The State Similarity Index attempts to quantify how similar states are to each other relative to other states. The index is a statistically-based way to measure this. 20% of the index is based on demographics. 10% of a state’s demographic score (2% of the overall State Similarity Index) is allocated for the marital status of its people. The following is an explanation of what statistics the score is based on.
Married People
Utah and Idaho have the highest percentage of married people in the country. One reason for this is that they are the two states with the highest percentage of Mormons. Having large families is based on the church’s doctrine. Furthermore, marriage rates vary greatly among different racial groups in the United States. A high percentage of people in Utah and Idaho are White. In general, Whites and Asians have higher rates of marriage than Latinos and Blacks. In fact, the marriage rate for Blacks is 25 percentage points lower than Whites. Mississippi and Louisiana, two of the states with the highest percentage of Black people, are also two of the states with the lowest percentage of married people.
Source: US Census Bureau
States were grouped by percentage of married people (over 15):
44-45, 45-46, 46-47, 47-48, 48-49, 49-50, 50-51, 51-52, 52-53, 53-54, 54-55
Divorced People
16% of people in Nevada are divorced or separated, the highest rate in the nation. The state has historically been known for its lenient divorce laws, including short residency requirements and no-fault divorce options. In contrast, North Dakota and New Jersey, two extremely different states, have the lowest percentage of divorced people at only 10%. North Dakota is known for its tight-knit communities. Its cultural emphasis on family stability may contribute to lower divorce rates. New Jersey has a diverse population with different cultural backgrounds. Values related to family and marriage may influence divorce rates in specific communities. In general, Southern states have higher divorce rates than Northern states.
Source: US Census Bureau
States were grouped by percentage of divorced people (over 15):
10.5-11.5, 11.5-12.5, 12.5-13.5, 13.5-14.5, 14.5-15.5, 15.5-16.5
Never Married People
There is a significant number of people in the United States who are single but not divorced. Large urban areas, such as Los Angeles in California and New York City in New York, tend to have higher concentrations of single individuals due to their more liberal and progressive social climates, where diverse lifestyles are widely accepted. Therefore, it is not surprising that California and New York, where these major cities are located, have the higher percentages of never-married people compared to the rest of the country. Sparsely populated and predominately White states like Idaho, Wyoming, and West Virginia have relatively few people who have not been married.
Source: US Census Bureau
States were grouped by percentage of never married people (over 15):
26-28, 28-30, 30-32, 32-34, 34-36, 36-38
