What are the chances of getting married after 40? Maybe better than you think!

by Kristen Seymour, Posted Jun 1st 2008 3:00PM

Filed Under: Negotiating Speed Bumps, Wedding Lore/Traditions

Over twenty years ago, a now infamous Newsweek article discussed the likelihood of single women finding a mate. The cover headline read "The Marriage Crunch," and there was a downward sloping line graph below it showing a single woman's chances of getting married. It didn't look good.

Fortunately, it was wrong.

A study by demographers at Harvard and Yale was behind the story (and subsequent discussion by every single woman who hoped for marriage). The story itself said that "white, college-educated women born in the mid-1950s who are still single at 30 have only a 20 percent chance of marrying. By the age of 35 the odds drop to 5 percent." You might have heard it said that a single 40-year-old woman is more likely to be killed by a terrorist than to ever marry -- this study and story is where that came from.

Newsweek tracked down as many of the 14 single women they interviewed back in 1986 to see what had become of them. They found 11 of them -- eight were married, three were single, several had children, and none had divorced.

Now, it's totally acceptable to get married later in life. Women are focusing on their careers and other dreams rather than just their ticking biological clocks, and the world supports them. So, whatever age you are, if you haven't found your perfect match just yet, don't let anyone make you feel like there's not hope. You just never know!

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Tags: 40, chances, liklihood, marriage, married, mature, newsweek, odds, older-bride, single, wedding

Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

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7-07-2008 @12:29PM

Pam & Ivan Wade said...

Marriage after 40 years of age is possible. We got married at ages 45 (wife) and 49 (husband). Although we had been together for 15 years prior to getting married, after marriage it was a whole new chapter in our lives that started from the day we said our vows. The 15 years of solid foundation that we had built was a great springboard into wedded bliss. We have family and friends that have gotten married past the age of 40. Our advice is to focus on making sure that you are the best person that you can be (mentally, spiritually, physically, financially) and when God directs your future mate to thy path...you will be ready, willing, and able to be the spouse that you desire to be.

Mr. & Mrs. Ivan Wade
Houston, Texas