The graph shows changes in the age

The graph shows changes in the age of marriage in the USA over the last 100 years. Overall, although there have been big changes in the average age of marriage, and although the difference has narrowed, men still tend to be older than women when they make their vows.

The biggest changes were for women. At the start of the century, the average age stood at just 22, and this dropped slightly to about 21 over the next two decades. Between 1920 and 1950, the age fluctuated slightly, but in 1950, it plunged and reached just over 20 in 1960. Then a major change took place. Between 1960 and 2000 there was a sharp and continued increase in the age of marriage for women. It rose from just 20 in 1960 to 25 in 2000. This represented a gap of two years between women in men, in contrast to the gap of four years in 1900.

The trend for men to marry at a later age also increased. At the start of the period, men got married at 26. One hundred years later the age stood at 27, a slight increase of just one year. However there were big changes during the century. From 1900 to1930 the age dropped from 26 to 24. It plunged in 1940 to almost 22 and then remained stable for 20 years. From 1970 to 2000 there was a sharp increase, mirroring the rise in the women’s age of marriage. It shot up from 20.5 to 27.

In conclusion, there have been big changes in the age of marriage. However, men still get married later than women, and women tend to get married much later than in the past.