Living single in WA? You are far from alone, and studies show it’s a national trend

Jared Gendron

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, and many Americans either bought gifts or arranged an evening with their romantic partner. But many people didn’t.

New research from several studies across multiple organizations brings into question the state of relationships in the U.S. According to a February report from online insurance website QuoteWizard, the rate of marriage has decreased in Washington state since 2011.

Findings in other studies from the Pew Research Center and U.S. News & World Report show that the rate of Americans in relationships is decreasing. Additionally, less and less single people are interested in pursuing relationships or casual dates.

Marriage and divorce in WA

About half of Washingtonians are married, while 11% are divorced and 32% have never married, according to the QuoteWizard report. The Evergreen State’s statistics are similar to the national averages. About half of Americans are married, 11% are divorced and 33% haven’t married.

Since 2011, marriage rates in Washington have slowed by 11%. On the other hand, divorce rates have decreased by 16%. Other states experienced higher shifts, such as New Mexico, which has seen a 23% decrease in marriages.

The only states that had a higher rate of marriage since 2011 were Colorado, Mississippi, Montana and Utah. All states except Iowa and Utah saw a decrease in divorce.

“The reasons why marriage and divorce rates are changing are complex,” the report states. “In general, people are getting married later in life. There is also less of a societal emphasis on marriage and a greater financial cost when getting divorced.”

QuoteWizard also presents data that connects marriage and divorce to socioeconomic status. For instance, nearly four in five men who earn $100,000 or more a year are married. However, women who earn between $75,000 and $100,000 are the likeliest to divorce, at 14%.

The rate of people in Washington who are married, divorced or who have never married is nearly identical to the national averages.
The rate of people in Washington who are married, divorced or who have never married is nearly identical to the national averages.

Relationships in the U.S.

The Pew Research Center has also conducted several studies over the past few years analyzing changes in Americans’ relationship and marital statuses.

A 2021 study from the center found that marriages have sharply decreased over 30 years. In 1990, 29% of Americans were not married or living with a partner. In 2019, the percentage was 38%.

Men ages 18 to 29 are some of the most likely Americans to be single, with 63% of adults in this group saying they’re single, according to a different study the center released earlier this month. In Washington state, there are 12.3 single men for every 10 women in the 20-29 age group, according to 2022 data from U.S. News & World Report. In states like South Dakota, Wyoming and Alaska, the figure is about 14 men per 10 women.

The Pew Research Center’s February report provides other key findings:

  • Relationship status varies among education attainment, ethnicity and sexual orientation.

  • 57% of Americans who are single are not looking for a relationship or casual dates.

  • The number of single Americans searching for relationships or casual dates has decreased from 49% in 2019 to 42% 2022.

  • Almost half of Americans searching for a relationship reported using an online dating platform recently. Data from the U.S. News & World report states that platforms Tinder and Bumble outpace every other app by leaps and bounds.

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