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Projects
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Demographics: Elders in Massachusetts |
Marital Status
Marital status is an important
demographic characteristic of an older population because it is
strongly related to the level of social support available in later
life. Individuals who are married are more likely than others to have
another person readily available to provide support and help when
needed. Seniors who have ever been married are also more likely to
have adult children who may be available for support. The Census
Bureau definition of marital status does not tell us about the many
unmarried seniors who have partners or close friends who provide
significant support and assistance.
Most seniors in Massachusetts as well
as in the United States as a whole have been married at some point in
their lives. Few-typically under 10%--have never married. The
majority of men and women between the ages of 65 and 74 are currently
married (52% of women and 75% of men) but this proportion is lower for
older seniors, especially those aged 85 and over. At all ages, but
especially among the oldest-old, women are less likely than men to be
currently married. A majority of women 75 and over are widowed, having
outlived their spouses. The percentage divorced or separated is low
for all groups but, reflective of the increasing share of marriages
ending in divorce in recent decades, the percentage divorced or
separated is considerably higher for the younger cohorts than for the
oldest-old. The percentage divorced and separated refers to those who
had experienced marital disruption and not remarried at the time of
the 2000 Census. The share of seniors who experienced marital
disruption at any point in their lives is considerably higher,
especially for younger cohorts.
Marital Status by Age and Gender,
Massachusetts, 2000
Marital Status by Age and
Gender, Massachusetts, 2000
| Age |
Never Married |
Married |
Divorced &
Separated |
Widowed |
Total |
| Men 65 to 74 |
7.2% |
75.3% |
8.8% |
8.7% |
100.0% |
| Men 75 to 84 |
6.6% |
68.9% |
5.1% |
19.4% |
100.0% |
| Men 85 &
Over |
5.9% |
51.9% |
3.3% |
38.9% |
100.0% |
| Women 65 to 74 |
6.9% |
51.6% |
11.1% |
30.4% |
100.0% |
| Women 75 to 84 |
8.7% |
33.5% |
5.4% |
52.4% |
100.0% |
| Women 85 &
Over |
10.3% |
17.4% |
3.3% |
69.0% |
100.0% |
Source: United StatesCensus Bureau, 2002, Census 2000 Summary
File 3 (SF 3), Sample Data, Table PCT7.
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