A new Census Bureau study finds that in 2019 there were 89.8 unmarried men for every 100 unmarried women in the United States. The unmarried population includes people age 18 and over who were never married, widowed or divorced, regardless of their sexual orientation.
According to the Census Bureau, ratios of unmarried men to women matter because people interested in romantic partnerships select from a pool of eligible candidates available to them, often called a “marriage market.” The more eligible partners in a given market, the better the chances of forging a romantic partnership or marriage. Although the ratio of unmarried men to women isn’t the only factor that affects finding a mate, it is a critical indicator of potential mate availability among those interested in opposite-sex partners.
There are wide differences among the states. In Delaware, there were 82 unmarried men for every 100 unmarried women in 2019. Alabama, Maryland, and the District of Columbia also had far more unmarried women than unmarried men.
In contrast, in Alaska, there were 117 unmarried men for every 100 unmarried women. North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado also had more unmarried men than unmarried women.
Nationwide, there was an equal number of unmarried Hispanic men and unmarried Hispanic men in 2019. For African Americans, there were only 79.8 unmarried men for every 100 unmarried Black women.