What percentage of first marriages in the U.S. last 20 years or longer?

What percentage of first marriages in the U.S. last 20 years or longer?

• A. About a Quarter
• B. Only about half
• C. About Three-Quarters
• D. Nearly All

Answer: (B)

Understanding how long first marriages last is about longevity to the 20-year mark. In the U.S., roughly half of first marriages endure for twenty years or more. This reflects that many marriages end earlier, while those that do last tend to reach the two-decade point, but not all do. So about fifty percent is the best estimate. The other options overstate or understate this longevity: a quarter would be too low, and three-quarters or nearly all would imply far more marriages last twenty years than is typical given divorce patterns.

Understanding how long first marriages last is about longevity to the 20-year mark. In the U.S., roughly half of first marriages endure for twenty years or more. This reflects that many marriages end earlier, while those that do last tend to reach the two-decade point, but not all do. So about fifty percent is the best estimate. The other options overstate or understate this longevity: a quarter would be too low, and three-quarters or nearly all would imply far more marriages last twenty years than is typical given divorce patterns.