Table 7. Partner status at age 27 and age 39 by educational attainment, sex, race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Table 7. Partner status at age 27 and age 39 by educational attainment, sex, race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Percent of individuals
Age 27 in 2007-2011 Age 39 in 2019-2023
Characteristic Single Married Cohabiting Single Married Cohabiting
Total ......................................... 44.6 34.4 21.0 31.1 54.4 14.5
Less than a high school diploma .............. 41.6 29.8 28.6 41.3 32.4 26.3
High school graduates, no college (1) ........ 42.4 33.9 23.7 38.2 44.2 17.6
Some college or associate degree ............. 44.7 35.4 19.9 33.5 51.5 15.0
Bachelor's degree and higher (2) ............. 47.3 34.9 17.8 22.5 67.5 10.0
Men ........................................... 50.8 29.3 19.9 32.0 52.6 15.4
Less than a high school diploma .............. 49.2 23.1 27.8 44.5 31.1 24.4
High school graduates, no college (1) ........ 47.6 29.3 23.1 39.3 42.9 17.8
Some college or associate degree ............. 50.8 30.4 18.8 33.6 50.5 15.9
Bachelor's degree and higher (2) ............. 55.2 29.6 15.2 21.2 67.9 10.9
Women ......................................... 38.0 39.9 22.1 30.2 56.3 13.5
Less than a high school diploma .............. 32.1 38.2 29.7 37.3 34.0 28.7
High school graduates, no college (1) ........ 34.9 40.5 24.6 36.4 46.1 17.4
Some college or associate degree ............. 38.5 40.5 21.0 33.4 52.6 14.0
Bachelor's degree and higher (2) ............. 40.9 39.1 19.9 23.5 67.2 9.3
White, non-Hispanic ........................... 39.8 39.0 21.2 25.4 60.7 13.9
Less than a high school diploma .............. 35.4 37.7 27.0 37.0 35.3 27.7
High school graduates, no college (1) ........ 37.0 38.6 24.4 31.4 50.3 18.3
Some college or associate degree ............. 39.3 39.9 20.8 27.9 57.5 14.6
Bachelor's degree and higher (2) ............. 43.3 38.5 18.1 18.6 72.1 9.3
Black, non-Hispanic ........................... 63.5 18.3 18.2 53.4 33.3 13.3
Less than a high school diploma .............. 63.1 12.1 24.8 58.9 22.8 18.4
High school graduates, no college (1) ........ 61.6 16.5 21.9 59.4 25.1 15.5
Some college or associate degree ............. 64.5 20.4 15.2 51.8 34.3 13.9
Bachelor's degree and higher (2) ............. 64.6 20.8 14.5 47.1 45.1 7.8
Hispanic or Latino ............................ 42.3 34.6 23.1 32.8 49.3 17.9
Less than a high school diploma .............. 34.9 28.6 36.5 37.8 34.9 27.3
High school graduates, no college (1) ........ 39.6 37.6 22.8 38.1 44.8 17.1
Some college or associate degree ............. 43.7 35.2 21.1 32.5 49.0 18.5
Bachelor's degree and higher (2) ............. 50.2 32.4 17.4 24.6 61.7 13.7
(1) Includes individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent (General Education Development (GED)) credential.
(2) Includes individuals with bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional degrees.
NOTE: This table excludes individuals who had not yet turned Age 39 when interviewed in 2023-2024. The National
Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 consists of young men and women who were ages 12 to 16 on December 31, 1996. Race
and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other race groups, which are
included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the survey sample is not
sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates. Educational attainment and partner status are
determined during the month of the respondent's 27th or 39th birthday.
Last Modified Date: May 05, 2026
United States Department of Labor
