"Singledom has peaked": Number of unpartnered adults in America declines for first time in 2 decades, survey says

American adults are looking for love — and many are reporting they found someone. For the first time in almost two decades, the share of unpartnered adults — who are neither married nor living with an unmarried partner — in the United States has declined, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data released on Wednesday. This decline coincided with a slight rise in couples who reported being married, from 50% to 51%, Pew found, signaling a possible change in America's relationships.

"Singledom has peaked," Dr. Richard Fry, a labor economist who conducted the survey and has worked as a research analyst for Pew for 23 years, told CBS News. Fry couldn't say whether the trend would continue but noted that the changes signified a possible shift in direction for America's relationships. Those surveyed said they are currently not married, living with a partner or in a committed romantic relationship. A small share of single adults report that they are casually dating someone. 

In 2000, unpartnered adults accounted for 38% of the population, said Fry, who heads a team of researchers focusing on family and American work life. Those numbers rose quickly, hitting a peak of 44% in 2019. In 2023 the numbers declined to 42%, said Fry.