Number of Unmarried Men is Surging
A social ill that is rarely discussed.
From the Institute for Family Studies, By Brad Wilcox and Isabella Dini. August 21, 2026:
America’s retreat from marriage means that a growing number of young men are not married. Over the past 25 years, the gap between the number of unmarried and married men ages 20–39 has widened from 2.6 million to a whopping 15 million. Today, there are nearly twice as many unmarried men in this age group as married ones. While some of these men may simply be delaying marriage until their 40s or later, many will spend the rest of their lives as bachelors. Because married adults consistently report being happier than their unmarried peers, the sheer number of young men forgoing marriage could be adding to the happiness crash now unfolding among young adults across America.
