marriage patterns look the same as they did a generation ago. Today’s data points to:
- More diverse family structures in every congregation.
- More singles and remarried couples seeking belonging.
- Greater openness to alternative arrangements like cohabitation.
- Ongoing belief in marriage as a sacred and stabilizing bond.
The data tells a complex story—one of delay, disruption and yet deep desire. Marriage may look different today, but it remains a sacred aspiration woven into the lives of most adults, Christian or not. As cultural definitions shift, the Church’s opportunity is not simply to defend marriage but to disciple people toward healthy, enduring relationships that reflect God’s covenant love.
When churches champion healthy relationships—through premarital preparation, support for single adults or care for those healing from divorce—they help restore trust in the very idea of marriage itself. In doing so, they reflect the steadfast love of the One whose faithfulness never wavers.
Take It Further
Barna’s The State of Today’s Family report provides a deeper look at the realities shaping households today—from parenting and partnership to belonging and belief. Explore the data, discover where your church’s families align with national trends and find insights to strengthen marriages, families and faith formation in your community.
